ALGORHYTHMIC, by Vronsky
Trainer: James Kasparoff
Last race: Feb. 25, 6th
Finish: 6th by 10 1/4
Beyer: 43
This Cal-bred maiden’s second start was a debacle. Off slowly from the rail, rushed, steadied and shuffled, empty in the lane. She can improve with a better post and switch to a top rider.

HOWDY, by Sundarban
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Last race: Feb. 26, 6th
Finish: 1st by 2 3/4

Saturday, February 27

Gulfstream - Gulfstream Park Sprint (race 4)

COMMENT: The margin may not have been as big as in his three prior wins, but X Y Jet did all the hard work and kept on going for the win, punching his ticket for the Grade 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen later in March. He bobbled at the start but still shot out to set sizzling splits of 21.84 and 43.92 under pressure from Trouble Kid, dispatched with that foe into the lane while opening up a clear lead, and kept Candip at bay while tiring through the final furlong.

The featured 10th race is one of a handful of perplexing handicapping challenges on the Sunday card at Gulfstream. There are four European imports to analyze as well as some promising runners returning from long layoffs.

ARCADIA, Calif. – A daily double on races 1-2 and a win wager on race 6 is the limited action Sunday at Santa Anita. And the good news, no favorites.

Race 1
The pace scenario is soft in this route for fillies and mares, $16,000 claiming non-winners of three. That benefits front-runner/presser VEGAS BOUND, whose most-recent start at Santa Anita was a creditable third at this level. She subsequently misfired on synthetic at Golden Gate, which only helps disguise her form. On Sunday, she returns to dirt.

Saturday’s card at Santa Anita is a relatively quiet one, with just one stakes race. The Sensational Star is the sixth race, and I’ll play a series of daily doubles linking races 6 and 7.

RACE 6

He wasn’t going to win but our upset key Pick last week, You Had Me At Halo, closed strongly after an eventful trip to complete a $40.80 BreezeFigs exacta with the overwhelming favorite (and our overall key) Caderyn.  It was a special day for BreezeFigs maidens as three of the four maiden races in which they appeared at Gulfstream won—and there were five others at that track during the week.  There were three at Santa Anita (including a BreezeFigs exacta) and another at T

LIAM THE CHARMER, by Smart Strike
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Feb. 20, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 80
Bred for turf and switching to it, this second-time starter improved despite a wide trip. This Smart Strike colt from Grade 3 winner Charm the Giant can win next time at nine furlongs.

Saturday, February 20

Fair Grounds - Mineshaft Handicap (race 5)

COMMENT: A scratch left this race with a small field of five. International Star was the overwhelming favorite as he came into this with a perfect 4-for-4 record here, including an easy win in the Louisiana Stakes on Jan. 16, but he wouldn’t be the only big favorite on the card to lose. Instead, it was Majestic Harbor, a graded stakes winner in Southern California in 2014 and last behind International Star in the Louisiana, who posted the surprise.

Focusing around the single of Tap to It in Sunday’s featured Margate Handicap at Gulfstream, here is my wagering strategy for Sunday’s late pick four there. The horses listed below are ranked either as ‘A’ or ‘B’ runners based on their chances of winning and then plugged into DRF’s TicketMaker program for a $34 play.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Racing programs such as the Santa Anita card on Sunday will test a bettor’s discipline.

Nine races, yes. Attractive wagering contests, no. Most fields are small, and the biggest fields will race on a turf course that might still be wet after a half-inch of midweek rain. Furthermore, preliminary analysis is hardly creative. Eight selections by this handicapper are 3-1 or less; the top choice in the opener is likely to be bet down from a 7-2 line.