SANTA ANITA
RACE 1
NO. 4 FIN DE SEMAINE: Broke his maiden in find style in the $40k maiden claimer and was taken by trainer Keith Desormeaux for that amount. Will likely come back in a starter allowance race going a mile or longer with his brother Kent riding. We will be on him.
AND
NO. 6 SEA CAT: Kitten’s Joy gelding was getting stretched out on the grass. He was 12-1 on the morning line but took some action and went off at 6-1. Won like a good thing. We think he has found a home on the lawn and can score right back versus winners.
RACE 3
NO. 1 GRANDMA’S HANDS: Was in from Tampa for trainer Neil Drysdale and was meeting up with SWEET who was exiting our HTW list. SWEET battled tooth and nail to get the bob on the wire paying a nice $11.60, but to say we were lucky is an understatement. GRANDMAS HANDS was best here but she got caught down on the inside and had to wait for room. Once clear she stormed home to just miss on the line. She is a runner. $$$
RACE 4
NO. 5 LORI’S ATTITUDE/SPINDLE/AUDACIOUS ANGEL/PROUD’N’READY: These four fillies finished second, third, fourth and fifth behind COVER SONG. We just can’t wait to see them back facing each other again. It will be trifecta time. Keep all four on your watch list.
RACE 6
NO. 1 COVER SONG: This filly had the misfortune of starting her career vs. the likes of Songbird last July at Del Mar. The result was not very good. Trainer Carla Gaines put her on the shelf and brought her back in this 6-1/2 furlong downhill turf sprint. She ran a very game race for the win at almost 11-1. We will be on her again right back.
AND NO. 6 NINE POINT NINE: Really wanted to run in the downhill turf sprint but the jock took hold of her as she was pulling him like a plow horse. She was then shuffled back but got going late and was storming home to miss by a half-length. No mistakes next time out, maybe long on the grass.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].