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January 7, 2006

The Premier Selection of the Day Plus

Premier Selection of the Day
The Grade 3 Santa Ysabel  Stakes

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Santa Anita

3

7

Itty Bitty Pretty

Strength Rating  Santa Anita Race 3

86 of 100

Synopsis  Santa Anita Race 3

The Grade 3 Santa Ysabel is a $100,000 stakes for three year-old fillies, run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. These lassies were two years old only a week ago, so they are still growing and developing. One filly stands out in this field due to an apparent lack of pace, and that filly is the Doug O'Neil charge Itty Bitty Pretty, she is very fast, having once beaten Diamond Omi in a maiden allowance sprit, and more recently she finished runner-up to Diplomat Lady in a conditioned allowance event after breaking slowly.  Itty Bitty Pretty finished a respectable 4th in the Anoakia, less than 6 lengths beaten by Private World and closing at the line, today's distance of 1 1/16 miles allows her to ration her considerable speed, and that spells doom & gloom for the rest of the competition.  The only two with a chance to upset Itty Bitty Pretty are Sabatini and Sweet Fourty.  Trainer P. Biancone and rider G. Gomez face a dilemma, do they send Sabatini or not, Sabatani has proven she belongs, she closed fast to finish 3rd in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlett, beaten a diminishing three lengths by Diplomat Lady. With only two lifetime starts, Sabatini has probably not fully developed her signature style, and she will need to be versatile to tackle Itty Bitty Pretty.  Jeff Mullins trains Sweet Fourty, runner-up in the Sharp Cat to Balance, the Sharp Cat was won in a time of 1:42 and 2, a fast time, and Sweet Fourty was beaten less then 2 lengths in her 6th and best race to date.  If Sweet Fourty has peaked with her effort in the Sharp Cat, she may undergo a negative bounce today, if not, she has a slim chance to win, either way, she is an exotics probable. Honorable mentions are Incumbent, I Can See and Horse B With You.

Wager Recommendation  Santa Anita Race 3

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$25 Win-Place 7  ($50)
Total $50

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$10 Win-Place 7  ($20)
Total $20

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

3rd Race Off: 1:33
1 1/16 Miles. 3 Year Olds Stakes Purse: $109,200
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
7 Itty Bitty Pretty Valenzuela P A 118 11.00 3.00 2.10
6 Sabatini Gomez G K 115   2.20 2.10
4 Horse B With You Nakatani C S 118     2.10
  Times in 5ths: :232 :481 1:131 1:381 1:443
  Times in 100ths: :23.50 :48.25 1:13.31 1:38.35 1:44.60
Scratched: Sweet Fourty
Also ran: I Can See, Incumbent and Miss Fury
Winning Trainer: O'Neill Doug - Owner: STD Racing Stable and Wood, Jason   
$1  Exacta  (7-6)  Paid $9.60
$1  Trifecta  (7-6-4)  Paid $29.50


