Santa Anita seeds Sunday's Pick 5 pool with $50,000

Santa Anita announced on Friday that it will be seeding Sunday’s 50-cent late Pick 5 with $50,000, following an opening week that has been full of uncharacteristically bad weather for California.

“The track would like to thank its horseplayers and horsemen their tremendous support opening week in the face of adverse weather conditions,” a Santa Anita news release said. “With the infusion of this $50,000, it is hoped this will help to stimulate incremental handle and therefore benefit owners by driving additional funds to the Winter/Spring purse account.”

Rain affected the first week of racing at Santa Anita, notably forcing the American Oaks (G1), off of turf, along with all other opening day grass races. That race, run at 1 1/4 miles over the main track, was won by Queen Goddess.

Thursday’s racing was canceled due to poor conditions, while Friday’s races were also all run on dirt. Sunday’s program is set to feature 10 races, headlined by two $100,000 stakes races, the Blue Norther and Eddie Logan.

Those races are both set to be run on the turf. First post Sunday is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST.