My planned wagering strategy Monday at Santa Anita is divided into two parts – an “action bet” early and serious wagers late. “Action bets” are for the sake of action, with little expectation of significant long-term profit – betting for the fun of it.
Only four starters remain in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Stakes, a six-furlong sprint that goes as race 3. Five Palms and Spirit Rules scratched. The program favorite is WILD DUDE (4); the expected pacesetter is DISINCTIV PASSION (5).
Race 6: INVENTOR'S GATE (#1) has a decent late kick, but he also has some tactical speed and an inside post, and that should be an edge in this paceless route. ICE CREAM TRUCK (#10) is another who could benefit from the expected race flow (2).
Race 7: ARBITRATOR (#2) is the one to beat off his latest. MONGOLIAN KING (#7) merits respect off his latest. STAR'S RIDE (#10) stretches out for Zito, who does well with this move (3).
I’m sold on the Michelle Nevin-trained READTHEBYLINE (5) in the Commentator (race 3) on this nice-looking Memorial Day program, awash with New York-bred stakes. The classy gelding and Jose Ortiz could trip out from their advantageous outer post when stalking the likes of Bond Vigilante (assuming he stays in as part of a Chad Brown entry) and the morning-line favorite Saratoga Snacks into defeat.
It bears repeating that American Pharoah will be bidding to make history in more ways than one in the Belmont Stakes on June 6. Beyond attempting to become only the 12th to sweep the Triple Crown, he will be attempting to become the first to complete a sweep of the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes without having previously raced at Belmont Park.
Nothing fancy Sunday at Santa Anita. The proposed multi-race wager is a simple, inexpensive pick three covering races 5-7. The sequence begins and ends with singles. Nine entered the “all” middle leg. Therefore, the bet cost is only $9.
Starting this weekend, they’ve brought back the $300,000 guarantee for the late pick four on Saturdays, so let’s take a swing at it.
It’s a caveman ticket that goes 5 x 4 x 1 x 5 (100 combinations) and merely tries to improve the win odds for A LOT, who looks like a standout in the featured Paradise Creek Stakes.
There are three very small fields to start the card. After that you get a couple inscrutable maiden races. In other words, you have limited options early on. There are a couple runners later on the program who may be of use to you for your in-race and multi-race wagers.
Race 7