Daily Selections


Gulfstream Park

 Daily Selections
The Grade 3 Hal's Hope Handicap

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Gulfstream Park

5

1

Philanthropist

Gulfstream Park

5

2

Seek Gold

Gulfstream Park

5

8

Wiggins

Synopsis  Gulfstream Park Race 5

The Grade 3 Hal's Hope is set to be contested at 1 and 1/8 miles on the main course for four year-olds and up. The competition is very evenly matched, but we can make some strong conclusions about the race. The three horses with the best chance to win are Seek Gold, Wiggins and Philanthropist. The N. Zito trained Seek Gold is very fresh, a big plus, and he is coming right back after his strong second to stable mate Andromeda's Hero in the Grade 3 F. Hooper Handicap at Calder. In 2004, he ran second to Breeders Cup Classic winner Saint Liam in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill, and Seek Gold never shies away from a good fight. Philanthropist, trained by Shug McGaughey, fought tooth and nail to take the Grade 3 Queens County at Aqueduct December 10, and he may have left something on the track that day. With only 14 lifetime races, he may need more seasoning, but he will have his chances today. Wiggins is a promising Illinois bred, trained by the talented D. Romans. Wiggins finally put it all together to win a minor stakes for Illinois breds at Hawthorne in November, and Romans has him in peak condition for the Hal's Hope, he will be a major factor. Most in today's field are
specialists at the 1 to 1 1/16 mile range, and today's 1 1/8 mile distance is going to put a great strain on them, particularly in the final sixteenth.  Several in the field have won minor stakes at the 1 mile and 1 1/16 mile distances, and have an outside chance for the upset today.  They include Ricardo A, On Thin Ice, Network, Dazzling Dr. Cevin, Itsawonderfulife and Niigon. But the top three in my book, by a narrow margin, are Seek Gold, Wiggins and Philanthropist.

Wager Recommendation Gulfstream Park Race 5

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$3 Exacta 2/8 with 1/2/3/5/6/8  ($30)
$1 Trifecta 2/8 with ALL with 2/8  ($14)
Total $44

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$2 Exacta 2/8 with 1/2/3/5/6/8  ($20)
Total $20

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

5th Race Off: 2:44
1 1/8 Miles. 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes Purse:
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
5 On Thin Ice Bridgmohan S X 114 12.60 7.40 5.20
6 Network Castellano J J 114   10.60 5.80
2 Seek Gold Bejarano R 114     4.20
Finish Time: 1:48.05
Also ran: Wiggins
Winning Trainer: Orseno Joseph - Owner: D. J. Stable LLC   
$1  Exacta  (5-6)  Paid $58.70
$1  Trifecta  (5-6-2)  Paid $330.50


Alert  3:53 p.m. EDT:
I
n Gulfstream Park Race 7, #3 And #8 Are Scratched.  No Changes To Wager Recommendation.

Daily Selections  
The Aventura

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Gulfstream Park

7

5

Saint Damon

Gulfstream Park

7

7

Catcominatcha

Synopsis  Gulfstream Park Race 7

The Aventura is a one mile event for three year-olds, which means it is a race for colts that were two year-olds a week ago on December 31.  Think of it as a stakes for mature juveniles. This is an ultra competitive race.  Let's touch base on the top six choices. Saint Damon, although untested at a mile, won the Huntington at Aqueduct in impressive style, rallying on the rail with great late energy. With Allen Jerkens handling him, Saint Damon will give a good account of himself in this, his fifth lifetime start.  Catcominatcha, trained by E. Kenneally, has been a model of consistency in his seven starts. He has recorded a win and a place in Graded stakes competition, and his late running style could take a bite out of the pace today. To temper our excitement, though, Catcominatcha lost the services of regular ride R. Bejarano two races back (J. J. Castellano rides today) and the Cat has not been given a real chance to recuperate from his hard campaign.  In Summation is a real flyer based at Calder, and gets the services of stalwart J. Bailey today. With 53 days off since his last race, In Summation will be ready to battle several others with early speed, as he has dominated many restricted stakes for Florida breds at Calder.  S. Asmussen trains Doctor Decherd, an intriguing colt with only three lifetime starts. the Doctor hopped at the break in a conditioned allowance at Churchill in his last start, and recovered to run a respectable 4th, before that he destroyed a maiden allowance field at Keeneland by 13 plus lengths, and Asmussen will have him ready.  Big Lover has been very consistent, without being outstanding, in his Calder campaign, and R. Alvarado Jr. gets the mount. The best two things going for My Golden Song are his streaking trainer T. Pletcher and his rider J. R. Velazquez, but he is otherwise essentially unproven at this level.  Honorable mentions include D'broken Speed, Little Cliff, Itsallaboutthechase and Barcola. Among these, Little Cliff and Itsallaboutthechase have the most upside.

