Coast to Coast Pick 5 play for Saturday, March 9, 2024

GP RACE 9: This turf dash appears wide open, and COPPOLA could record his second consecutive square-priced victory. Normally a front-runner, he came from off the pace to land the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint under a shrewd ride from Edgard Zayas. BIG INVASION took the Grade 2 Nearctic two back in a blanket finish at Woodbine before a troubled neck loss in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Off a fast (96 Beyer) allowance score, KANTHARI should be a speed threat in his stakes debut. PANTHER ISLAND has run three solid races since returning from a layoff, and stablemate YES I AM FREE is a 13-time winner. (5)

GP RACE 10: RED CARPET READY went on an early season tear in 2023 that included a Grade 2 stakes win at Gulfstream before missing the second half of the year. She worked well with stakes winner Sweet Cherry Pie on Feb. 24 at Palm Meadows and might not need one. OLIVIA DARLING ran third behind gate-to-wire winner SPIRIT WIND two back in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl before taking the Grade 2 Inside Information with a 99 Beyer. The Ortiz brothers are at Tampa on Saturday, and the replacement riders for Olivia Darling and Spirit Wind have fared okay for their respective barns. UNIFYING dropped a neck decision to Grade 1 winner Chi Town Lady in a recent stakes at Tampa. (4)

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SA RACE 6: Thinking that someone will press the unbeaten front-runner Kinza, which could set the table for ULTIMATE AUTHORITY. She earned back-to-back 90 Beyers when second and first in two one-mile maiden specials, and Flavien Prat has given her a vote of confidence following her graduation. She galloped out strongly after making an inside move on the turn in her March 1 five-furlong breeze in 1:00.40, with her rider high in the irons. (1)

SA RACE 7: LANE WAY could be construed as a hillside course expert. He has been idle since ending up third ahead of two next-out winners in a Dec. 2 stakes at Del Mar and should be coming from midpack for a high placing. MUCHO DEL ORO lost a heartbreaker last time after attending a lively pace in a restricted stakes down the hill, over which he found the mark in the past. AIR FORCE RED also had success over this unique layout in 2022. He could be ready to fire one his better shots off the long break under Frankie Dettori, who has won three races at the meet for underrated trainer Leonard Powell. (3)

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SA RACE 8: 2022 Santa Anita Oaks winner DESERT DAWN ended a long drought last out when capturing the Grade 3 La Canada and could double up with her confidence on a high. A stalker/closer, she appears to have ample speed to run at under new rider Antonio Fresu, who is 4 for 24 at the meet for trainer Phil D’Amato. (1)

THE PLAY: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 / 1, 2, 4, 5 / 1 / 3, 7, 8 / 4 = $60 ticket

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