Horse Racing Weekend Recap: Churchill Downs and Santa Anita

Fans around the United States witnessed some thrilling racing action this past weekend, as there were three huge graded races taking place. Two of the graded races took place at Santa Anita Park, while there was also a Grade 3 contest that fans would have enjoyed from Churchill Downs. You can find out the results from the graded races this weekend below.

One of the stories of the weekend came at Churchill Downs on Saturday, as there was a famous win for trainer Gregory Foley. Sconsin was in excellent form, as she continued to progress in the right direction with every run by claiming victory in the Winning Colors Stakes. The Grade 3 was won by the four-year-old in a time of 1:08.80 and was an exceptional return after coming up just short against the talented Gamine in her last run.

With no Gamine in contention this past weekend, Sconsin went into the race as the clear horse to beat and dominated the contest from start to finish. She eventually won by three and a quarter lengths from Rising Seas, while 3/5F Frank’s Rockette needed to settle for third, as she finished a further half-length behind the runner-up. There is no denying that Foley has a special talent on his hands, and it will be interesting to see where she heads next.

It has been a miserable couple of weeks for Bob Baffert, as he could be set to miss out on the Belmont Stakes following the NYRA statement that was released following the fallout from the Medina Spirit saga. However, he claimed a much-needed winner from his perspective this past weekend, as he won the most lucrative prize purse on offer in the form of the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita Park. As Time Goes By was just about able to claim the win, as she won by a neck from This Tea.

The first two finished well clear of the field, as they were eight lengths ahead of Miss Stormy D, who could only finish in third. The victory was achieved in a time of 1:43.77. It was a special moment for the four-year-old, as it was a second straight Grade 2 victory, as she won the Santa Margarita Stakes at the end of April. It was also the third time this season that she has come out on top against This Tea.

There was also a win for Irish-bred Going Global at Santa Anita on Saturday, as the talented three-year-old won the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes. It was an excellent performance, as she finished over four lengths ahead of second-place Golden. Phillip D’Amato trains this progressive star and has done so since the beginning of February. She has now won on all three starts on American soil and is a third straight Grade 3 success after previously winning the Sweet Life Stakes and Providencia Stakes.

The best form of her career has come on American soil, as she had won just once in four starts in Ireland before moving across the channel. She has a very bright future ahead of her, and it will be interesting to see the route that she takes throughout the rest of the season. Midnight Diva and Quattroelle finished in third and fourth, while Pizzazz, Madone, and Majestic Steps finished in the final three positions.