ARCADIA — Frankie Dettori has enjoyed days like this before, most famously when he rode all seven winners on a card at Ascot Racecourse in England in 1996.
He laughed when asked if he ever sees such days coming.
“I got up this morning, after I flew back from (competing in Kentucky) last night, thinking, ‘Oh my god, I’m 53. I can’t remember riding 11 races in a day. I hope I can make it!’ ” Dettori said.
Not only did he make it through the card Saturday. The globetrotting Italian jockey had one of the great afternoons in Santa Anita’s 90-year history. Dettorit rode six winners, including Nothing Like You in a rail-skimming, 7 1/2-length victory in the $300,000, Grade II Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.
The wins were one short of Laffit Pincay’s Santa Anita record of seven on March 14, 1987. They made Dettori one of 15 jockeys to win six in a day at the Arcadia track.
At one point he’d won five in a row, none of them betting favorites. Ball Don’t Lie paid $6.60, Recinto Rompere $18.20, Roberta’s Love $21.60, Kathynmarissa $15 and Nothing Like You $16.40.
By the time Dettori boarded his sixth mount, in the seventh race, fans had gotten wise, making Royal Charter a 4-1 favorite. Dettori, the filly ($10.80) and the crowd won.
Dettori had four shots at No. 7, including favorite Imagination in the day’s big race, the $750,000, Grade I Santa Anita Derby. Imagination came closest to winning, a neck behind Stronghold.
After the Oaks, Dettori gave the crowd one of his flying dismounts. Rushing back to the jockeys’ room to get ready for his next win, he gave a pair of writers a sample of the effusiveness that continues to amaze people. He was expected to retire in 2023 but moved from Great Britain to California to continue.
“It’s one of our biggest days. To ride five straight wins (at that point), in front of a big crowd, we’re selling the sport,” Dettori said. “I’m happy for myself, but happy to see people getting behind me and lots of cheering.”
Dettori was scheduled to fly back to Kentucky to ride two horses at Keeneland on Sunday.
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THE UNDERCARD
Dettori rode two stakes winners Saturday. Nothing Like You upset Bob Baffert barnmate Kinza in the Santa Anita Oaks, and Roberta’s Love led all the way in the $125,000 Evening Jewel sprint for California-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Phil D’Amato, who trained Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold, doubled when Shady Tiger ($8) romped with Juan Hernandez in the $125,000 Echo Eddie sprint for Cal-bred 3-year-olds.
Ag Bullet ($5) and Umberto Rispoli won the $100,000, Grade III Monrovia for fillies and mares on the turf hillside for trainer Richard Baltas.
BY THE NUMBERS
The reported on-site crowd of 32,089 was the biggest for the Santa Anita Derby since 2019, the year Justify won the race before sweeping the Triple Crown.
