BET $100, GET $10 on today's Santa Anita card -- only with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Be sure to opt into the promo.
PLUS: $53,273 pick 6 carryover begins in Race 4.
Santa Anita Race 1: Post: 11:00 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 1-Baldoro; 8-Agency.
Backups: 5-Neon Lights (Ire).
Forecast: Fresh from a game win facing a bit softer foes over the local lawn last month, Baldoro seeks a repeat score and is well-placed for another big effort. Drawn comfortably inside, the L. Powell-trained gelding retains J. Hernandez, shortens to a mile, and projects to be on or near the lead throughout with an ideal ground saving journey. Agency takes a significant class drop, returns to grass, stretches out, and has had three easy breezes since raced to tick him over. On his best day, the son of Bolt d’Oro is very fast on speed figures but his last three starts were far below farm and we’re not quite sure where he’s at right now. Have to throw him in, though.
______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 2: Post: 11:33 PT Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 5-Fire Ban; 3-Running Super.
Backups: 1-Bolt On the Rocks.
Forecast: Fire Ban returns to sprinting and is back on dirt, and these conditions should bring out her best. The B. Koriner-trained filly also will wear blinkers again, lands the cozy outside post, and projects to be doing her best work in the final furlong. Running Super is another switching back to the main track and has more tactical speed than our top pick. Her recent numbers are good enough. We’ll try to get by using just these two in our rolling exotics.
______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 3: Post: 12:03 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 6-Moment’s Pleasure; 2-Sakura Blossom.
Backups: 1-Sun of Hill (Brz); 3-Lady Claypoole (Ire).
Forecast: Moment’s Pleasure rates a very slight edge on top, though each of the four listed above (including the two backups) have a realistic chance to win. ‘Pleasure, first or second in eight of her 14 career starts, returns to the condition allowance ranks and projects to drop over, get cover, and then accelerate when given her cue at the top of the lane. Sakura Blossom has been pitched way over her head of late, but this is a realistic spot for her and after several months of rest the late running daughter of Classic Empire could easily return to top form, especially with the switch to J. Hernandez. She’s a bit pace dependent but has numbers that fit.
______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 4: Post: 12:33 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 5-Sunglasses; 3-Crypto Crush.
Backups: 7-Gray Frost.
Forecast: Sunglasses plummets to the bottom and if she’s in one piece she can beat this field. The veteran mare does her best on the front end and projects to be the controlling speed in a field without much zip. There should be no excuses today. Crypto Crush is another class dropper that should be dangerous in this league. However, she’s basically a plodder and will need some help up front to have her best chance.
______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 5: Post: 1:03 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 6-Sir Rocket; 2-Just a Graze.
Backups: 5-Charley Pride.
Forecast: Sir Rocket displayed some ability in his debut at Del Mar in November when closing with interest to be fourth without being knocked about. He’s worked well since, picks up F. Prat, and may have a bit more upside than the others so we’ll put him slightly on top. Just a Graze, third in the same race our to pick exits, is what he is, a one paced grinder with a major look in a soft spot. We don’t love him but have to use him.
______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 6: Post: 1:33 PT Grade: C
Main Ticket: 10-Mr. Hussar; 8-Rachel’s Gig
Backups: 3-Joe Vittori; 9-True Mantra.
Forecast: The known element isn’t much at all, so let’s try a couple of newcomers (okay, we’re guessing) that have done all of their preliminary work at Pleasanton, which means we have nothing on video to refer to. Mr. Hussar hails from a capable barn, is comfortably placed outside, and has been given a good foundation leading up to his debut at the maiden $12,500 level. The barn has good stats with first timers, so maybe this homebred son of Fighting Hussar can act with these. Rachel’s Gig is another from a win-early stable and shows a work tab that hints of at least a bit of speed. A little will go a long way, so we’ll toss him. Tread lightly here.
______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 7: Post: 2:03 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 5-Casalu
Backups: 9-Acquitted.
Forecast: Casalu just won the Blue Norther Stakes over a mile on turf and today returns in the Sweet Life Stakes sprinting down the Hillside course. She should be effective at any distance and in fact broke her maiden going five furlongs at first asking on dirt last summer. The B. Baffert-trained sophomore is improving with racing and appears to be a filly of some quality. We have her listed at 7/5 on the morning line, may even go a bit lower considering the connections, and is a logical rolling exotic single.
______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 8: Post: 2:31 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 7-Major Tom
Backups: 6-Love Candy.; 5-No d’Oro.
Forecast With anything close to his best race, Major Tom should be too good for these. Overmatched in his local debut last month, the Northern California-based gelding has finished first or second in 13 of 27 career starts, is dominant in the figure department, and employs an effective second flight stalking style that should produce a winning late kick in this starter optional claiming six furlong dash. However, at 4/5 on the morning line, there’s no real value to be found.
______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 9: Post: 3:00 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 4-Terry’s Boy.
Backups: 3-Vantatic; 9-Yacowlef (Ire).
Forecast: Terry’s Boy has been sprinting most of his career, but he’s run well two turning in the few chances he’s had and in this starter optional claimer over a mile on turf the J. Mullins-trained gelding should easily be the controlling speed if allowed to be. With F. Plat taking the call for this red hot barn and a winner of eight races from just 223 starts, the son of Gold Aly is clearly the top pick and one to beat. At or around 3-1 on the tote, he’ll offer good wagering value.
______________________________________________________________________________
.svg){kind=logo}
