On an attractive opening-day card filled with opportunity, two basic multi-race wagers are the focus Monday at Santa Anita – $3 doubles on races 2-3 ($6 cost), and a 50-cent pick four on races 6-9 ($9 cost). Total cost of the wagers is $15.
Race 2
Sawbuck (2) lost twice as the favorite at this Cal-bred maiden-50 level, but his third-place finish last out was better than it looks. The 3-1 second choice on the track’s morning line, Sawbuck will key the first half of the double.
Race 3
Surprise! A day early, hopefully not a dollar short, since there is only one track operating on Saturday, Christmas Eve, we decided to give you an early gift, maybe. Hopefully we will not duplicate our poor choice of last week, wherein our Pix ran like they needed to be awakened. In a shortened week, however, there were still nine BreezeFigs maidens which won: Aqueduct, Gulfstream (three), Los Alamitos, Parx, Sunland and Tampa Bay (two). Friday's card is all over the place, with several hotly contentious events, including the one below.
Clinger’s Riprap
Trainer: James Hodges
Last race: Dec. 15, 6th
Finish: 3rd, beaten 4 3/4
Beyer: 48
Had outside gate in this dirt route, broke out, and bug rider spent the first half-furlong trying to keep from going eight wide into the first turn. Wound up last behind pace that was slow early and slow middle. Subtly making strong late move when running up on heels a furlong from home. Like with similar next time.
Flashy Shoes
There are five stakes races on this afternoon’s card at Gulfstream Park. Let’s take a look at some contenders who might sneak away as overlays on the tote.
Race 5 – Rampart Stakes
CURLIN’S APPROVAL (3) – 5-2 morning line, 3-1 value line
The final Saturday of the Los Alamitos winter meeting features a pick-six carryover of $308,191. California Chrome is scheduled to run in the final race of the day, the Winter Challenge, and because he figures to be a heavy favorite and logical single, the pick six will begin one race earlier than usual. The sequence consists of races 3-8, with race 3 scheduled for 4:28 Eastern. Here are a few runners to consider using.
There are a number of ways to use trainer stats. Handicappers most often look to them as a means for determining trainer proclivities or to get a glimpse at trainer intent. Has this particular trainer shown a pattern of winning with similar runners, or could the trainer be setting things up for a race in the future?
Close but no cigar. Our BreezeFigs exacta Pick at Aqueduct last week looked pretty good at the sixteenth pole when Blue Belt tired and Sicilia Mike came up to pass him—but a non-BreezeFigs 10-to-1 shot got up late to pass them both; still, they filled out a $272 trifecta. On the other coast, however, our stand-alone Pick at Los Alamitos, Adios Cali, stalked the pace and closed inexorably to nail the favorite at the wire to pay six bucks as second choice.
With five stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday and another six at Fair Grounds, there are betting options aplenty for horseplayers. And the Weekend Warrior plans to handicap those races, taking aim at the Harlan’s Holiday from Gulfstream and the Sugar Bowl and Letellier Memorial Stakes for 2-year-olds at Fair Grounds.
Harlan’s Holiday
