Race 1
Going to start off this 13-race marathon by trying to get Patricia Farro off the Gulfstream duck with POOR ETIQUETTE (#9), who ran creditably first off the claim and might be able to get first run on a couple of the other logicals in here. Obviously, Farro is a far better trainer than her oh-fer suggests, and I’m looking for things to pick up for her sooner than later.
Races 2-5
Really think MCLOVIN IT (#8) will get a nice stalk-and-see trip from her open-air outside box in race 2, a race in which the 8-5 morning-line favorite DESERT VALLEY (#7) seems particularly vulnerable when returning for a tag after a layoff.
We’ll single her to start off the early pick four while bookending the ticket with the solid favorite in race 5, XTRA SPICE (#5), who ran a big race first out when well backed for Bill Mott and should follow through today. We’ll fill in the middle with both logical horses and longshots.
ARCADIA, Calif. – There are signs trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable is on the upswing. He has won with two of his last five starters, including Intoxicating Move in Saturday’s finale.
Through Saturday at Santa Anita, D’Amato had won with 7 of 38 starters at the winter-spring meeting, leaving him in a tie for sixth in the standings.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Forecasters are talking about a chance of rain Saturday night. If correct, the second race Sunday at Santa Anita could be moved from the downhill turf course to the main track.
That won’t matter.
A suggested pick three play on races 1-3 will use “all” in the turf sprint, middle leg of the sequence. If the race stays on the hill, that’s okay also. Turf-sprint favorites have underachieved this winter, winning at a mere 23 percent clip.
The Santa Anita crowd will still be filtering in Saturday when the day’s first overlay starts in race 1.
MINISTERS PRAYER (5) is 8-1 in the opener, a California-bred $50,000 maiden-claiming sprint. The colt’s odds should be at least that high, yet there are reasons to believe he can outrun his price.
Much of the focus for this card will be on the big stakes action later in the day, but some good-sized competitive fields make an early pick three (races 2-4) more than a little attractive as you await the epic clash of California Chrome and Shared Belief.
Race 2
I’m going to start this 13-race marathon by tying together a couple of singles in the first pick three of the day: TUMMINIA (2) as the most likely winner and favorite in race 1 and NUN THE LESS (1), a fresh returnee who gets Jose Lezcano and might well get a nice ground-saving trip before capitalizing on a torrid pace in race 3.
Here’s the first ticket:
Race 1: 2
Race 2: 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Race 3: 1
It was a lot closer than we expected, but Yiannis showed tremendous courage in justifying our Pick last week at Santa Anita going wire-to-wire to pay a paltry $3.80. He was one of 17 BreezeFigs maidens who got their picture taken in the winner’s circle last week,, including two who kicked off BreezeFigs exactas. In addition to Yiannis, two others broke their maidens at Santa Anita, with Aqueduct chalking up three, Fair Grounds three from one stable (including an exacta), solos at Gulfstream, Laurel, and Oaklawn,
The reigning Horse of the Year vs. maybe the most talented horse in the country. A competitive turf marathon out West. Some of the best older horses back East, along with possibly the third-best turf horse in the land. It’s a mouthwatering menu, and best of all, it’s offered in the X-Country pick four, so a correct assessment can pad your wallet, as well as providing racing excitement. Here’s my take:
Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (Gulfstream, 12th)