Wager Recommendation Gulfstream Park Race 7

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$2 Exacta ALL with 5  ($24)
$1 Trifecta ALL with 5 with 7  ($11)
Total $35

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$1 Exacta ALL with 5  ($12)
$1 Trifecta ALL with 5 with 7  ($11)
Total $23

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

7th Race Off: 3:48
1 Mile. 3 Year Olds Stakes Purse:
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
4 Doctor Decherd Bridgmohan S X 116 31.00 12.40 6.80
10 Itsallboutthechase Guidry M 116   8.00 4.80
1 My Golden Song Velazquez J R 116     6.00
Finish Time: 1:37.75
Scratched: Barcola
Also ran: Big Lover
Winning Trainer: Asmussen Steven M - Owner: McCarty  Mike 
$1  Exacta  (4-10)  Paid $161.00
$1  Trifecta  (4-10-1)  Paid $1,431.10

 

Gulfstream Park Pick Three

Strategy
Gulfstream Park Pick Three (Races 8-10)

We follow our race 8, 9 and 10 analysis from below and get several nice value horses. 

Wager Recommendation  
Gulfstream Park Pick Three (Races 8-10)

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$1 Pick-3  2/12 with 2/3/4/5 with 5/6/7/8/11  ($40)

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$1 Pick-3  2/12 with 2/4/5 with 6/7/8/11  ($24)

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com      

 

Gulfstream Park Pick Three (Races 8-10)                                     
$1  Pick 3  (7-5-12)  3 Correct Paid $394.00

 

Daily Selections
The Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Gulfstream Park

9

2

 Sir Greeley

Gulfstream Park

9

3

War Front

Gulfstream Park

9

4

Friendly Island

Gulfstream Park

9

5

Gaff

Synopsis  Gulfstream Park Race 9

The Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap, run on the main course at 6 panels, is host to some familiar old friends. It is of course competitive, and my top two choices are Gaff and Friendly Island.  The S. Asmussen trained Gaff is an Irish import (previously trained by Dermot Weld) by Maria's Mon, Gaff has blazing speed and is fresh off a big win in allowance conditions at Churchill.  Although beaten by War Front (also entered today), Gaff is now acclimated to American soil so look for a change in fortune.  Friendly Island absolutely dominated New York bred restricted allowance events in the Empire State in the fall of 2004, but the T. Pletcher charge impressed me more in the Grade 2 F. J. De Francis Memorial at Laurel six weeks ago, running 4th in very stiff competition.  Look for a good effort from Friendly Island today.  Right behind the top two choices are War Front and Sir Greeley.  War Front is very fast and beat Gaff in September, but has not raced in 70 days, a bit too long for me. Sir Greeley is ideally a miler at this level, but cannot be discounted at today's sprint distance.  Deserving of honorable mention are Storm Surge, Funny Cide, Pisgah and Nighttime Affair.

Wager Recommendation Gulfstream Park Race 9

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$8 Exacta 4/5 with 2/3/4/5  ($48)
$1 Trifecta 2/3/4 with 5 with ALL  ($18)
Total $66

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$2 Exacta 4/5 with 2/3/4/5  ($12)
$1 Trifecta 3/4 with 5 with ALL  ($12)
Total $24

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

9th Race Off: 4:44
6 Furlongs. 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes Purse:
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
5 Gaff Bridgmohan S X 113 13.60 6.40 4.20
3 War Front Santos J A 115   5.80 3.80
4 Friendly Island Velazquez J R 116     3.20
Finish Time: 1:08.50
Also ran: Nightmare Affair
Winning Trainer: Asmussen Steven M - Owner: Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and Michael Smurfit   
$1  Exacta  (5-3)  Paid $39.10
$1  Trifecta  (5-3-4)  Paid $149.10

 

