Free: How I'd play Santa Anita on Sunday, April 26
Only eight races will be run Sunday at Santa Anita, instead of the nine races that were scheduled.
Brad FreeApr 25, 2015
Only eight races will be run Sunday at Santa Anita, instead of the nine races that were scheduled.
Summer Hit (#6, ML 5-2) makes his second start since June 21, 2014 in Saturday's seventh race at Golden Gate, the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile ran on turf. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is winning at a 30 percent clip when saddling a horse in its second start off a layoff greater than 180 days, for a return on investment of $2.69.
Less than three weeks ago, it looked like Upstart’s Kentucky Derby status was in trouble when he developed a temperature and had some nasal discharge.
Despite difficult weather conditions, El Kabeir prospered over the winter in New York, winning the Gotham and Jerome, finishing second in the Withers, and placing third in the Wood Memorial.
A gal returning to her best game, another filly who looks quite attractive as she makes her U.S. debut, and a gelding who looks like a brand new horse after a layoff give a mid-card pick three (races 4-6) some appeal.
The last three races of the weekend at the Big A intrigue the most. Let's try a pick three.
Relishing the off-going, Tensas Harbor won her third stakes in a row Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, edging clear in the $60,000 Matron Stakes. Defending champ Hot Tempo lodged a rally inside the winner turning for home, only to settle grudgingly for second, a length behind the winner, followed by Synapse in third. Originally scheduled for a mile on the turf, the Matron was moved to a sloppy main track at the same distance following afternoon rains.
Charlie A (#8, ML 20-1) returns in Saturday's 10th race at Gulfstream Park, the one-mile Powder Break Stakes ran on turf. It will be her first start since winning by a head in a 7 1/2-furlong turf optional claimer Feb. 15 at Gulfstream Park. The second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Carpe Diem, expected to be the third or fourth wagering choice for next week's Kentucky Derby, turned in his final major piece of work Saturday morning at Keeneland, breezing four furlongs in 48.60 seconds.
Color’s A Virgin notched her second consecutive victory at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino after she effortlessly captured the featured event of the evening, a $21,000 Invitational Pace for fillies and mares, on Friday, April 24.The reigning three-year-old pacing filly of the year has now gone back-to-back at the top level with her 1:52 2/5 victory and remains undefeated in 2015.