It is another big start to the racing week in Arcadia, California when Santa Anita Park re-opens on Friday afternoon. The 9-race slate not only includes a two-day carryover of $64,308 in the Sunset Pick 6, but also a $34,288 carry in the $2 Pick 6. The sequence kicks off at 5:02 PM eastern/2:02 local time with an open claimer at two-turns over the main track and concludes with a state-bred allowance. Here is how I plan on attacking the traditional Pick 6.
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: X
Main Ticket: 1 Austonian
Backups: 6 Tougherthantherest
Forecast: I lack creativity in this $8k claimer at one-mile over the main track where class dropper #1 Austonian looks like the horse to beat. The Cal-bred is 0 for 5 over this surface, but has hit the board 3 times, including twice back in September in his first two starts for trainer Bob Hess, Jr. If he gets an honest pace to run at, he will be tough to hold off, but there is a chance there is not a ton of early speed since trainer Steve Knapp has the two likely pacesetters on paper. If one is scratched, I will use the other on my main ticket, but if they both run, I like #6 Tougherthantherest more. The son of Take Charge Indy makes his second start of the year after battling early and tiring late on January 16 going 6.5-furlongs. He is far from proven traveling a route of ground, but has a chance to control the tempo in the early stages.
Race 5:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 3 Ahrens; 5 Texas Wildcat
Backups: None
Forecast: #3 Ahrens was listed as the 7-5-ML choice in this maiden claimer at 6-furlongs over the main track after dueling early and tiring late against better on the grass last month. It is hard to be overconfident in a horse that finished ninth and 40-1 in his only start, but if he shows that same early zip over the main track, this field is going to struggle to catch him. I will use the Maryland-bred along with #5 Texas Wildcat. The son of Frosted finished second at this level off the freshening last out and should be right there at the wire with a similar performance.
Race 6:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Mici’s Express; 4 Ballyhooligan; 6 Unbridled Vision
Backups: None
Forecast: #3 Handsome Ticket aims to make it two wins in a row in his first start off the claim for trainer Francisco Rodriguez in this conditional claimer, but appears vulnerable as the 9-5-top choice. The 7YO has to stretch his speed an extra half-furlong against better and may not have things easy on the front end. I will try to beat the ML favorite with a trio of runners, including top pick #2 Mici’s Express. Trainer Doug O’Neill has had a great meet winning with well over 20% of his starters and jockey Emisael Jaramillo has been aboard many of those. He brings back this Cal-bred off a 9-month break. His best bests these. Hopefully, he avoids leaving himself with too much to do when they turn for home.
Race 7:
Grade: X
Main Ticket: 2 Sharons Beach
Backups: None
Forecast: I will take a stand in this auction restricted optional claiming maiden event for 3YOs where #2 Sharons Beach is going to be a very tough customer if able to replicate his effort on January 23. Sure, the track favored those forward last month when this son of Omaha Beach ran second by a neck, but he did so to a horse that came back and romped in his next start. Antonio Fresu jumps aboard this likely single that also kicks off the $3 late Pick 3.
Race 8:
Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 2 Memetic
Backups: 8 Pasalubong
Forecast: I am hoping to get serious separation from the public in this state-bed first-level allowance for 3YO fillies since I am against 5-2-ML favorite #7 My Kat amongst others likely to take a good deal of public support. My Kat and several others exit a January 23 race that had a favorable flow for those prominently placed. I thought #5 Memetic ran well in that start despite finishing fifth beaten over 3 lengths. The Calumet Farm runner did not break well and raced against the flow, yet still showed some life late off of just 8-days rest. Now, the Lexitonian filly gets normal rest, which should allow her to put forth much closer to her best. I will also use #8 Pasalubong. The Jeff Bonde trainee was down on the inside in the aforementioned January 23 race when finishing fourth. The move to an outside draw should give her a better chance to relax in the early stages. The daughter of Maximum Security is likely to be a big price.
Race 9:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 2 Mr. Machupicchu
Backups: None
Forecast: I will take my final stand in this state-bred first-level allowance for the boys with #2 Mr. Machupicchu. The son of Conquest Fahrenheit returns to the races after being beaten to the lead in a similar spot on January 17. The Jeff Bonde trainee finds a field with much less early speed signed on, which should allow jockey Kyle Frey to get this one to the lead and never look back. A Kyle Frey late Double to close this card would be a beautiful thing.
.svg){kind=logo}