Daily Selections

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Gulfstream Park

10

1

Emperor Fusaichi

Gulfstream Park

10

6

Argento

Gulfstream Park

10

7

Norfield

Gulfstream Park

10

8

Merger

Gulfstream Park

10

11

 Cat's on A Prowl

Synopsis  Gulfstream Park Race 10

The 10th at Gulfstream is a conditioned allowance event on the grass for four year-olds and up. The winner does not jump off the page in this 1 1/16 mile race, because several of the main players have a lot of issues. The T. Pletcher trained Argento is one the more solid selections, he is unraced since May 30 but when Pletcher & J. R. Velazquez team up you can expect a good effort, Argento competed well in allowance conditions on the grass at Gulfstream, Keeneland and Belmont, and tried a minor stakes at Monmouth, finishing 5th in a field of ten, he merits respect today.  Norfield, another Pletcher entry, boasts a professional manner and after breaking through the maiden allowance ranks at Calder, will be ready to continue his success today.  Merger is a S. Asmussen trained Irish import with issues, his American debut was the Grade 2 American Derby at Arlington, finishing only 6 and 3/4 lengths off the highly touted duo of Gun Salute and Purim, but then lost to Gun Salute by 40 lengths three weeks later.  Merger has regrouped to compete well, losing, in two conditioned allowance events at Churchill, he is a wild card today.  Emperor Fusaichi is another colt with issues.  A $300,000 purchase, it took him four tries at the maiden allowance level at Calder before he broke through, and now he is suddenly entered on the turf for the 1st time (by trainer H. Benson), we expect great things but the jury is still out on Emperor Fusaichi. Cat's on A Prowl ran back to back excellent races recently, recording a maiden allowance victory and a conditioned allowance second, both at Churchill, his trainer D. Romans won 95 of 523 races in 2005, Cat's On A Prowl is a distinct threat to win.  Honorable mentions are Gold Cachet (once trained by B. Frankel) and Outer Marker.

Wager Recommendation Gulfstream Park Race 10

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$2 Exacta 6/7 with 1/5/6/7/8/11  ($20)
$1 Trifecta 6 with ALL with 7/8  ($20)
Total $40

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$1 Trifecta 6 with ALL with 7/8  ($20)
Total $20

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

10th Race Off: 5:16
1 1/8 Miles. (Turf) 4 Year Olds And Up Allowance Purse:
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
12 Einstein (BRZ) Bejarano R 120 12.60 6.40 4.20
8 Merger Bridgmohan S X 120   6.00 4.00
11 Cat's On a Prowl Guidry M 122     2.80
Finish Time: 1:45.84
Scratched: I'mroyallymecke'd and Tour de Force
Also ran: Prep School
Winning Trainer: Pitts Helen - Owner: Midnight Cry Stable   
$1  Exacta  (12-8)  Paid $37.40
$1  Trifecta  (12-8-11)  Paid $107.10


Aqueduct

Alert  12:03 p.m. EDT:
I
n Aqueduct Race 4, #4 Is Scratched.  See Updated Wager Recommendation.

Daily Selections

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Aqueduct

4

1

Parade Girl

Aqueduct

4

4

My Favorite Pet

Aqueduct

4

5

Grand Idea

Aqueduct

4

6

Sheza Gotta Secret

Aqueduct

4

8

Chianti Red

Synopsis  Aqueduct Race 4

The 4th at the "Big A" is a maiden claimer for sophomore fillies.  Sheza Gotta Secret was very competitive in her debut, and digressed in her next two races, but she gets FTL (first time lasix) and takes the logical drop in class as well, look out for a good effort today.  Chianti Red could find her way into the exotics with bug boy P. Morales.  Grand Idea will be winging it on the front end for the G. Contessa barn.  My Favorite Pet had a promising debut and comes right back.  Parade Girl has been competing well at Delaware Park.

