Santa Anita Park Thoroughbred Racing

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Sunday racing at Santa Anita features the Daytona Handicap

Written by kstafford on

From: theaspiringhorseplayer.wordpress.com

17 02 2008

Sunday’s racing action at Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, California features a ten race card highlighted by the Daytona Handicap, which will mark the return of the once highly regarded colt Notional for trainer Doug O’Neil. There looks to be some decent wagering opportunities throughout the card and I’ll be taking a stab at each of the pick 4’s playable in the racing sequence. Things didn’t pan out so well yesterday with Cowboy Cal going down and pretty bad showing in the Magna Pick 5.

Early Pick 4 Ticket (#36)

Race 1: 3, 7
Race 2: 1, 6
Race 3: 2, 3, 5
Race 4: 1, 3, 6

Race 1

#3 Good Request (7/5*)
#7 Bullsbay (9/5)
#5 Billion Buck Baby (6/1)

The first race is a $50k Maiden Special Weight for four year olds and up going 1 1/16 miles over the main track. #3 Good Request has been 2nd in each of his last two tries at this distance. Bejarano stays aboard this one rather than the main rival, #7 Bullsbay. Bullsbay is a son of Tiznow that has looked good sprinting in two tries and should prefer the longer distance today. This looks like a two horse race to me. To round out the exotics I’d toss in Billion Buck Baby who moves from turf to dirt for Vladimir Cerin after a sharp workout on 2/10.

Race 2:

#6 Cousins Lew (7/2)
#1 Six Again (5/2*)
#8 Hemet (5/1)

The 2nd race is a $12,500 claimer for four year olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs over the main track. #6 Cousins Lew should get a shot to get out in front early and in a 5 1/2 furlong race that just could be enough. #1 Six Again has been running in 2nd lately and looks like the main threat. He’ll be coming from just off the pace trying to catch Cousins Lew in my opinion. To round out the single race exotics, I’d toss in Hemet, who runs for the playable Frank Moneleone barn. Show honors could well be his ceiling today though. City Stormer and Wilbur’s Mr. Ed warrant trifecta consideration as well.

Race 3:

#2 Yogi’ssplashofgold (2/1*)
#5 Spinning Yarns (7/2)
#3 Gambler’s Justice (4/1)

The 3rd race is a $52k Allowance N1X for state bred 3 year old fillies going 6 furlongs over the main track. #2 Yogi’ssplashofgold has the most annoying name of the field to type, but should bet a nice stalking trip behinda decent pace today. The blinkers come off her and she drops in from the Sunshine Million Oaks where she hit the gate at the start. #5 Spinning Yarns looks like the speed of the field to me. You’ve got to respect that in these sprint races. #3 Gambler’s Justice and I think she has a chance to be at or very near the front as well. Don’t forget about #6 To B. Devon in the single race exotics. I’d probably make a case for Billie Bob as well on the trifecta.

Race 4:

#3 Mrs. Rocha (8/1)
#6 Shawklit Sundae (3/1)
#1 Too Phar( 4/1)

The 4th race is an open $20k claimer for fillies and mares four years old and upward going 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track. I’m going to play “beat the favorite here.” I like #3 Mrs. Rocha tops. She just seems like the sneaky type that trainer Carla Gaines seems to show up with in these races. I see that Brad Free in the DRF is picking her as well, so we probably shouldn’t expect 8/1 on her. #6 Shawklit Sundae looks like a mildly talented filly to me. If she brings her A-game she looks capable in this one. #1 Too Phar simply has too many angles for me to ignore. She adds jockey R. Bejarano, drops in from $45k, and returns to the cushion from a turf effort last time out. That’s enough to get my support.

Race 5:

#8 Cavanal (5/2*)
#9 Art House (7/2)
#1 Great Siege (12/1)

The 5th race is a $50k Maiden Special Weight for 3 year olds going 1 mile over the turf. I won’t spend a lot of time here since it’s not part of a pick 4. Suffice to say there were really 4 horses I liked here. The three you see above and #10 Come in Almighty. Of them all Great Siege appears to have the most value on the morning line.

