Correspondent

Kevin Modesti

Kevin Modesti has covered horse racing for years for the Los Angeles Daily News and Southern California News Group. An L.A. native, he has been a sports writer, columnist and editor, an editorial board member, writer and editor in the Opinion section, and a political reporter.

Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Santa Anita racetrack reports rises in betting, attendance

June 16, 2025 at 1:36 p.m.

An influx of horses from shuttered Golden Gate Fields leads to more races, accounting for a 10% increase in handle for its winter-spring season.

Jockey Umberto Rispoli won six races at Santa Anita Park on closing day
of the Santa Anita Hollywood Meet on Sunday, June 15, 2025, Arcadia, CA. (Benoit Photo)

Umberto Rispoli rides 6 winners in stirring Santa Anita finale

June 15, 2025 at 7:47 p.m.

Doug O’Neill’s 3,000th win and Antonio Fresu’s first title upstage Nitti’s upset in the San Juan Capistrano on closing day for the winter-spring season.

Anthony Fanticola’s Motorious and jockey Antonio Fresu win the Grade III $100,000 Daytona Stakes Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA.
(Benoit Photo)

Motorious wins Daytona Stakes for Santa Anita’s leading men

June 14, 2025 at 6:26 p.m.

Jockey Antonio Fresu and trainer Phil D'Amato pad their leads in the title races going into closing day Sunday.

Raging Torrent and jockey Frankie Dettori win the Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, 2024, at Santa Anita Park. (Benoit Photo)

Horse racing column: Santa Anita horses set raging pace for the year

June 12, 2025 at 12:27 p.m.

Raging Torrent, Kopion and Journalism are among the stars of the 5½-month winter-spring season that ends Sunday.

Mrs. Astor and jockey Umberto Rispoli win the Santa Barbara Stakes on May 4, 2025, at Santa Anita Park. (Benoit Photo)

Horse racing notes: Mrs. Astor entered vs. males in Santa Anita finale

June 12, 2025 at 11:52 a.m.

The marathon San Juan Capistrano Stakes on Sunday caps the Arcadia track’s 5½-month season, with the 5-year-old mare among eight horses in the field.

Gaming and jockey Hector Berrios win the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes, Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA. (Benoit Photo)

Bob Baffert’s Gaming ends losing streak at Santa Anita

June 8, 2025 at 6:07 p.m.

The Del Mar Futurity winner goes gate to wire in the Affirmed Stakes, leading a Baffert exacta.

Cash Call and jockey Juan Hernandez, outside, outleg Howin (Drayden Van Dyke), inside, to win the Grade III, $100,000 Summertime Oaks, Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.
(Benoit Photo)

Cash Call rings up Bob Baffert’s latest filly stakes win at Santa Anita

June 7, 2025 at 6:29 p.m.

The 3-year-old and jockey Juan Hernandez lead the trainer’s 1-2 finish in the Summertime Oaks.

Baeza trains two days before the running of the Belmont Stakes on Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Horse racing column: Belmont Stakes is more than a two-horse race

June 5, 2025 at 12:38 p.m.

Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness star Journalism must contend with Baeza, the improving California colt, on Saturday at Saratoga.

Jockey Flavien Prat guides Gaming to the winner’s circle after their victory in the Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 8, 2024, at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. (Benoit Photo)

Horse racing notes: Bob Baffert strong in 2 stakes at Santa Anita

June 5, 2025 at 12:22 p.m.

At Saratoga, California horses are prominent on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes undercard.

Baoma Corp.’s Nysos and jockey Juan Hernandez win the Grade III $100,000 Triple Bend Stakes Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA.
Benoit Photo.

Nysos’ win at Santa Anita has Bob Baffert thinking big

May 31, 2025 at 6:50 p.m.

The trainer wants to get the Triple Bend Stakes winner to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

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