Updated Wager Recommendation
Aqueduct Race 4

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$3 Exacta 6/8 with 1/2/5/6/8  ($24)
$1 Trifecta 6/8 with ALL with 6/8  ($14)
Total $38

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$2 Exacta 6/8 with 1/2/5/6/8  ($16)
$1 Trifecta 8 with ALL with 6  ($7)
Total $23

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

4th Race, Next Post 2:23 Off: 1:56
6 Furlongs. 3 Year Olds Maiden Claiming ($25,000) Purse: $16,000
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
5 Grand Idea Kaenel K 115 8.00 3.50 2.80
1 Parade Girl Dominguez R A 120   3.40 2.50
6 Sheza Gotta Secret Arroyo N Jr 120     4.40
  Times in 5ths: :231 :47 :591   1:12
  Times in 100ths: :23.23 :47.01 :59.33   1:12.17
Scratched: My Favorite Pet
Also ran: Control Premium, Chianti Red, Tropical Charm, Arete, Intelligent Belle and Weny's Treasure
Winning Trainer: Contessa Gary C - Owner: Moss  Maggi 
$2  Exacta  (5-1)  Paid $19.20
$2  Quinella  (1-5)  Paid $9.10
$2  Trifecta  (5-1-6)  Paid $102.00



Alert  12:03 p.m. EDT:
I
n Aqueduct Race 5, #1 and #5 Are Scratched.  See Updated Wager Recommendation.

Daily Selections

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Aqueduct

5

1A

Sinners N Saints

Aqueduct

5

3

Caiman

Aqueduct

5

6

Taking the Redeye

Aqueduct

5

7

Diligent Gambler

Synopsis  Aqueduct Race 5

R. Dutrow names an entry, Benoit & Sinners N Saints, in this starter handicap on the Aqueduct inner dirt course, to be run at 1 1/8 miles.  Benoit ran only two days ago, and if allowed to run would probably show very little late in the race.  Sinners N Saints, with only 8 lifetime starts, looks more promising and for the most part is improving with each race.  Caiman, who you may remember was one of Birdstone's & Smarty Jones's victims in the 2004 Belmont, needs to do his serious running earlier in the race than he has shown, he is a major exotics threat.  Taking the Redeye would normally vie for favoritism in a race like this, but he must overcome any lingering weariness from a tough 2005 campaign, he will be gasping in deep stretch.  Diligent Gambler has four wins, a place and three shows in eight starts on the Aqueduct inner dirt course, with a recent third in the Coyote Lakes, just 6 and 3/4 lengths back of the streaking Navesink River, he will be hard to keep out of the exacta today.   

Updated Wager Recommendation
Aqueduct Race 5

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$5 Exacta 7 with 1/2/3/6  ($20)
$3 Exacta 1/3 with 1/3/7  ($12)
$1 Trifecta 3/7 with ALL with 3/7  ($8)
Total $40

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$2 Exacta 7 with 1/2/3/6  ($8)
$2 Exacta 1/3 with 1/3/7  ($8)
$1 Trifecta 3/7 with ALL with 3/7  ($8)
Total $24

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

5th Race Off: 2:23
1 1/8 Miles. 4 Year Olds And Up Starter Handicap ($25,000-) Purse:
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
1A Sinners N Saints Luzzi M J 114 14.80 6.50 4.20
7 Diligent Gambler Samyn J L 119   3.30 2.40
3 Caiman Kaenel K 114     3.80
Finish Time: 1:50.27
Scratched: Astrologist and Benoit
Also ran:
Winning Trainer: Dutrow Richard E Jr - Owner: IEAH Stables   
$2  Exacta  (1-7)  Paid $46.00
$2  Trifecta  (1-7-3)  Paid $192.00


Santa Anita

 Daily Selections

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Santa Anita

1

1

Memo Lady

Santa Anita

1

3

Presidential Heat

Santa Anita

1

4

Spy Aly

Santa Anita

1

9

Special Favor

Synopsis  Santa Anita Race 1

Memo Lady returns from a layoff of seven months which directly followed a claim, indicating a physical problem, but the trainer Machowsky enters Memo Lady in a starter allowance today, preventing a reclaim, and she sports an excellent work tab, so expect a good effort.   Presidential Heat won her only start, a maiden claimer so big deal, right?  Well, she won it going away and she meant business from gate to wire, she has a good chance today.  Spy Aly is competing well at this level, and she has gained a lot of valuable experience in her four lifetime starts, she merits respect.  Special Favor is the most accomplished filly in the field, and will probably hit the board again.

