SANTA ANITA
Race 1
This is one bad Thursday card today so tread lightly, we start with 20k maiden claimers going 1-1/16. No. 4 Big Discovery is a Tim Yakteen re-claim, he lost him for 50k and re-claimed him for 20k, nice pick up and he puts Bejarano back on, he was on this gelding for some good efforts, good enough to beat these. No. 6 Money Makin Mike comes off the layoff for O’Neil and looks live, he will be the speed. 4-6
Race 2
In this 5-1/2 furlong sprint No. 5 Fantasy of Luck just looks too fast for these, we will single in the pick five. 5
Race 3
Maiden 2yo fillies go five furlongs. No. 3 You Missed It ran huge first out just missing by a half length going 4-1/2 furlongs, she will be very hard to beat at short odds. No. 4 Unique Bella is a Hollendorfer first-time starter who draws Mike Smith off some big works. No. 5 Princess Coco is a Keith Desormeaux first-timer and his bro Kent will ride, she has some works that say ready also. 3-4-5
Race 4
On the surface no one can win this five furlong sprint for 20k maiden fillies and mares, it’s hit the all button or just take a shot and single No. 7 C J Knows Best on the drop and first off the O’Neill claim off the five month layoff. 7
Race 5
8k claimers go a flat mile on the dirt, remember the turf course is closed as they will be tearing it out to make an all new grass course. No. 1 Betty’s Joy gets the stretchout and will show more speed today at a big price. No. 3 Chia Love is in from Turf Paradise where she has been turfing, she has won two times on this course and two at the distance. No. 4 Larocco comes off a good win and looks the speed of the speed. 1-3-4
Pick five
1st 4-6
2nd 5
3rd 3-4-5
4th 7 (all)
5th 1-3-4
Race 6
10k claimers go 6-1/2 furlongs. No. 4 I B Mike drops off the win, but this trainer hits at over 50% with this move. No. 5 Born to Serve drops off the claim and will be part of the early pace. No. 7 Magna Warrior is a five-time winner here and will be making a late run at the top two. 4-5-7
Race 7
In this mile race No. 1 Broken Up will get the right pace up front to make his late run. No. 2 Tough Emblem will also be coming late. 1-2
Race 8
We get 20k maiden claimers going five furlongs and this is another race that no one can win. No. 1 Warren’s Honey Bee is on a run every other race good race and bad race pattern, this is her good race. No. 3 Truly Ponti is in from the Gate for Bill Morey and Talamo gets the call, she has some speed and fits with this bad crew. 1-3
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].