Lost Bus upsets in Santa Monica Stakes

Arcadia, CA

The longest shot on the board in Lost Bus takes the $200K Santa Monica Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Lost Bus at odds of 60-1 fought hard for the lead and did not relinquish it down the stretch.

The four-year-old filly proved ultra game, sitting in third before hitting the front, and hanging on for a head victory while covering the 7F event in a quick 1:21 final time.

Finest City finished a head back in second, but ran a solid race through fast fractions and a claim of foul on the winner by jockey Corey Nakatani, 

Favored Tara's Tango was also right on the wire, finishing within a length of taking the race, but simply ran out of ground on the outside rally. 

Lost Bus returned $131.20 for the win and added another gutsy victory for jockey Fernando Perez.

The filly now has lifetime earnings of more than $255K. 

Blanc proves his turf touch in Astra Stakes

Arcadia, CA

Turf specialist jockey Brice Blanc found the winner's circle again in the turf marathon Astra Stakes Sunday afternoon.

Blanc guided 10-1 longshot Havanna Belle to a powerful 2 1/4 length victory in the $75K Astra.

Havanna Belle was forwardly placed throughout the marathon 1 1/2 mile turf race. Sitting in third, behind a quick opening fraction of :23 for the distance, and took control down the stretch to kick clear to an easy victory at the end.

The 4-year-old filly, trained by Phil D'Amato, returned $22.20 for the win and finished the race in a final time of 2:27.

Longshots Energia Fribby and Sweet as a Rose completed the trifecta. Both finished with a lot of run, but the winner got first run on the rest of the field.

Favorite Gaga A had the lead in this race, but could not keep pace and tired to a fifth place finish. 

Havanna Belle voctory moved her win total to three in 14 starts with total earnings over $111K.

Taris gets perfect trip in La Canada Stakes

Arcadia, CA

Even-money favorite Taris ran like her odds in the Grade II La Canada Stakes Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita.

Taris took advantage of a small field of five to work out the perfect trip under Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens.

She sat in third through moderate opening fractions, took the lead at the top of the stretch, and kicked clear in the lane to a 5 1/4 length easy victory.

The 5-year-old filly returned $4.00 to win and finished the 1 1/16 mile race in a solid time of 1:44.

Birdatthewire ran along for second, but was a non-factor for the win, while Yahilwa tired to third.

Taris now has seven wins in eleven starts. with career earnings of over $800K.

California Chrome cruises to victory in return

Arcadia, CA

Local fan favorite California Chrome returned in dominate fashion to take the San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita. 

Making his 5-year-old debut the 2014 Horse of the Year cruised back into the winner's circle in his first race since March.

California Chrome sparked the crowd and was really never threatened en-route to a 1 1/4 length victory in the Grade II $200K stakes.

Jockey Victor Espinoza did not get after the favorite in this tune-up win and ran the 1 1/16 mile race in a measured final time of 1:43.

California Chrome returned $3.20 to win, finishing in front of a competitive Imperative who finished a trying second with Hoppertunity another length back in third.

Chrome is expected to take another try at the World Cup and be shipped back to Dubai for his next start. Where a $10 million purse is on the line, as the connections look to make California Chrome America's highest-earning horse ever.

Minority share ownership did change hands from that March start to the Kentucky-based Taylor Made Farm, where California Chrome will stand at stud after his racing career, from the outspoken Steve Coburn. 

Trainer Art Sherman was happy with the effort and Espinoza said he was proud of the way the champion returned.  

Baffert Collected a one-two finish in Sham Stakes

Arcadia, CA

Trainer Bob Baffert finished one-two with Collected and Let's Meet in Rio in the $100K Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

Collected took the lead at the top of the stretch and never looked back down the lane. Ridden to victory by jockey Martin Garcia and trained by Baffert. The race favorite did not disappoint. 

Let's Meet in Rio ran an eye-catching second, closing from last in the eight-horse field to be second without a lot of urging from jockey Kent Desormeaux.

The Baffert trained duo finished within 1 1/4 lengths of one another with Laoban completing the trifecta 1 1/2 lengths back in third.

Collected returned $5.00 to win and ran the 1-mile race in a not-so-quick 1:38 final time.

Third place finisher Laoban entered the race a maiden and is someone to keep an eye on for the future around two turns. He was four-wide throughout the race and kept to task down the lane.

All three of the top finishers are expected to race back on the dirt as Kentucky Derby talk 2016 is on the horizon.