Wager Recommendation Santa Anita Race 1

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$5 Exacta 3/4 with 1/3/4/9  ($30)
$1 Trifecta 3 with 1/4/9 with ALL  ($21)
Total $51

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$1 Trifecta 3 with 1/4/9 with ALL  ($21)
Total $21

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

1st Race Off: 12:31
6 Furlongs. 4 Year Olds And Up Starter Allowance ($40,000-) Purse: $28,480
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
9 Special Favor Valdivia J Jr 120 4.80 3.00 2.40
1 Memo Lady Gryder A T 120   4.00 3.20
4 Spy Aly Court J K 120     5.60
  Times in 5ths: :212 :45 :574   1:114
  Times in 100ths: :21.57 :45.07 :57.87   1:11.92
Unplaced horses listed in order of finish.
Also ran: Silk Kerchief, Olympic Experience, Mystical Caper, Lucid, Presidential Heat and Alien Gray
Winning Trainer: French Neil - Owner: Walker  Robert  L.
$1  Exacta  (9-1)  Paid $8.20
$1  Trifecta  (9-1-4)  Paid $51.10


Alert  12:45 p.m. EDT:
I
n Santa Anita Race 3, #2 Is Scratched.  See Updated Wager Recommendation.

 Daily Selections
The Grade 3 Santa Ysabel  Stakes

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Santa Anita

3

2

Sweet Fourty

Santa Anita

3

6

Sabatini

Santa Anita

3

7

Itty Bitty Pretty

Synopsis  Santa Anita Race 3

The Grade 3 Santa Ysabel is a $100,000 stakes for three year-old fillies, run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. These lassies were two years old only a week ago, so they are still growing and developing. One filly stands out in this field due to an apparent lack of pace, and that filly is the Doug O'Neil charge Itty Bitty Pretty, she is very fast, having once beaten Diamond Omi in a maiden allowance sprit, and more recently she finished runner-up to Diplomat Lady in a conditioned allowance event after breaking slowly.  Itty Bitty Pretty finished a respectable 4th in the Anoakia, less than 6 lengths beaten by Private World and closing at the line, today's distance of 1 1/16 miles allows her to ration her considerable speed, and that spells doom & gloom for the rest of the competition.  The only two with a chance to upset Itty Bitty Pretty are Sabatini and Sweet Fourty.  Trainer P. Biancone and rider G. Gomez face a dilemma, do they send Sabatini or not, Sabatani has proven she belongs, she closed fast to finish 3rd in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlett, beaten a diminishing three lengths by Diplomat Lady. With only two lifetime starts, Sabatini has probably not fully developed her signature style, and she will need to be versatile to tackle Itty Bitty Pretty.  Jeff Mullins trains Sweet Fourty, runner-up in the Sharp Cat to Balance, the Sharp Cat was won in a time of 1:42 and 2, a fast time, and Sweet Fourty was beaten less then 2 lengths in her 6th and best race to date.  If Sweet Fourty has peaked with her effort in the Sharp Cat, she may undergo a negative bounce today, if not, she has a slim chance to win, either way, she is an exotics probable. Honorable mentions are Incumbent, I Can See and Horse B With You.

