Hammersly: How I'd play Santa Anita for Saturday, June 27
There are a few horses on this deep, competitive final Saturday of the Santa Anita spring-summer meet who could be useful for your in-race and multi-race wagers.
Race 4
NEXT RIGHT showed promise when blasting maidens by 14 3/4 lengths on this main track March 26. He then dueled in his first try against winners on dirt (with a very fast horse named Rocket Heat) and paid the price, weakening to fourth. Trainer Mark Glatt moved him to this hillside course May 30 and again his speed was shown as he set the pace, under pressure, before tiring just a bit to finish a good third. That run was flattered as the horse who beat him for second, It Is Living Water, came right back to win.
Glatt keeps him on the hill and now adds blinkers and there's a dizzying bullet 34.20 seconds breezing (yes, a breeze!) June 23 to say he holds his edge. It also looks as though he is the controlling speed here.
Race 6
After her dazzling debut grass win here Feb. 1, everyone knew CURLIN'S FOX was a comer. She validated that further as in start number two, the China Doll on this course at this trip March 7 she was a fine rallying second. Then they bit off even more - they tossed her into the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks. Not only was she up in class but it was her first start on dirt. She didn't run badly (fourth, beaten 11 1/2 lengths) but it was apparently too much too soon. Trainer Carla Gaines then gave her three things that mattered: some time off, a class drop, and a return to grass. When she returned on this hillside course May 25 she looked super, blasting some nice optional claiming runners (including older fillies and mares) by 4 1/4 lengths while not under a severe drive. Runner-up Divina Comedia flattered her by coming right back to win.
Curlin’s Fox been working wonderfully and looks ready to get back to stakes action.
Race 10
I'm not one to latch onto a first-timer down the hill, but there are exceptions and WHERE WAS EDDIE appears just that. This son of In Excess has worked wonderfully for his debut for trainer Ben Cecil (six furlongs in 1:11.80 here June 14). While In Excess is best known for being a Grade 1 dirt winner he was also a Grade 3 turf winner. There's further help on the bottom side of the pedigree. Not only are all six siblings winners but two of them deserve mention. Half-sister Waveline was a turf sprint winner and was second in the Irish O'Brien on this course and in the Grade 3 Sen. Ken. Maddy Handicap (vs. males) on this course as well, while half-brother Eddie's First has posted all three wins in grass sprints, two of them on this course, including a 9 1/4-length maiden romp in May 2014 when he set a course record.
While he's giving away experience to a few of these, this doesn't look like the strongest bunch, so he might not even have to be as good as those two aforementioned siblings.