The action returns in a big way on Friday at Santa Anita Park for the start of another 3-day racing week. Not only is there a $69,685 carryover in the Sunset Pick 6, but there is a massive $198,741 carryover in the traditional $2 Pick 6. The sequence kicks off with a tricky maiden claimer in Race 4 and concludes with a full field event over the grass. Let’s get to it!
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.
Race 4:
Grade: C
Main Ticket: 2 Bossing Mo; 5 Oswald, 1 Bandolero
Backups: None
Forecast: I wish I had a stronger opinion in this state-bred maiden claimer at two-turns over the main track, but this group is simply tough to trust. I suppose I am taking the easy way out by using the three logicals. #2 Bossing Mo is likely to set the pace on the stretch out, but ML favorite #1 Bandolero is also going to search for prominent early position. If they go at it early, it should set things up for #5 Oswald. The Turf Paradise shipper ran second with a favorable flow in Arizona in late January. His trainer Don Schnell is 3 for his last 9 when shipping into Santa Anita for a $2.31 ROI making him difficult to toss against these.
Race 5:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 1 Quantum Innergy; 7 She’s a Joker
Backups: None
Forecast: I will fade the ML choice in this state-bred first-level allowance event for the ladies at one mile over the sod. #2 Mayacama has been consistent finishing first or second in 6 of her last 7 starts, but returns to the races after losing without an excuse at even-money versus similar on January 31. The speeds drawn to her outside are likely to make things more difficult on Friday afternoon for this Klimt mare. I will use two in hopes of running by the 5-2-favorite in the lane. #7 She’s a Joker was beaten on the square by Mayacama last out, but has 3 wins over this course and is capable of a move forward in her second try off the freshening. I slightly prefer #1 Quantum Innergy. The daughter of Clubhouse Ride is winless dating back to the start of 2024, but consistently comes with a strong rally from the back. If the pace is as hot as it looks on paper, she could be the one making the final move.
Race 6:
Grade: X
Main Ticket: 3 Tiger Fire
Backups: Maniae
Forecast: I am formful in this non-winners of three at 5.5-furlongs over the main track where 8-5-ML favorite #3 Tiger Fire looks like the horse to beat. The Smiling Tiger filly heads back to the Great Race Place after trying allowance foes at night at Los Alamitos. She raced against the flow battling 3-wide before tiring late two-back in her most recent start at Santa Anita, but should control the tempo from start-to-finish here for a barn that has had a strong meet with limited starters thus far. Armando Aguilar will jump aboard for the first time.
Race 7:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 10 Son of a Birch
Backups: 1 Nesso’s Lastharrah; 9 Charlie’s to Blame
Forecast: #10 Son of a Birch should be tough in this second-level allowance at 6-furlongs over the grass. The son of Temple City made his Southern California debut last month in a compact group going half a furlong longer. The 6YO gelding put forth a solid third that day with a less- than-ideal trip and moves to a favorable outside draw in his second start off the bench. Jockey Florent Geroux should have him in a perfect spot throughout. #1 Nesso’s Lastharrah and #9 Charlie’s to Blame both cutback to one-turn and could be rolling late for the Peter Eurton barn. They will be my backups, but I will be leaning mostly on the Robert Falcone trainee.
Race 8:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3 Cherokee Nation
Backups: None
Forecast: I will take a stand in this MSW at one mile over the main track where for the most part I lack trust in this entire field. Of those with a chance on paper, I landed on #3 Cherokee Nation. #1 Latitude has had his chances against lesser and 9-5-ML favorite #2 Winston Ave was too poor last out to support, so I will give one more shot to this Keeneland September ’24 purchase. Cherokee Nation underwhelmed in his last start, but it came against Grade 3 competition. The $1.15M colt ran well enough to beat this group two-back and is capable of improvement if he can fix the gate issues that have plagued him thus far. Hopefully, Emisael Jaramillo has the keys to this pricey son of Not This Time.
Race 9:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 7 Prime Artist; 10 Keagman
Backups: 8 Mendel’s Tune; 2 Nezha
Forecast: I will fade 3-1-ML favorite #4 Biggiebiggiebiggie in this $50k maiden claimer at one mile over the turf to close the sequence and card. The son of Maclean’s Music has had 8 chances and quite frankly was outperformed by #10 Keagman last time out despite getting past him at the wire. Keagman was forced to chase lone speed winner Classico, while Biggiebiggiebiggie sat back and made a non-threatening run to pass horses who tried to actually win the race. Keagman also has had plenty of chances, but only one thus far with blinkers against maiden claimers. He is a must use, as is #7 Prime Artist. The Leonard Powell trainee drops in class after racing against the flow against protected maidens on January 25. The European import should find this group more to his liking.
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