SANTA ANITA
GREEN WITH EDDIE: O’Neill unveiled this first time starter and the stable must have unloaded as he went off at 60-cents-on-the-dollar and won like an odds-on runner should. He won with ease while under a long hold late. Could this be his Derby horse for next year?
BARBARA BEATRICE: Was coming off the layoff for D’Amato and was absolutely flying late, finishing fourth but went by the second and third place runners past the wire. We will see this filly going a mile on the grass at Del Mar. We will be betting. $$$$$
LINDANTE: Was exiting our HTW list and got off at a nice 4/1. He broke in the air and was dead last. Talamo had to take to the rail, saving ground, then came out in upper stretch and closed like a rocket ship. Just missed money by 3/4 of a length in a bad beat.
DREFONG: Was last seen winning at Del Mar in November. He really wanted to run today and won this race under a hand ride. Will be a solid single next time out sprinting, and maybe going five furlongs on the Del Mar grass.
TEXAS TWO STEP: Was all over the course in this downhill turf sprint. She still ran on big late to just miss by a half-length. Has the looks of a filly who wants to go long on the grass.
TOO FAST TO PASS: Won this $20k claimer with such ease and was claimed by Peter Miller, who looks to be gearing up for the Del Mar meet that begins Friday, July 15. This looks to be a real good pick up.
AMERICANIZE: First time Baffert was let go in the betting at 8/1 with Mike Smith. He showed big early speed and battled the entire 5½ furlong distance but had to settle for second in this loaded field of 10. He will be hard to beat next out. $$$
SECOND PROPOSAL/RANGI/BACK TO BAKO/ATTA BOY PETE: Just love these races as all four of these runners were exiting the same event. They finished in the order given above with the winner SECOND PROPOSAL paying $17.40; the exacta for two bucks, $115.00; the two dollar trifecta, $1,034 and the $1 super, $2,507.80. Must look at those exiting the same race.
Richard Saber, a former director of race and sports at the famed Stardust book, is GT’s horse racing and sports handicapper. Twitter: @SabesBet. Email: [email protected].