After a monster day at Gulfstream Park headlined by Skippylongstocking’s upset victory in the Pegasus World Cup (G1), the action continues at both 1/ST Racing tracks on Sunday afternoon. Gulfstream Park’s final racing card of the week kicks off at 12:20 PM local time with Santa Anita Park once again commencing at 3:30 PM eastern. Within these two slates are yet again a number of carryovers heading into the day. A Sunset Six carryover of $106,872 is one of them involving the last three races at both tracks for a $1 minimum, 15% takeout, retail only wager. The parameters are the same for the Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 other than that is comprised of Races 10 & 11 at Gulfstream Park, Races 5 through 7 at Santa Anita, and has a carryover of $149,416. Additionally, the Great Race Place has carryovers in the $2 Pick 6 and $1 Super High Five making it a Sunday Funday surely worth firing on at 1/ST BET and XpressBet. And as if that is not enough, we have added a Bet $100, get $10 promotion for today’s card at Santa Anita, so be sure to register that for that right away. With all that said, here are a few horses I will be building my wagers around later today in Southern California.
Race 5:
This MSW event for older filles and mares at one-mile over the grass is an important race for those attacking the horizontal carryovers and one where I am willing to single #1 Pura Vida Princess. The daughter of Complexity has struggled to relax in each of her two starts since returning off the bench for trainer Doug O’Neill. O’Neill turns to Emisael Jaramillo, who I expect to get this 4YO filly into the race immediately. Jaramillo will need to avoid getting caught up in an early tussle with #2 Robin With a Why, but otherwise looks like a bit of a standout to kick off the Sunday All-Turf Pick 3 and late Pick 5.
Play: #1 Pura Vida Princess (9-5 ML)
Race 7: Baffle S.
The Sunday feature is this 6.5-furlong affair for 3YOs conducted over the Hillside Turf where #2 Greenwich Village is listed as the 9-5-ML favorite in his first start over the lawn for trainer Bob Baffert. The Quality Road colt was off slow and never a factor in the San Vicente (G2) 15 days ago. He may take to the surface switch, but there is little chance this was the original plan. I much prefer #7 Later Than Planned. The late running colt trailed most of the way before putting in a decent run to split the field in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). He has been on the sidelines since, but enters off a trio of maintenance drills over the main track. The Phil D’Amato trainee should be very tough to hold off late.
Play: #7 Later Than Planned (7-2 ML)
Race 9:
My final play of the day comes in what will be an important finale given the number of horizontal wagers concluding in this 9-furlong test over the sod for MSW foes. One of these days #4 Army Man will find a field he can run away from, but I will take a swing against the 3-1-ML favorite with #9 Saharian. The son of Blame has been beaten handily in two starts thus far for trainer Jeff Mullins, but I liked what I saw in the tail end of his first try at two turns on December 29 in what is a common race between he and a few of today’s rivals. That one-mile race last month was one where those from off the pace had virtually no chance given the race dynamics, but this gelding showed a lot of run after the wire suggesting he has plenty more to give when the things are more honest early on. Trainer Jeff Mullins gets a big rider upgrade to Juan Hernandez in a race that should see an honest early pace at the very least. If so, this guy should be finishing well at a pretty good price.
Play: #9 Saharian (12-1 ML)
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