Free: How I'd play Santa Anita on Sunday, Oct. 25
ARCADIA, Calif. – Sunday is closing day of the autumn meet at Santa Anita, the meet previously referred to as Oak Tree. Two low-odds overlays late on the card illustrate the value that sometimes can be found when fields are big.
A field of 11 entered race 7. A field of 14 entered race 9. Both races include top-choice contenders in sharp form from winning stables.
Races 7 and 9 are the Saturday keys.
Race 7
CHINA GIRL LOVER will be familiar to Daily Racing Form readers in action this summer at Del Mar. China Girl Lover was top choice in the DRF analysis and a featured Game Plan spot play. China Girl Lover won and paid $33.60.
That restricted-claiming race was the first start for China Girl Lover in more than a year. The comebacker was entered “not to be claimed.”
New trainer Dan Hendricks recognized what he had – a lightly raced 5-year-old whose best days were ahead.
China Girl Lover followed with a decisive score in a $25,000 claiming starter and earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure. The win was validated when runner-up Ike Walker returned to win.
In the month since, China Girl Lover has trained forwardly. On dirt, he has two wins and a second from three starts. He has a versatile style in a speed-filled allowance field that will race 1 1/16 miles.
Furthermore, Hendricks entered the weekend having won with five of his last nine starters. China Girl Lover is listed at 4-1. That is good enough for a straight win bet.
Bettors who want to tinker in the exacta might take a look at WIN THE SPACE, whose spring form makes him a contender. He drops and returns to dirt. But the main play is the win bet on China Girl Lover.
Race 9
CASS IN STONE ran a winning race last time when runner-up in a $20,000 maiden-claiming sprint similar to this. He set a fast pace and earned a number (66 Beyer) good enough to win many maiden-20s.
Expectations are that Cass in Stone will run even better Sunday. That is because he was claimed last out by Doug O’Neill from a low-percentage stable.
Blinkers are off, and leading jockey Rafael Bejarano is on. The gelding drew a comfortable post in the outside part of the field. He is not likely to duel. It is more likely Bejarano will allow him to settle.
The gelding should provide a stronger finish.
The 66 Beyer that Cass in Stone earned last time might be fast enough already. If he improves as expected for O’Neill, Cass in Stone should win the final race of the meet. He is listed at 7-2.