Opening Day of the Hollywood Spring Meeting at Santa Anita Park yesterday proved challenging for horseplayers evidenced by the number of carryovers set for Saturday afternoon. Not only were the $1 Sunset Pick 6 and $1 Super High 5 unsolved, but the first $2 Pick 6 of the meet as well. This leaves $44,734 for Southern California racing fans later this afternoon. The traditional Pick 6 sequence gets started in Race 5, includes the featured American (G3), and concludes with a MSW over the grass. Best of luck starting the meet with a bang!
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 5:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 6 Marla Hooch
Backups: 1 Jaclyn Lucas
Forecast: The Pick 6 gets rolling with this state-bred MSW over the grass where #6 Marla Hooch looks like the clear one to beat. The Om filly gave up the lead in her second start on February 14 after what I thought was a promising finish to her debut in mid-January. She has been freshened up and should be set for her best against a field of a lot of first-time starters that do little for me. The closest I could come to an upset chance was with fellow Nick Alexander homebred #1 Jaclyn Lucas. The Grazen filly moves to the grass after three runs over the dirt to kick off her career. There is reason to believe based on pedigree that she could improve on the surface switch, but the rail draw is no bargain.
Race 6:
Grade: C
Main Ticket: 12 Bitter Truth; 1 Twisted Humor
Backups: None
Forecast: It is really difficult to make a serious case for anyone, but the two favorites in this rock-bottom state-bred maiden claimer over the main track. #1 Twisted Humor is likely to be the heavy favorite based on the morning line, but certainly has had her chances at short prices already. Her speed from the inside could make her tough to catch, but she is tough to push all-in on. I slightly prefer the chances of #12 Bitter Truth. The daughter of Clubhouse Ride makes her third start at this level after a pair of runs during the Classic Meet. She ran evenly in her first two tries, but will not have to move forward much to beat these.
Race 7: American (G3)
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 7 Genius Jimmy; 2 Sumter; 4 Captain Choochies
Backups: None
Forecast: The Saturday feature is this one-mile Grade 3 event over the sod where I am going to lean on the runners that should be prominently placed in the early going. #2 Sumter is the logical one of those stretching back out to two-turns, but I give big looks to #4 Captain Choochies and #7 Genius Jimmy as well. Like Sumter, Genius Jimmy exits the 6.5-furlong San Simeon (G3) where he ran out of room late and finished third. The stretch back out to a route of ground should have him in a great spot early under jockey Juan Hernandez. Captain Choochies looks over his head a bit on numbers and class, but he has shown a nose for the wire of late to say the least. I am not leaving the Classic Empire gelding off my tickets in a race that feels more wide-open than it may end up appearing on the tote.
Race 8:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Irish Element; 1 Typhoon Tommy
Backups: 8 Macho Man
Forecast: My only real opinion in this beaten claimer at one-mile over the main track is that I am willing to let 2-1-ML favorite #9 White Mountain beat me. The Tapit gelding draws outside and has had his chances at the level. He is consistently finishing in the top four, but that does us little good in horizontals. #2 Irish Element is the likeliest to get the job done, but I will use a few others in hopes of besting the chalk.
Race 9:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 7 Marian Cross; 9 Tequillaandtherapy
Backups: None
Forecast: There appears a major lack of early speed signed on in this first-level allowance down the hill, so I will side with the two gals that should be involved early. #7 Marian Cross showed good speed from the gate regularly before shipping west. Her first two starts for Dan Blacker did not go great, in large part because she has not gotten into races earlier. I am hopeful Emisael Jaramillo can figure that out this time around and take this field gate-to-wire. If not, it is #9 Tequillaandtherapy that should have a pace advantage. The Mrazek filly stalked off a far more contentious pace on March 15 than I expect in this one and tired late. Her best chance of making a bigger impression later today is to be a part of a modest early tempo. Edwin Maldonado should help ensure that she is involved early on.
Race 10:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 9 Bright Eye Bungle; 10 Fan Base
Backups: None
Forecast: The sequence concludes with a wide-open MSW at 6-furlongs over the lawn where I like the two runners drawn to the outside. #9 Bright Eye Bungle broke slow and did not have the cleanest trip in his Stateside debut, but moves outside and should improve here. A move forward should result in his first lifetime score. If not, it is even more wide-open. I will also include first-time starter #10 Fan Base. The 3YO gelding is bred to love the turf and draws favorably for his debut. Trainer Tim Yakteen legs up the underrated Armando Ayuso.
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