Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s “What You Need to Know” isolates those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6.
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Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.
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Santa Anita Race 1: Post: 1:00 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3-Outworker; 5-Going Nowhere.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Outworker has little to beat in this state-bred maiden special weight turf miler, and a recent bullet five furlong workout (:59 3/5) indicates he’s ready to produce a forward move in just his fourth career start. The T. Yakteen-trained colt projects to inherit a cozy second flight, ground-saving trip and had every chance from there. Going Nowhere has gradually rising speed figures, with room for further improvement and is the one to fear most.
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Santa Anita Race 2: Post: 1:32 PT Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 4-Auditory; 5-Crypto Crush.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Auditory hits rock bottom in this $5,000 seller and anything close to her best speed figure will be good enough. The route-to-sprint angle and the return to dirt are other positives factors that clearly make her the one to beat, though at 7/5 on the morning line she won’t be offering any real wagering value. Crypto Crush also turns back in trip, returns to dirt, and tackles much easier foes. She’s a contender by default in an empty affair.
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Santa Anita Race 3: Post: 2:04 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 3-Dealers Special; 4-Rastaman Vibe.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Dealers Special didn’t have much behind him but earned a confidence-building win over this course and distance last time out and returns after a couple of months off protected in a proper spot for a repeat score. The R. Baltas-trained gelding earned a career top number in that victory and shows a bullet workout since to remain right on edge. Rastaman Vibe is winless in 11 starts over the local lawn and certainly isn’t one to trust but on pure form could be a logical exacta partner with our top pick.
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Santa Anita Race 4: Post: 2:34 PT Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 4-Charley Pride; 3-James J. Braddock.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Charley Pride is being tossed away in this maiden $12,500 claimer and is realistically spotted after failing to come close to justifying his blue blood pedigree. It’s simply time to win a race and move on. James J. Braddock is another big class dropper trying to find his winning level. He’s a fit on numbers and projects to be forwardly placed in what almost certainly will be a slowly run affair.
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Santa Anita Race 5: Post: 3:05 PT Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 6-Lamporghini; 2-Danzingwith Maxine.
Backups: 5-Song of Shadows.
Forecast: Lamporghini is a three time winner over this turf course but her recent form has been below her best, so this class drop into the allowance optional $20,000 state-bred claiming ranks is warranted. Her best race is good enough. Danzingwith Maxine has a gradually improving pattern, and with another forward move could be competitive on the raise after winning over this course and distance from starter’s allowance foes last time out. She employs a good stalking style and will have dead aim from the head of the lane to the wire.
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Santa Anita Race 6: Post: 3:35 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 6-Pio Nono.
Backups: 2-Last Call Paul.
Forecast: Pio Nono was well-meant in his debut but just fell short by a neck in a similar maiden $50,000 dash for state-bred foes and nothing more should be needed to earn his diploma in this modest affair in which the horse to fear most, Last Call Paul, is a 21-race maiden. The son of Catholic Boy gets an extra half furlong to work with and should be capable of wearing down the leaders in the final furlong as a recommended rolling exotic single.
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Santa Anita Race 7: Post: 4:05 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 2-Sareeha (Ire); 5-Runamileinmyshoes.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Sareena (Ire) is a professional race mare with winning form over the local lawn and though missing as the favorite in a similar event last time out gets a good spot to make amends from a comfortable inside draw that should ensure a ground-saving trip. Runamileinmyshoes is the one to fear most and will be hard to catch again if she’s allowed to dictate the pace without pressure, which certainly is a plausible pace scenario. Both should be included in rolling exotic play.
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Santa Anita Race 8: Post: 4:35 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 5-Woodbine Way; 6-Tessa (GB).
Backups: none.
Forecast: Woodbine Way returns to her claim (and winning) level and seems reasonably solid in this $5,000 claiming abbreviated sprint for older fillies and mares. She was out of her element when overmatched by her new connections last time out but gets realistic today. Tessa (GB) finished a solid runner-up behind ‘Way when they squared off in early April should be in the fray once again.
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Santa Anita Race 9: Post: 5:05 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 1-One of These Days (Ire).
Backups: 8-Naismith.
Forecast: In his first outing since October, One of These Days drops into a realistic spot for the money run, lands the good rail, and should have no excuses in this restricted (nw-2) $25,000 claiming turf router for older horses. The barn has solid stats with layoff runners and the work tab at Los Alamitos should have him fit enough. Anything close to his best race is simply better than these.
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