Perhaps the most shocking result of the weekend came when Absolutely Cindy, the only filly in a field of colts, unleashed a powerful run on the far turn and drew away to score in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park. The bay daughter of Arch was dismissed at odds of 19 - 1. The capable Your Round finished second, followed by Dixie Decision and Big Glen. Briarwood Circle, the favorite who enjoyed some hype leading up to the race, finished last in a field of 11. Absolutely Cindy is owned and trained by Ronald Kinmon and was piloted to victory by Orlando Mojica.

One of the most exciting races of the weekend was the Sham Stakes (gr III), a showdown between Derby hopefuls Colonel John and El Gato Malo. They ran to their odds, putting on a fantastic performance for the screaming Santa Anita fans. Colonel John got the jump on his rival into the stretch while El Gato Malo swung wide after being stuck behind traffic. Colonel John fended off El Gato Malo all the way to the wire, winning by a half length. El Gato Malo finished three lengths ahead of Victory Pete in third. Colonel John is by Tiznow and is trained by Eion Harty for WinStar Farm. Garrett Gomez was aboard for the win, which was Colonel John's first start since finishing second in the Cash Call Futurity (gr. I) in December.

The $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) proved to be a strangely run race, resulting in a 3/4 length win for the Irish-bred Heatseeker under Rafael Bejarano. The race favorite, Monterey Jazz, rushed away from the full field of fourteen and at one point on the backstretch held a twelve length lead over the other horses. Once he hit the top of the stretch Monterey Jazz hit a wall, leaving room for Heatseeker and Go Between to swing wide and vie for the win. Champs Elysees and Tiago, who both came from thirty five lengths off the pace, both closed rapidly, with Tiago switching to the outside and grinding towards the leaders and Champs Elysees darting through horses to the rail. Champs Elysees finished a half length in front of Tiago. Heatseeker is trained by master trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and is owned by William Deburgh. The five-year-old horse by Giant's Causeway was coming off a second place finish in the San Antonio Handicap (gr. II) and a third place run in the San Pasqual Handicap (gr. II).