With plenty of rain in the forecast, Penn National canceled its turf stakes action for Friday, two days ahead of time. Most tracks east of the Mississippi will likely have to deal with Mother Nature this weekend. So, let's head west and take a shot at the Santa Anita Pick 3, with good-sized fields that could remain intact under sunny skies and temperature in the 80s.
SA 7th race (4:00 p.m. EST) -- MAGIC ACCOUNT disappeared in the same spot when last seen three months ago, but he finished 1-2 in his prior five sprints at Santa Anita with an average 76 Beyer speed figure. He finished second to a pair of odds-on winners, including Mega Moon, who ran second in a $32,000 optional claimer Monday with an 89 Beyer. His work tab indicates readiness at a decent price. NAVY MAN swung 4-wide on the turn and ‘improved’ while posing no serious threat to a pair of next-out winners that included Jerry’s Spirit, who averaged an 85 Beyer in three consecutive victories. Trainer Steve Knapp is on fire of late, so use NAVY MAN on the ticket.
SA 8th race (4:30 p.m. EST) -- SHINING STAR won her first four races in Chile, three as the favorite, two in stake company and all in double-digit sized fields. She was well-beaten in a Grade I stakes, now arrives in California for the same owner. She’s in the capable hands of trainer John Sadler, who stands 18-for-90 since April 18 and 32/9-6-5 with new acquisitions in the last 25 months with an average $13.60 win mutuel. MARGARITA GIRL survived a front-end duel on the turn as the 3-to-5 favorite in her debut last fall but couldn’t contain 5-to-2 firster Non Compliant, who came back to win the Grade II Oak Leaf going a route of ground. She led into the stretch despite a troubled start in a follow-up turf sprint, now returns to the main track with Lasix for her seasonal debut. SUGAR HI romped as a debut favorite at Saratoga last fall but was well-beaten in four subsequent starts. She met three eventual $250k earners in her first start and has a solid work tab for her seasonal debut in a new barn. She is an inviting price at 8-1 on the morning line.
SA 9th race (5:00 p.m. EST) -- TAVOLARA, keen to go early, dueled with INNER FURY to the quarter pole at 1-1/8 miles before the trip-sitting winner and deep-closing runner-up NAKOTA passed by both. TAVOLARA is a live longshot on the cutback to one mile with the addition of blinkers. INNER FURY adapted well to front-end tactics and held third, also earning a spot on the Pick 3 ticket. READY TO DARE gained late on the 3-to-5 winner three back at 6F, finished well two back at 6-1/2F after she lost valuable momentum into the far turn and should get plenty of pace to rally into in her second one-mile go-round.
Suggested $3 Ticket
SA 7th Race: 4, 5
SA 8th Race: 3, 6, 7
SA 9th Race: 4, 7, 8
Cost: $54
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