Free: How I'd play Santa Anita on Sunday, Feb. 21
ARCADIA, Calif. – Racing programs such as the Santa Anita card on Sunday will test a bettor’s discipline.
Nine races, yes. Attractive wagering contests, no. Most fields are small, and the biggest fields will race on a turf course that might still be wet after a half-inch of midweek rain. Furthermore, preliminary analysis is hardly creative. Eight selections by this handicapper are 3-1 or less; the top choice in the opener is likely to be bet down from a 7-2 line.
What to do? Prudent horseplayers will pass and wait for an appealing card. A second option is to peel off a $20 bill and take a couple of small shots for the sake of action. Let’s go with the second option.
Two plays – a daily double ($8 total) linking races 2-3 and an exacta ($12 total) in race 8.
Races 2-3
TIZ A BILLY scored the meet’s most lopsided turf-sprint win last out, a 6 1/2-length romp over maidens. Tiz a Billy returns to the same course in race 2 on Sunday as the 2-1 favorite in the $75,000 Baffle Stakes for 3-year-olds. Tiz a Billy should win right back.
Race 3 is a maiden special weight route for 3-year-olds with CURLIN RULES and LATEST CRAZE. Curlin Rules was given a prep first out; he is bred to route and should improve as the 5-2 favorite. Latest Craze is an 8-1 first-time starter trained by Bob Baffert. The colt’s dam has had one runner. He popped first out at 15-1.
The bet
$4 double ($8 total):
Race 2: Tiz a Billy (1)
Race 3: Curlin Rules (6) and Latest Craze (7)
Race 8
The favorite and “most probable” winner is PEGGY SUE’S LOOSE, but the exacta key is second preference MISS STAR MAKER based on value and pace. Listed at 5-1, she could be loose on the lead.
To complete the exacta, the ticket will use the pace pressers Peggy Sue’s Loose and Awesome Luck, along with the closer Charming Starlet.
The bet
$4 exacta ($12 total): Miss Star Maker (5) with Peggy Sue’s Loose (2), Awesome Luck (3), and Charming Starlet (4)