Updated Wager Recommendation
Santa Anita Race 3

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$20 Exacta 7 with 6  ($20)
$5 Exacta 7 with 1/3/4  ($15)
$5 Exacta 6 with 7  ($5)
$2 Trifecta 6/7 with 6/7 with ALL  ($16)
Total $56

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$2 Trifecta 6/7 with 6/7 with ALL  ($16)
Total $16

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

3rd Race Off: 1:33
1 1/16 Miles. 3 Year Olds Stakes Purse: $109,200
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
7 Itty Bitty Pretty Valenzuela P A 118 11.00 3.00 2.10
6 Sabatini Gomez G K 115   2.20 2.10
4 Horse B With You Nakatani C S 118     2.10
  Times in 5ths: :232 :481 1:131 1:381 1:443
  Times in 100ths: :23.50 :48.25 1:13.31 1:38.35 1:44.60
Scratched: Sweet Fourty
Also ran: I Can See, Incumbent and Miss Fury
Winning Trainer: O'Neill Doug - Owner: STD Racing Stable and Wood, Jason   
$1  Exacta  (7-6)  Paid $9.60
$1  Trifecta  (7-6-4)  Paid $29.50

 

 Daily Selections
The Grade 2 San Pasquel Handicap

Track

Race

Key Horse

Horse Name

Santa Anita

7

1

Bully Hayes

Santa Anita

7

3

Turnbolt

Santa Anita

7

4

Spellbinder

Santa Anita

7

5

Buckland Manor

Santa Anita

7

6

High Limit

Synopsis  Santa Anita Race 7

The San Pasquel is a $150,000 Grade 2 Handicap run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, eligible for four year-olds and up.  This race is a slippery one to handicap because some of the main players are returning from layoffs, but they are from winning barns and could well be in winning form. The best we can do is identify the top five players and gauge the chances of each. A slight nod, by no means significant, has to go to the sturdy Bully Hayes, a six year-old with only 6 lifetime starts but in the midst of a heady streak, with a conditioned allowance win, a win & a show in optional claimers and most recently a second in a Graded stakes (the Native Diver).  Bully Hayes does not intimidate but is very, very willing.  Turnbolt, by Deputy Minister, seems destined to run on the grass, but R. Mandella is forced to keep entering him on the main track, as Turnbolt continues to get faster & faster. In the Grade 3 V. O. Underwood at Hollywood, Turnbolt turned in a major effort, recording a Beyer of 107, the best figure of his career by far, a problem with head strong sprinters like Turnbolt is teaching them how to throttle their speed, he is a threat either way.  R. Mandella also enters Spellbinder, with M. Pedroza named to ride, recently Spellbinder has been trading blows with Bully Hayes, a negative bounce is about to come , though, because Spellbinder has only 4 wins in 16 lifetime starts, but Spellbinder has a chance if he can avoid the bounce.   Paco Gonzalez enters Buckland Manor, an established top level turf runner, returning from a 4 month layoff, begging the question why the dirt, Manor has recorded big time figures on the dirt before, but this has the look of a turf prep to me, maybe.  High Limit is well known for an outstanding sophomore campaign, including a win in the Louisiana Derby and a second place finish in the Blue Grass.  High Limit is at his best controlling the pace of a route on the dirt, and today he is not likely to do that, still he is a threat.

Wager Recommendation Santa Anita Race 7

 For "Deep Pockets" Bettors
$5 Exacta 1 with 3/4/5/6  ($20)
$3 Exacta 3/4/5/6 with 1  ($12)
$1 Trifecta 3/4/5/6 with 1 with ALL  ($20)
Total $52

 For "Lighter" Bettors
$1 Trifecta 3/4/5/6 with 1 with ALL  ($20)
Total $20

Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

 

7th Race Off: 3:40
1 1/16 Miles. 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes Purse:
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
6 High Limit Valenzuela P A 118 7.80 4.40 3.80
5 Buckland Manor Desormeaux K J 116   4.00 3.40
4 Spellbinder Pedroza M A 115     4.80
Finish Time: 1:43.64
Also ran: Turnbolt
Winning Trainer: Frankel Robert - Owner: Gary and Mary West Stables, Inc.   
$1  Exacta  (6-5)  Paid $15.30
$1  Trifecta  (6-5-4)  Paid $79.20


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