Race 6:

#13 Sexy Soldier (7/2)
#5 Denaeli (3/1*)
#11 Schaghticoke Hill (4/1)

The 6th race is a $25k Maiden Claimer for fililes and mares 4 years olds and upward going 6 furlongs over the main track. Like the previous race I won’t spend a lot of time here as my focus is on the Pick 4 races. I like Sexy Soldier and Denaeli best. I won’t even waste the time to type the #11 horse’s name again here. Ambitious and Soaring Lauren also warrant single race exotic consideration.

Late Pick 4 Ticket ($36)

Race 7: 5, 6, 8
Race 8: 1, 4
Race 9: 1, 6, 9
Race 10: 6, 12

Race 7:

#6 Veils de Fleur (9/2)
#5 Jack Sie Macz (7/2)
#8 Swinger Doll (5/2*)

The late pick 4 starts in the 7th race, a $40k starter Allowance for fillies and mares 4 years old and upward going 6 1/2 furlongs over the downhill turf course. This was a tough one to start the pick 4 with. #6 Veils de Fleur gets Valdivia back and returns to the downhill turf course. I like the recent form on this one and just felt he might be best today. #5 Jack Sie Macz retains Bejarano’s services and has the whole “3rd start off a layoff” angle to consider. She’s capable with her best stuff. #8 Swinger Doll has been cracking the tri’s and super’s at this level for some time and it wouldn’t take much for her to get boosted a bit.

Race 8:

#4 Gray Black N White (5/2*)
# 1A Make Mine Vodka (4/1)
#7 Wheaton Hall (9/2)

The 8th race is an open $50k Claimer for 4 year olds and upward going 6 furlongs over the main track. #4 Gray Black N White is in sharp recent form with back to back wins in his last 2 efforts. He has the ability to in if on the lead or if he rates just a tad. He’s been freshened and should be counted on to show up with his top stuff. #1A Make Mine Vodka looks like the top contender here. Note the 2 for 3 mark at 6 furlongs. He hasn’t really been that good on synthetics yet, but noe that January 30th workout at 5 furlongs in 59 and change. #7 Wheaton Hall has a chance and can win from off the pace. He’s stepping up in class which suggests John Sadler is confident here.

Race 9:

#9 Notional (6/1)
#1 Desert Code (8/1)
#6 Battle Won (3/1*)

The 9th and feature race on the card is the Daytona Handicap for $75k going 6 1/2 furlongs over the downhill turf course. #9 Notional was once one of the most highly regarded colts in the nation. Sure he might need a race, but the indications are that he’s 100% healthy and ready for this. The workouts suggest he’s back. If so you might never see 6/1 again in your life, although something tells me he won’t go off at anything like that today either. #1 Desert Code and #6 Battle Won are slightly risky plays here because each seems to like the front and is not afraid to duel it out if they get a challenge. That would seem to open up the chance of them burning each other out, but I think one of them will prevail and whoever that is will have a legit chance to wind up on top. Night Chapter warrants some consideration in here as well as he should be rolling late and would be the logical benefactor if indeed the front runners burn each other out.

Race 10:

#12 Sormy Taters (3/1)
#6 After the Storm (9/2)
#8 Topper’s Treasure (6/1)

We end the day with the 10th and final from Santa Anita. #12 Stormy Taters looks like the speed to me and ran a pretty good debut that warrants top honors in this field. #6 After the Storm takes that drop from the Maiden Special Weight ranks into the maiden claiming level that I love so much. #8 Topper’s Treasure is a threat to be running well late. I’d honestly only use the favorite, Madame Kiawah, in the trifecta plays as she doesn’t have the look of a winner to me.

As always, be sure to check for late scratches and changes that could alter the ticket(s). Enjoy and good luck to all!

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