Santa Anita Race 1: Post: 12:30 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 6-Goodfella; 4-Running Spartan.
Backups: 7-Over the Ocean.
Forecast: Goodfella is a 13-race maiden, yet he’s likely to leave as the solid favorite in this maiden claiming ($50,000) turf miler for older horses based strictly on his speed figures, which include a career top effort over this course and distance when a close fourth in late December. Not much better will be needed today. Running Spartan stretches out again and projects as the controlling speed. He sports the always popular blinkers off angle while switching to noted speed rider E. Maldonado, and If left alone early is likely to take this field a very long way.
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Santa Anita Race 2: Post: 1:05 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 6-Nameless; 6-Warrens World
Backups: none.
Forecast: Warrens World is a bit faster on numbers than his main rival but the discrepancy in trainers following recent claims entices us to shift our preference to Nameless, now in the barn of J. Mullins. Seeking his third straight score and protected by a stable that boasts superior stats with this angle, the son of Constitution seems certain to produce a significant forward move, one that should be good enough to extend his winning streak. The lightly raced gelding projects to settle in a second flight, stalking position and then have clear sailing and every chance from the quarter pole home. ‘World just wired a $5,000 restricted field over this track and distance and could easily get loose on the lead again if he performs for his new connections as well he did for his previous conditioner.
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Santa Anita Race 3: Post: 1:36 PT Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 7-Toulouse Detrac; 5-Stellar Cap; 4-Isabel Ludlow.
Backups: 6-Uffda.
Forecast: Toulouse Detrac broke quickly and never looked back when outrunning a restricted (nw-2) $16,000 field last month and this group, while a bit tougher, may allow the daughter of Tapiture to come right back. She’s comfortably drawn outside, so we’re expecting her to pop and go once again. Stellar Cap is a fit on numbers and has hit the board in each of her last four starts. Isabel Ludlow retains D. Herrera, who jumps off our top pick to ride this veteran daughter of Grazen for high percentage trainer M. Glatt. She’s always preferred to run second or third rather than win but on pure numbers she’s a “must use” in the exotics.
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Santa Anita Race 4: Post: 2:07 PT Grade: X
Main Ticket: 2-Earned Not Given; 6-Check’s On the Way.
Backups: 5-Dynodave.
Forecast: Earned Not Given was nosed out by a pretty decent horse in a similar starter optional claimer over this course and distance last month and while he’s not particular fast on figures the M. Glatt-trained gelding strikes us as a genuine type and looks well-spotted to regain his winning form at a short price. He’s likely to enjoy a second flight, ground-saving trip and then kick home when given his cue. Check’s On the Way sprung a 9-1 surprise in a maiden $50,000 turf dash last month while earning a nice number, one that makes him a major player right back if he can duplicate his sprint form around two turns and his dirt form on turf.
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Santa Anita Race 5: Post: 2:38 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 1-Western Freedom; 2-Distant Fleet.
Backups: 3-Pio Nono
Forecast: Western Freedom ran too good to lose when narrowly missing as the runner-up in a similar maiden $50,000 sprint for sophomores last month and if he can perform equally as well today from the rail the son of American Freedom should be set to graduate. Distant Fleet is a newcomer that may provide good competition if he runs to his works. The J. Periban-trained gelding appears to have his share of speed and makes his first start in a logical spot for a barn that generally does well with the first time starter angle. Both should be included on your rolling exotic tickets.
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Santa Anita Race 6: Post: 3:09 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 7-Big Mama Sue; 2-Annie’s Joy.
Backups: 8-Chasingserendipity.
Forecast: Big Mama Sue won at this level in convincing fashion two races back but then was pitched over her head in allowance event outing and wound up nowhere at 19-1. She’s back where she belongs today over a turf course we know she likes (three wins) but we find it a bit strange that she’s had a different jockey in each of her last eight races. Deal with that however you’d like. Annie’s Joy is nicely drawn towards the inside and should inherit a perfect, stalking, ground-saving trip. She was disappointing as the favorite in her most recent outing but at this level the veteran Kitten’s Joy mare seems likely to bounce back.
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Santa Anita Race 7: Post: 3:40 PT Grade: X
Main Ticket: 1-Big City Lights
Backups: 4-Bartholdy.
Forecast: Big City Lights returns to open company after toying with California-bred foes in his most recent two appearances. This is a stronger group, but he’ll be odds on again, and deservedly so. The son of Mr. Big has won five of seven starts over the local main track and has been first or second in 11 of 13 overall, so he’s very good and extremely dependable. The rail post is no bargain. but we doubt the draw will affect his performance, but at 2/5 on the morning line there’s not much we can do with him other than as a no value rolling exotic single.
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Santa Anita Race 8: Post: 4:10 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 1-Entressa; 10-Jungle Peace (Ire), 10-Lilliput.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Entressa has trained like a very good filly and this $575,000 yearling purchase by Twirling Candy should be an extremely live item in this extended turf sprint for maiden sophomores. The barn doesn’t win with many first timers, but this gifted filly might prove to be the exception to the rule. That said, there are lots of question marks in the field, so we suggest a spread strategy. Jungle Peace (Ire) ran reasonably well in a pair of Irish outings last fall and has trained well enough to suggest she’ll fit well on this circuit. She’s not a quick type but could make some noise from the quarter pole home. Lilliput hasn’t turned in any fancy final times in the morning but moves like a good athlete and never really has been asked for her best. She’s a bit of a sleeper for a barn whose young stock often run better than they work.
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Santa Anita Race 9: Post: 5:09 PT Grade: X
Main Ticket: 4-Lonesome Slew
Backups: none.
Forecast: Lonesome Slew simply lays over this field using any handicapping method you might like and seems certain to be bet accordingly. First or second in his two outings over the local main track – both with strong speed figures – the M Glatt-trained gelding could find himself as the controlling speed, though he’s not a need the lead type so it probably won’t matter where he’s at during the early stages. He’ll almost certainly leave at odds on and will be a short price single for many players in the various rolling exotics.
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Santa Anita Race 10: Post: 5:00 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 2-Hothead; 4-Horizon Wildcat.
Backups: 3-Owl.
Forecast: Hothead tried turf for the first time after three non-competitive main track races last year and left his previous form behind with a sharp runner-up effort (beaten a head) over this course and distance at this level last month. He’ll add blinkers today and projects to be on or near the lead throughout. Horizon Wildcat, nosed out over the local lawn in his debut in a tough beat, has a right to step forward today with that bit of experience behind him and is the one to fear most. Numbers-wise, he’s a bit slower than our top pick but logically has more room for improvement. Both should be included in rolling exotic play.
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