Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s Daily Santa Anita Handicapping Analysis, Wagering Strategies, and Workout Commentary identify 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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RACE 1: Post: 4:00 PT Grade: B
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 4-Captain Sparrow
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 7-Neon Lights; 3-Midnight Fury.
Forecast: Captain Sparrow had a decent run in his debut over this course and distance last November before being stopped on. The Speightstown colt returns in a soft maiden special weight grass dash for a barn that has strong stats with layoff runners, and with a solid series of drills and as a first time Lasix user with top jockey Juan Hernandez taking the call the Mark Glatt-trained colt gets top billing.
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RACE 2: Post: 4:30 PT Grade: B-
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 5-Super Enticing; 8-Tambo
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 6-Seldovia.
Forecast: Super Enticing looked fairly nice when breezing a furlong in :10 1/5 (mostly on her own, never knocked about) in the OBS March sale before bringing $50,000 through the ring. She debuts in a logical spot (a maiden $80,000 juvenile dash) for trainer Peter Miller, who is winless at the meet but should heat up soon. In an open fray that doesn’t offer much to work with, the daughter of Enticed could win at first asking at a decent enough price. Tambo has the benefit of a prior outing and should produce a forward move, especially from the advantageous outside draw (quicker lanes out there). She was four lengths clear of the rest when second at Los Alamitos in a solid race for the level and this drop into the high priced maiden claiming ranks could prove to be a winning maneuver.
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RACE 3: Post: 5:00 PT Grade: B+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 2-Nineeleventurbo
Backups/savers/Underneath: 5-Seven Wonders.
Forecast: Nineeleventurbo has crossed the wire first in three consecutive races (he was DQ’d two runs back) and in his current (and vastly improved) form the Neil Drysdale-trained gelding seems well-spotted to continue his winning ways while moving from starter company into a first level allowance mini marathon. Today’s three turn trip should be well within his range, and from his advantageous rail draw the son of More Than Ready is guaranteed an ideal, ground-saving trip.
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RACE 4: Post: 5:30 PT Grade: C+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 6-Signora Minister; 3-Ten the Smart Way
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.
Forecast: Signora Minister just won a restricted (nw-2) $25,000 seller at Los Alamitos in game style and seeks a repeat in this (nw-3) $20,000 sprint, certainly a proper and realistic spot. She can be tough on the lead or from a stalking position, so Diego Herrera can assess the pace flow and pick a strategy in flight. Ten Smart Ways probably is the quickest in the field, though she’s always been vulnerable under pressure close home. Her best chance is to shake clear early and hang on late.
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RACE 5: Post: 6:00 PT Grade: B-
Main ticket (in order of preference): 4-Luka Grazie; 3-Moon Ice; 5-Panthera’s Fate
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 2-Dark Marcus.
Forecast: Luka Grazie hasn’t made any significant progress since displaying a bit of promise last year but anything close to his best race should be good enough to earn his diploma in this state-bred maiden special weight turf miler that came up unusually soft. Never the easiest of rides, he removes blinkers (like that angle) and switches to Juan Hernandez, so the son of Boisterous will be tough if he behaves himself. A strong recent workout at San Luis Rey Downs for trainer Peter Miller is another positive sign. Moon Ice stretches out for the first time and projects to be the controlling speed. If he’s ever going to be successful around two turns, it likely will be in his first attempt. Panthera’s Fate had an impossible trip in his debut and with any kind of luck could have won that turf sprint rather than winding up eighth (beaten less than four lengths). The problem is that the trouble (off slowly, rank, running off early, checked hard, no room when trying to rally through the lane) was mostly self-caused. He’s a high-headed type and kind a clueless, but the raw ability is there. Hopefully, the light switch comes on today.
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RACE 6: Post: 6:30 PT Grade: B+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 9-Coffee in Bed
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 7-Halfway to Nowhere.
Forecast: Coffee in Bed is a gifted sophomore filly making just her third career start and her first since finishing second at odds-on in a fast, highly rated first level allowance sprint at Santa Anita in March. She’s been training steadily in recent weeks to be fit and ready, and having won her debut we know she can fire fresh. The daughter of Curlin remains highly regarded and will offer good wagering value at or near her morning line of 5/2 if you can get it.
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RACE 7: Post: 7:00 PT Grade: B+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 1-Twilight Agenda; 5-Amy C; 8-Tony Ann
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.
Forecast: Twilight Agenda is a perfect two-for-two sprinting over the Del Mar turf course, winning Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint two years ago and also capturing this same race, the Daisycutter Handicap, in 2022. Successful in the Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland in the spring, the Wesley Ward-trained filly was then sent to Royal Ascot, where she performed below her best when unplaced in the King’s Stand S.-G1 while facing the best male sprinters in Europe. Overmatched in that race but certainly not against this group, the Irish-bred filly lands the favorable rail and will be tough to beat while either on the lead or from a ground-saving, stalking position. Amy C and Tony Ann are genuine and consistent turf sprinter but lack the resume of our top pick. But if ‘Agenda doesn’t bring best stuff, one or both could make a serious run for it and are well worth including on your main ticket.
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RACE 8: Post: 7:30 PT Grade: C+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 7-Sunrise Mischief; 2-Ballymun; 9-Mr. Dreamcycle
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.
Forecast: The nightcap is a wide open maiden claiming sprint for juveniles. Spread as deeply as you can afford to. Sunrise Mischief has done most of his preparation up north at Golden Gate Fields and Pleasanton. The works look okay and the barn wins races, so at 8-1 on the morning line he’ll offer a decent price chance. Ballymun attracts Juan Hernandez after putting together a decent series of workouts at San Luis Rey Downs. The Peter Miller-trained gelding probably can run a bit and not much more than that will be needed in this event. Mr. Dreamcycle has the benefit of three prior outings and has shown enough early speed to be dangerous against this group. His numbers are gradually rising, and this will be his first start in a seller, so the class drop should help.
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