SANTA ANITA
Race 1
2yo take center stage to start the pick five. No. 1 Awaken Hope is out of the barn of Jeff Bonde who knows how to strike with a first time 2yo and this filly is out of the dam Fasahah who has dropped 9 winners from 10 starters and has a nice last work. No. 2 So Heres the Thing is trained by Scott Rollins who also can strike with a 2yo and she is out of the dam Ihaveadale who has dropped 3 winners from 3 starters. No. 3 Wild Cause is trained by Mike Harrington who has made a living with his first time starters, she has been working with a purpose. 1-2-3
Race 2
No. 1 Evo Campo is the key player in this 1-1/8 turf route. She gets Bejarano back in the irons and will appreciate getting back to a firm turf course. No. 2 Causeway Carolyn and No. 6 Bert’s Melody the speed will be the main danger. 1**-2-6
Key exacta box 1 with 2-6
Race 3
No. 3 Materialistic just missed when dropped to this $20k level in his last start when stretched out to a mile and now will go 1-1/16. No. 6 First to the Wire will go better with the drop to this level. 3-6
Race 4
No. 4 Benba drops into a spot that makes him a threat. No. 5 Saint Dermot likes this track and is a must use at a big price. No. 6 Native Ride drops in to a perfect spot off the maiden win for his comeback race. 4-5-6
Race 5
Since none of these girls like to win any races we will opt for No. 1 Summer Lady who has only raced seven times and comes off a good second last out and No. 8 Gypsy’s Rule who has just three starts and gets her second chance down the hill. 1-8
Pick five
1st 1-2-3
2nd 1
3rd 3-6
4th 4-5-6
5th 1-8
Race 6
No. 1 Leveler is a first time starter out of the dam Girl Scout who has dropped 6 winners from 6 starters and her last work says she is on go. No. 3 Emmzy is the one to beat at a short price. 1-3
Exacta box 1-3
Race 7
No. 7 He Will is our play of the day, he finds a field loaded with early speed, he will sit back and mow them down in the lane. No. 5 Rocket Fuel has a win and a second from his two starts and looks the main danger. 7**-5
Win 7 and an exacta box 5-7
Race 8
THE GRADE II ROYAL HEROINE AT A MILE ON THE GRASS FOR $200K
This is a loaded field of fillies and mares with 14 entered and what a way to end a day of racing at the great race place. We will take our shot with No. 7 Keri Belle who is in top form and loves this mile turf distance and Alex Solis fits like a glove. We will use her with No. 1 Her Emmynency, No. 10 Havanna Belle who also loves this mile turf distance and No. 14 Fanticola who looks the speed. 7**1-10-14
Key exacta and trifecta box 7 with 1-10-14 and 1-10-14 with 1
CHECK FOR LATE SCRATCHES AND CHECK THAT THE SADDLE CLOTH NUMBERS MATCH OUR SELECTION NUMBERS.
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].