Frankie Dettori Secures Six Consecutive Wins at Santa Anita, Seeing One Bettor win £110,880 from £1
2 minutes Reconsidering his decision to retire, Dettori continued to demonstrate his exceptional skill in the saddle during a remarkable day in California.
Frankie Dettori was left in disbelief after securing six consecutive wins at Santa Anita on a Saturday, an achievement that brought one gambler a windfall of £110,880 from a mere £1 horse racing bet.
This sequence of six victories stands as a monumental milestone in his career in the U.S., with the crowning moment being a win in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks atop Nothing Like You, trained by Bob Baffert.
Reconsidering his decision to retire, Dettori continued to demonstrate his exceptional skill in the saddle during a remarkable day in California.
At 53, Dettori expressed his affection for the venue, stating: "I adore this place and to be able to say that I won six races on [Santa Anita] Derby day is beyond my wildest dreams."
He further shared his astonishment: "I don't know how to put it into words. Is it real? Am I dreaming? Is this really happening? It's incredible. I just don't know what to say."
Reminiscent of his historic 'Magnificent Seven' at Ascot in 1996, where he claimed victory in all seven races, Dettori initiated his winning spree with Ball Don’t Lie, followed by wins on Recinto Rompere and Roberta’s Love in the $125,000 Evening Jewel Stakes. Successes with Kathynmarissa and Nothing Like You in the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks, where the latter won by a remarkable seven and a half lengths, were highlights, with Royal Charter securing his sixth victory before a second-place finish on Imagination in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby concluded his day.
Bob Baffert lauded Dettori as a "phenomenon" and "world class," acknowledging his exceptional contribution to the sport.
John Gosden, a champion trainer, celebrated Dettori's performance, noting his exceptional condition and fondness for the Californian lifestyle, which offers pleasant weather and a break from the relentless travel of the UK circuit.
He remarked on Dettori's resurgence since 2015 with Golden Horn, leading to a remarkable nine years filled with numerous champions, describing these later stages of Dettori's career as "truly golden."
A certain Ladbrokes customer was particularly thrilled, having turned a £1 bet into over £110,000 thanks to Dettori's success.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes reflected on the event, saying: "We thought the Frankie Dettori nightmares had ended when he hung up his whip in Britain, but how wrong were we."
She added, "The Dettori drama came crashing back last night in California when he rode an astonishing six-timer. There were a lot of happy customers, none more so than one particular punter who scooped a whopping £110,880 from a £1 bet. It was a costly night, but we can thank our lucky stars that it wasn't worse.”