Free: How I'd play Santa Anita on Saturday, March 14
ARCADIA, Calif. – A maiden-claiming sprint (race 2) and a maiden special weight route on turf (race 9) offer potential overlay prices Saturday at Santa Anita. Both races include logical choices at generous odds in the program – 9-2 and 4-1, respectively.
Those two maiden races will be keys Saturday, so let’s take a look.
Race 2
EASTER LILLIAN (4) finished sixth of nine in her debut, a maiden-$50K for California-bred fillies that was not indicative of her ability. She had shown speed in morning works and was expected to be among the early leaders first time out. It did not happen.
Easter Lillian was bumped solidly at the start, breaking seventh of nine. She rushed forward while visibly uncomfortable racing inside and behind runners, stayed in the hunt to the stretch, and faltered. It was a disappointing finish position, but it underscored what National Turf clocker Andy Harrington had documented – Easter Lillian has speed.
On Saturday, the filly makes her first start since transferring to trainer Blake Heap. She drops slightly from statebred maiden-$50K to open maiden-$30K and runs back at the same 5 1/2-furlong distance.
With a clean start, Easter Lillian can either set the pace or press the filly drawn on the rail. Expectations are for an improved second start by Easter Lillian. She is 9-2 in the program and will be an early key.
Race 9
ZIP N BAYOU (10) is ready to stretch out and win. She is listed at 4-1 in this one-mile turf race for 3-year-old maiden fillies. The size of the field – a dozen will run – helps ensure that her price stays high.
Zip N Bayou split the field in her turf-sprint debut and then improved the second time out with a solid third-place finish behind future star Entrechat over the same downhill layout. Zip N Bayou showed good late run and galloped out alongside the winner.
On Saturday, Zip N Bayou switches to Corey Nakatani and stretches out to a mile. Sired by City Zip and produced by Grade 1 turf-route mare Auntie Mame, Zip N Bayou enters the race in top form. Yes, she is begging for a route.