Before you get started on the Rainbow 6, here’s a pick-five play to start the Sunday card at Gulfstream in which I’ll be relying on Chad Brown to win race 2 with the newly gelded Carbon Data, who adds blinkers on a token class drop after having been regrouped.
Two stakes races – one on dirt for 3-year-olds and one on turf for older horses – highlight the Saturday card at Santa Anita. The Sham has a very likely winner entered, but I’m willing to take a stab against him with an intriguing alternative. The San Gabriel features a competitive field and presents a number of options if you’re looking to go against the favorites.
The long road to the 2018 Kentucky Derby begins with Saturday’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, the first graded stakes race for 3-year-olds this season. Seventeen qualifying points are on the line (10 for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, and 1 for fourth).
Saturday's card is a bit paltry on the class side so we’ve given you two to ponder.
Free: Santa Anita horses to watch for week of Jan. 1
Many of the 10 entrants in Saturday's Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita have form drawbacks or are disadvantaged in one way or another.
Matt Bernier analyzes the Kitten's Joy and Mucho Macho Man stakes Saturday at Gulfstream, along with the San Gabriel at Santa Anita.
TimeformUS handicapper David Aragona highlights some contenders on Thursday's card at Aqueduct.
TimeformUS speed figure report for week ending Dec. 31, 2017
Trip notes by Michael Hammersly for stakes races run on December 30, including the American Oaks and Robert J. Frankel.
