In addition to an estimated $5M pool in today’s mandatory payout in the Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park has a strong 9-race card set to get rolling at the normal 3:30 eastern/12:30 local time. The card has sizeable fields throughout and is headlined by the $100,000 Palos Verdes for older runners sprinting over the main track. Here are the runners I like most at the Great Race Place this afternoon, including a Race 7 tab that is part of a $19,677 carryover in the Sunset Pick 6 wager with Gulfstream.
Race 1:
The Sunday card kicks off with a MSW for 3YOs going 6.5-furlongs down the hill where I will hope to take them all the way on the engine with #2 Work. The Calumet Farm colt tried the turf for the first time two-back going 1 1/8-miles over the Del Mar grass, but battled early and tired late before cutting back to a sprint in mid-January and racing against the flow once again. This time, the son of American Pharoah was able to put away the other speed before getting swallowed by those from off the pace. That said, Work should be ready for a big step forward after a race over this surface, an inside draw, and things likely easier on the front end. Armando Ayuso will be aboard the Doug O’Neill trainee for the first time in the Sunday lid lifter.
Play: #2 Work (9-2 ML)
Race 4:
The Santa Anita Park Pick 6 commences with this optional claimer at 6-furlongs over the main track where there is quite a bit of early speed signed on. This should set things up for runners from off the pace, including top choice #1 Four O Six Creed. The 6YO gelding drops in class in his second start of the year after stalking a dominant gate-to-wire winner on January 19 before tiring late. Not only should the race shape be quite different from the plot last time out, but the Jeff Mullins trainee will be aiming to run down lesser animals. I will roll with this son of Jimmy Creed in hopes jockey Diego Herrera can work out a trip from his inside draw. Tie him up with long shot #8 Gypsy Tears. The Cal-bred gets a rider upgrade to Mirco Demuro and should be passing the majority of his rivals late at a big price. If the race plays out as I see it, there could be a lot of exhausted horses in the lane.
Play: #1 Four O Six Creed (6-1 ML)
Race 7:
I am hopeful the pace is honest at the very least in this first-level allowance down the hill because if so, #2 Take Another Card should be very tough to hold off. The daughter of I’ll Have Another makes her third start of the form cycle after being second best to a dominant winner of the Sunshine Millions Filly + Mare Turf Sprint that has now won 10 of 17 races. With a full field signed on, there is likely to be some pace. Ideally, jockey Florent Geroux will be able to save ground early and angle off the rail for clear sailing late. This filly can finish and has a big chance to earn her third career win against open company later today.
Play: #2 Take Another Card (6-1 ML)
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