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: 7-Bro Bro; 1-The Schillelagh.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Bo Bro exits a much stronger race, stretches out for the first time and projects to be on or near the lead throughout. He’s won over this turf course in the past and has breezed very well since raced. The Schillelagh is a strong fit on numbers and is guaranteed a ground-saving trip from his good rail draw. He’ll be doing his best work late.
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Santa Anita Race 2: Post: 1:32 PT Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 3-Go Cami Oh; 6-Smokem Hot Girl.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Go Cami Oh plummets in class seeking her winning level and at this modest maiden $12,500 league may have found her friends. She’s a fit on numbers and the stretch out in trip should be within her range. Smokem Hot Girl was an okay second in a slowly run race in her debut over this track and distance in March and certainly has a right to produce a forward move with that bit of experience behind her.
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Santa Anita Race 3: Post: 2:05 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 2-Eye On Ry.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Eye On Ry, scratched out of yesterday’s Siren Lure Stakes for this much more realistic spot, has been below his best form of late but is fast on figures and appears to have found a proper spot to snap back. He’s a bit of a one-paced grinder but projects to inherit a good ground-saving, stalking trip and have his every chance. At 5/2 on the morning line he’s a win play and rolling exotic single.
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Santa Anita Race 4: Post: 2:36 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 8-Miss Miche Lada; 6-Prime Number.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Miss Miche Lada is comfortably drawn outside and projects to enjoy an ideal pace stalking/pressing trip. This class drop to the maiden $8,000 level should make the winning difference but at even money on the morning line she won’t be offering any wagering value. Prime Number is a first timer from San Luis Rey Downs for a clever outfit. How good does she have to be to act at this level? Toss her in somewhere.
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Santa Anita Race 5: Post: 3:08 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 5-Smart Code; 4-Annan.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Smart Code show up for a tag and the class drop should make the winning difference. He’s proven over the course and the barn has strong stats with layoff runners, so we’re expecting the Honor Code gelding to be primed and ready. Annan crushed maidens with a career top number last time out. This is a much tougher group but with another forward move he could be competitive.
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Santa Anita Race 6: Post: 3:38 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 3-Atomic Drop; 5-Ready to Pounce.
Backups: 7-Man Child.
Forecast: Atomic Drop returns to dirt, take as a realistic class drop for a high percentage outfit and looks well placed to regain his winning form. He’s tough on the front end but doesn’t need the lead to win, so regular pilot A. Espinoza can play the break and improvise if necessary. Ready to Pounce was in too tough last time out but a repeat of his race before last charts well here. He’s worth including on the main ticket for protection.
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Santa Anita Race 7: Post: 4:08 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 6-Freedom’s Not Free.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Freedom’s Not Free, freshened since winning the Pasadena Stakes over this course and distance in early March, has trained like he’s primed for another major performance upon his return for high percentage connections. The son of Omaha Beach has a good stalking style and projects to have dead aim and every chance from the quarter pole to the wire.
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Santa Anita Race 8: Post: 4:38 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 4-Canada Gate; 3-Lyell’s Song.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Canada Gate makes his second start off a layoff and should be fitter and sharper today. He’s reunited with “win” rider J. Hernandez and projects to have a strong pace presence throughout. Lyell’s Song displayed promise last summer but had to be stopped on. He continues to train like a nice sort and could easily be this good this time around for top connections.
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Santa Anita Race 9: Post: 5:08 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 1-Smiling Beast; 3-Catmansue.
Backups: none.
Forecast: Smiling Beast was given way too much to do and was no factor when fourth down the hill in a similar affair last time but we’re expecting considerable improvement today with the change to the flat course from his favorable inside draw. Catmansue, a close third in the same race our top pick exits, figures in the fray once again and may be the most dangerous of the closing types.
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