GRADE I, $750,000 RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY HEADLINES BLOCKBUSTER 12-RACE CARD SATURDAY

By Mike Willman —-

GRADE I, $750,000 RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY HEADLINES BLOCKBUSTER 12-RACE CARD SATURDAY THAT INCLUDES A TOTAL OF SIX STAKES, EARLY FIRST POST TIME SET FOR 12 NOON

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 31, 2021)—With sunny skies forecast, Santa Anita Park will play host to a blockbuster 12-race program on Saturday, with the 84th running of the Grade I, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby highlighting an afternoon that will include a total of six stakes races.

Special early first post time is set for 12 noon and there is also a mandatory payout in the popular 20 cent Rainbow Pick Six, creating the possibility of a $5 million pool. Saturday’s Rainbow Six will begin with race seven, which has an approximate post time of 3:45 p.m. PT.

Although the state of California has okayed limited General Public admission at Santa Anita beginning this Friday, fans are advised that per state directives, there will be no walk-up admission. All attendees must have a reserved seat, which can be purchased at santaanita.com/open.

The Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, which has produced 19 Kentucky Derby winners and two Triple Crown Champions (Affirmed in 1978 and Justify in 2018), has been carded as race eight, with an approximate post time of 4:15 p.m. PT.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won a record nine Runhappy Santa Anita Derbies, will send out the likely favorite Medina Spirit, a Florida-bred colt that was purchased out of a 2-year-old in training sale last year for a bargain $35,000 and he’ll also be represented by lightly raced recent maiden winner Defunded.

The Runhappy Santa Anita Derby will be broadcast live on NBCSN, additionally, all of Santa Anita’s races are available live and free of charge at santaanita.com/live.

A dominant force in American racing, Baffert, a two-time Triple Crown winner, won his record-equaling sixth Kentucky Derby last year with eventual Horse of the Year Authentic and he’ll be bidding to break a tie with fellow Hall of Famer Ben Jones in this year’s Run for the Roses on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Five other stakes, the Grade II, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks, the Grade II, $200,000 Royal Heroine, the Grade III, $100,000 Providencia, the $150,000 Providencia, the $150,000 Evening Jewel and the $150,000 Echo Eddie will all be included in what should be a spectacular day of racing.

With idyllic weather conditions predicted for Saturday, Santa Anita’s Infield Area will be open, but fans must pre-purchase tickets at santaanita.com/open, where detailed information is also available.

Full vehicular access will be available on Saturday, via Gate 8 off of Baldwin Ave, Gate 3 off of Holly Ave., Gate 5, at the confluence of Huntington Drive and Colorado Place and via Infield Gate 6.

In addition to the track’s website, fans can also call (626) 574-RACE for additional information.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horseracing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horseracing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horseracing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horseracing on and off the track. For more information please visit www.1st.com.