Free: Santa Anita preview for Sunday, April 28, 2019
Race 1 – Violette Szabo (6) drops from statebred stakes to statebred maiden and should be gone as most probable winner on the card. Her full sibling S Y Sky won her fourth stakes Saturday at Golden Gate, her eighth win overall. Violette Szabo is listed at 8-5.
Race 2 – Five-horse field, $16k claiming mile, led by Pioneeerof the West (4). Ho hum.
Race 3 – This $10k claiming sprint is topped by Jimmy the Juice (6). A deserving favorite yes, but taking 6-5 on a late-runner at six furlongs is to wager irresponsibly. Ten of the last 12 races at the distance were won by a horse positioned first or second after the opening quarter-mile. Spread race?
Race 4 – Five-horse field, $50k maiden-claiming sprint for 3yo fillies, Suprema (4) is favored based on a recent maiden-30 runner-up. First-timer Grey Lady (2) is “live” for trainer Cliff Sise, who last three maiden-claiming firsters produced wins at $41.60 and $24.60.
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Race 5 – Plenty uncertainty regarding King of Speed (5) in this $100k turf mile for 3-year-olds. He had legitimate excuses for recent double-digit losses, but recent works (on dirt) leave much to be desired. “Not impressive” is how workout analyst Toby Turrell characterized his April 18 drill in the Daily Racing Form Santa Anita Clocker Report. Neptune’s Storm (7) will appreciate a return to turf; Big Scott Daddy (4) is bred for turf.
Race 6 – Not a single toss in this six-runner Cal-bred N1X mile. Looks like an “all.”
Race 7 – The 8-year-old Ashleyluvssugar (7) and 7-year-old Hunt (2) are principals in this nine-furlong turf allowance, but the field is deep. Marckie’s Water (4) has returned to form; 12-1 outsider Prince of Arabia (8) will appreciate returning to turf.
Interesting note on Prince Arabia: trainer Jim Cassidy took him off Lasix for races and works this winter after repeated colic episodes. Cassidy does not believe the episodes were caused by the medication; he speculates Prince of Arabia became upset simply by the injection procedure. Regardless, Prince of Arabia has not had a colic or bleeding episode since discontinuing Lasix. Maybe second start back dropping from the G1 Santa Anita Handicap will produce improvement.
Race 8 – Cool Bobby (2) ran better than the line looks last time. He made a premature move, was four-wide on the far turn, and finished second. No knocks on the favorite, although this handicapper prefers California Journey (3). Comme ci, comme ca.
Race 9 – This five-furlong turf sprint for Cal-bred fillies and mares is wide open. Will gamble on Square Peggy (9) if her 5-1 morning line holds. The speedster is primed for her first start back since January, according to Turrell in the DRF clocker report.
First post: Sunday, 1 p.m. PT
