Santa Anita Race 1: Post: 12:30 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 4-Unrivaled Hero; 2-Smiling Tizzy.
Backups: 3-Tariff.
Forecast: Unrivaled Hero has winning connections and a strong runner-up effort over this course and distance at this maiden $50,000 level in his most recent start. He didn’t get the best of runs in the upper stretch but finished willingly when clear and a similar effort today should be good enough. Smiling Tizzy shows the classic two-sprints-and-a-stretch-out angle and has faster numbers in those two sprints than our top pick has produced in any of his four starts. The son of Paynter is bred to improve with added distance and experience and is strictly the one to beat. We suspect the winner will be one of these two.
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Santa Anita Race 2: Post: 1:02 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 5-Stillwater Cowboy; 3-Lone Scout.
Backups: none.
Forecast: This restricted (nw-3) $20,000 main track miler for older horses drew a small field of five, so there’s not much we can do with it. Saltwater Cowboy, recently claimed for $20,000 by a low profile outfit, shows up in a race without much pace and will very likely inherit the roll as the controlling speed. Given that type of trip, he’ll have every chance to wire the field, just as he did at Los Alamitos three runs back with a solid number in December under A. Fresu, who’s back aboard. Lone Scout is the most dangerous on the late runners and should be tossed. He’ll be heard from if our top pick gets challenged early.
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Santa Anita Race 3: Post: 1:34 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3-Coastal Cowgirl; 2-Affair.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Coastal Cowgirl plummets from straight maidens to maiden $20,000 and should greatly appreciate the much softer assignment. She was burned up pressing a hot pace when facing the boys in her most recent outing and understandably waived the white flag after a torrid opening half mile in :44 2/5; she won’t have to go nearly as fast today. Affair has hit the board at this level in her last pair and her numbers weren’t half bad. The daughter of Runhappy should be prominent throughout and have every chance.
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Santa Anita Race 4: Post: 2:05 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 7-Prime and Ready.
Backups: 6-Spotted Haze.
Forecast: Prime and Ready lands the lovely outside draw and projects to enjoy a pristine stalking trip in this starter optional claiming grass dash for sophomore fillies. He recently graduated with a similar journey over this course and distance and shows a bullet five furlong breeze (:59 3/5h) at San Luis Rey Downs to indicate she’s maintained her edge. Her main rival, recent maiden claiming debut winner Spotted Haze, earned an identical 59 Beyer speed figure in her dirt track score and has as much right to step forward as ‘Ready. We’ll give the former the edge on top but include both in our rolling exotics.
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Santa Anita Race 5: Post: 2:35 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 8-Gray Frost; 3-Princess Hekawi.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Gray Frost pulverized a restricted (nw-3) $8,000 group of fillies and mares over this track and distance last time out and if she can turn in two alike the daughter of Frosted can take this slight raise in class and win right back. She has tactical speed and can win on the front end or from a stalking position. T. Baze rides her back and the B. Hess, Jr. barn continues to be on fire. Princess Hekawi is slower on speed figures than our top pick but should be able to keep ‘Frost somewhat occupied on the front end. He is especially effective as the controlling speed and if she beats the favorite to the lead entering the clubhouse turn she could prove troublesome.
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Santa Anita Race 6: Post: 3:05 PT Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 8-Rexford; Player B; 6-Schwarzmeier.
Backups: 1-Carribean King; 5-Tizz a Good Thing.
Forecast: This starter allowance turf sprint should set up nicely Rexford, who projects to drop over from his outside draw into a comfortable second flight stalking position and have every chance from there. He’s always struck us as one that prefers to run second or third rather than win but he does show a victory over this course and distance and his recent numbers are solid. Player B, runner-up in his last pair, should be in the fray throughout. His career record over this turf course (11 starts, 2 wins, 5 seconds) says he’s not all that genuine, either, when the pressure is turned on. It’ll be interesting to see what happens if these two hook up inside the furlong pole. Schwarzmeier, first off a $50,000 claim by P. Eurton, won nicely at this trip over this turf course last time out. He’s a little shy in the speed figure department but with only slight improvement can make a serious run for it.
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Santa Anita Race 7: Post: 3:35 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 7-Runnin Ute; 4-Bobby’s Alibi.
Backups: 2-My Bucket List.
Forecast: Runnin Ute vans down from Pleasanton for this restricted $5,000 seller and has speed figure that can win on this circuit at this level. He employs a second flight, stalking style and should be capable of producing a successful late bid with his best effort. Bobby’s Alibi is dangerous as well, though he lacks the tactical speed that ‘Ute has and will need help up front to have his best chance. His career record of four wins with 17 seconds and thirds capsulizes our concerns.
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Santa Anita Race 8: Post: 4:05 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 4-Cali Cat; 2-King of Dragons.
Backups: 1-Frank Bullitt; 3-Got’m Cot’m.
Forecast: Cali Cat was nosed out in a similar affair last month in his first outing since the fall. Maybe he’ll be fitter and sharper today. The J. Sadler-trained colt retains F. Prat, gets an extra half furlong to work with, and should have no excuses. King of Dragons is strictly the one to beat. The R. Baltas-trained sophomore adds Lasix and shortens to an extended sprint after four straight two-turn mile events to begin his career. The son of Sir Prancealot should adore this trip and is a first time Lasix user, so there is plenty in his chart to like. This is a tough, competitive race that requires a couple of highly capable backups that you might consider adding to the top line if your budget allows.
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Santa Anita Race 9: Post: 4:35 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 7-Robin’s Tough Love.
Backups: 2-Care for Autism; 3-Autism Inspiration.
Forecast: Robin’s Tough Love was as green as grass in her debut when debuting for maiden $12,500 here earlier this meeting but despite her best efforts to snatch defeat from the jaw of victory the daughter of Tough Sunday managed to overcome a slow break and get up in time despite racing sideways in the final furlong. On pure numbers, she’s fast enough to win right back if she leaves cleanly and maintains a straight course through the stretch. At or near her morning line of 5/2, the S. Miyadi-trained homebred is worth a gamble.
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Santa Anita Race 10: Post: 5:05 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 8-Sabertooth; 4-Sharpoval.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Sabertooth is overdue for a maiden win after finishing a strong third in the Eddie Logan Stakes in late December. This will be his eighth career start, and while he’s been able to avoid the winner’s circle so far thanks to various on track transgressions, the son of Grazen adds Lasix, picks up F. Prat, and really shouldn’t be able to blow this opportunity. Sharpoval was a promising third over this course in his sprint debut last month and seems sure to produce a forward move for the hot J. Mullins barn. He’ll be forwardly placed throughout – maybe even on the lead – and will provide insurance just in case our top pick runs into a roadblock.
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