The Lead:
Memorial Day weekend at Santa Anita features 11 stakes races Saturday through Monday, including the Hollywood Gold Cup on the final day. Saturday's action boasts 5 stakes in the California Gold Rush series, including the 10-runner Snow Chief Stakes. The 1-1/8 miles turf test for 3-year-old California-breds goes as Race 8 of 10 on the card and will be our focus.
Field Depth:
SHADY TIGER is the lone stakes winner in the field. STOLEN TREASURE is multiple stakes-placed. CURLIN'S KAOS has the strongest company lines having contested a pair of graded stakes in open company.
Pace:
TAKES THREE, STAY ON THE FENCE and STOLEN TREASURE all should vie for the front and there's a chance some sprint-tor-route types will increase what's already a solid pace to fast. A finisher should have every chance.
Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.
#1-SHADY TIGER: Nearly perfect in 4 starts, all sprints, he's shown ability on dirt and turf and has the field's signature victory in the Echo Eddie Stakes sprinting on dirt. May be best as a closing sprinter, but dam did win twice around 2 turns and could squeeze a mile. Feels like a win-or-toss type and shorter price projection pushes me away. with some reluctance.
#2-SIZE DOES MATTER: Only win in 5 starts came in $25,000 maiden claiming debut and had no excuse when third in common race with several Snow Chief rivals. Prefer others.
#3-TAKES THREE: Absolutely got his way on the front end in an April 28 allowance vs. several of these and gave way. Tempo only gets tougher for 1-for-7 colt.
#4-TWO BY FOUR: Out-finished by no less than 4 of his return rivals among his last several starts, he'll need to turn the tables by displaying more late energy than he's shown in a couple of 2-turn bids. Certainly an exotics consideration, but more likely for the minor prizes.
#5-CURLIN'S KAOS: Horse to beat is 2-for-2 in Santa Anita turf miles, beating several of these last time in a visually pleasing allowance prep. Split the field in the Santa Anita Derby and Sunland Derby this spring. Chief concern is 0-4 record without Lasix, which will not be in play Saturday. Still the one to beat.
#6-STAY ON THE FENCE: Dirt sprints in 9 of 11 starts, only routing once and only trying turf once in separate affairs. Needs to make up more than 5 lengths on Shady Tiger and Stolen Treasure while showing something he's not done before in turf routing.
#7-TAMARANDO STAR: Northern California raider can handle the grass and distance, a more known quantity than several of these on Saturday. Has been contesting open company at Golden Gate Fields, which should translate well to SoCal state-breds. Excuse last result when facing older horses.
#8-FINAL STORM: Route pedigree for this lightly raced colt who has only 4 sprints on the resume. Rallying turf sprint winner in first start since Phil D'Amato claimed him out of a $50,000 maiden claiming victory. Fits well here and will be much better price than stablemate Shady Tiger.
#9-STOLEN TREASURE: Runner-up in the Cal Cup Derby and King Glorious on dirt, he returned with a weak effort in the aforementioned April 28 turf allowance prep. Ed Freeman goes back to blinkers this time, though raced with them twice as a juvenile to no avail. Pace player has to hustle from wide draw.
#10-KEEP MOVIN' ON: Drop-back closer likely trails early and will need a fast pace to have any impact. Only 1 win from 6 starts and didn't make enough headway in the common April 28 prep to elicit high hopes.
Most Certain Exotics Contender:
CURLIN'S KAOS is 3: 2-0-1 on turf and unbeaten on the Santa Anita grass.
Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
Ex-maiden claimer FINAL STORM has pedigree to route and could appreciate the move from sprints.
Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$35 exacta part-wheel CURLIN'S KAOS with FINAL STORM, TAMARANDO STAR ($70). $15 exacta part-wheel FINAL STORM, TAMARANDO STAR with CURLIN'S KAOS ($30).
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