The Super Bowl Sunday card at Santa Anita Park is highlighted by the Grade 2 Las Virgenes for 3-year-old fillies, and the headliner in that race is the ultra-promising Unique Bella. She looms as a heavy favorite in that spot, even with the presence of 2-year-old champion Champagne Room. I'll try to throw one of them out in my plays, as well as look at the seventh race on Sunday's card.
RACE 6 - G2 LAS VIRGENES
Race 5:
Macho Miah (#1)
Was hindered by a speed-favoring track last time.
Should appreciate the turnback in distance after failing to handle routes in his last two starts.
Didn’t finish that far behind the talented Gold for the King in his last sprint effort.
6-1 on ML
Race 6:
Robbins (#4)
Was never on the rail last time on a day when the inside path was the place to be.
Has been steadily improving with each start.
Here’s my take and betting strategy on the late pick three at Gulfstream on Super Bowl Sunday, encompassing races 10-12, two of which are allowances.
Race 10
With a deep field entered in this 1 1/16-mile race and a short run to the first turn, it seems best to go deep in this race, as some horses will inevitably have wide or troubled trips.
Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 3:50 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs
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Santa Anita | Race 2 | Post Time 1 p.m. (PT) | Go To The TimeformUS PPs
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Race 4
Testosterstone (#1)
Has been in the best form of his career since the switch to Gary Sciacca.
Faces a softer field here than the group of stakes runners he met last time.
Routinely runs his best races over Aqueduct's inner track.
8-1 on ML
ARCADIA, Calif. – Which 1 1/16-miles race for 3-year-olds will be faster Saturday at Santa Anita – race 1 for maidens, or the graded stake that is race 2?
It is not a trick question.
REACH THE WORLD makes the second start of his career in the opener. If he improves from a better-than-looked debut, it will not be a surprise if he runs faster than the winner of the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes a half-hour later.
Or maybe the hype is overblown. But in this handicapper’s opinion, Reach the World at 8-5 on the morning line is a massive overlay.
Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:20 p.m. (ET) | Go to the FREE TimeformUS PPs
Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:20 p.m. (ET) | Go To The FREE TimeformUS PPs
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New York’s path to the first Saturday in May continues with the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers. It serves as the follow-up to last month’s Jerome and leads directly into the final two preps in this series, the Gotham and Wood Memorial.
The most noteworthy aspect to this pick-four play is the stand I’ll take against Pretty City Dancer as she returns from her five-month layoff in the Forward Gal (race 6). She might eventually prove the best filly among the group assembled, but this race is being used as a starting point for what her connections hope will be a big year, and she sure doesn’t have to win right off the bat. I’ll take the chance that at 7-5 on the morning line she’ll be in need of a race.