HORSE RACING

[Lumi]

HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

Capt. Sparrow - Dead late closer was left with too much to do in last; class drop can make the task easier here.

Spot the Diplomat - Logical chalk off 5 good races in a row; flattered when Streets of Heaven won next out.

Long Shot - The Final Roar

Race 2 - 1 mile, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up

Good Measure - If Beyer figures mean anything, he's supposed to win; was well bet in his career debut.

Land of the Giants - Exited the same race as the favorite; should improve for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Long Shot - Uncle Greg

Race 3 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $27,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

Mind the Minister - Tiny edge in a tight fit heat; moves from post 11 to 2 and should save a lot of ground.

Joe Carl - Tepid chalk in a wide open race; third start off a 4-month hiatus should be a strong effort.

Long Shot - Green Card James

Race 4 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $32,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Madeline Ruby - Ran a better than looked race in last; class drop is a big help, she will be flying late.

Yasinisi - Not big at winning, but is always earning paychecks at this class level; part of the late cavalry charge.

Long Shot - My Aunt Fanny

Race 5 - 1 mile, Purse $48,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Devine Actress - First race over synthetics; her turf races are all good, shown the ability to rate and fire.

Fund Raiser - MSW graduate from Bob Baffert has high hopes; tactical speed to sit a trip, first 2-turn test.

Long Shot - Eloquently

Race 6 - 1 1/4 miles (turf), Purse $32,000, Claiming $32,000, 4-year-olds and up

Cavanal - Rafael Bejarano had choices and opted to ride for Neil Drysdale; shown he can go the marathon distance.

Yodelen Dan - Jeff Mullins won 6 races with him in 2009 despite exposing him for $10K; must be glad no one bit.

Long Shot - Uffizi

Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $46,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Toro Bonito - Longer odds price of a Bob Baffert uncoupled entry; ran last time like she needed the race.

Manhattan Beach - Been away 6-months, but training like she means business; leap of faith in Garrett Gomez.

Long Shot - Stevie's Afleet

Race 8 - 7 furlongs, $250,000 Santa Monica Handicap, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Proviso - Been away 3-months, returns for Bill Mott; Rafael Bejarano was hot Saturday, can he continue today.

Evita Argentina - Synthetic surface specialist; she is also best at this elongated sprint distance.

Long Shot - Gabby's Golden Gal

Race 9 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Moonskipper - Like the turn back in distance; parking lot post allows Alex Solis to clock the early speed.

Melbisha - Third start off a 3-month hiatus should be her best; like that Garrett Gomez remains loyal.

Long Shot - Warrens Royal Lady

Best Bet - Good Measure (race 2)

Santa Anita Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/5/$29.20; Long Shots, 10/2/$30.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals - 394/101/$646.60; Long Shots, 197/31/$315.20; Best Bets, 24/10/$44.80

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #6 Awesome Bull (6/5) in race 4 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, My Lady A.P. ran out at Tampa Bay. Stats - 23/15/$95.00

 

[Lumi]

At the Gate - Sunday

At the Gate - Sunday

At the Gate - Sunday


Hold That Prospect went gate to wire to win Saturday?s Correction Handicap as my top pick, returning a paltry $3.60 for the win.

Just minutes later, racing at Aqueduct was done for the day, frigid temperatures knocking out the remainder of the card.

Luckily, we had the six races making up the Sunshine Millions to fall back on.

Both of the races in yesterday?s column panned out well.

This One?s For Phil prevailed over Pashito the Che in one of the best stretch duels of the year, winning the Sprint at Gulfstream Park and returning $4.00.

Pashito the Che was game in defeat, beaten just a nose, and completed a $9.40 exacta.

Later at Santa Anita, Bold Chieftain got home as my top pick in the Classic, returning $12.20 for the win.

My third choice Palladio, who was 30/1 on the morning line and bet down to 7/1, completed a nice exacta payoff of $73.60, which was a good way to end the day.




The cancelation at the Big A certainly caught me by surprise, but we should be back in action on Sunday. The forecast calls for a high of 31 degrees with winds at 10 to 15 mph.


Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Clm $7,500 (12:30 ET)
#1 Yukon Gold Rush 4/1
#5 Midwatch 2/1
#8 Newfy 3/1
#3 Cool N Collective 4/1

Analysis: #1 Yukon Gold Rush drops out of a $10K claimer in the mud in his first trip on the inner. The gelding tracked the early pace, was passed by foes on each side and looked done, then came back in the stretch and nearly caught the winner, missing by a half length in a good effort. The third and seventh place finishers came out of that race to win next out. He should get a good tracking trip sitting just off the pace and looks capable of beating this group.

#5 Midwatch has won 3 of his last 4 starts, the lone loss a runner up finish two back behind repeat winner Bon Marie, who came back to beat $16K claimers on Dec. 2, then beat $10K starter allowance foes on Jan. 8. The 11 year old makes his first start for the Autrey barn that is 19% winners first off the claim. The gelding owns a good edge in early and mid pace numbers and may prove tough to catch, but the old timer is going to be a light price.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 1,5 /1,3,5,8
TRI: 1,5 / 1,3,5,8 / 1,3,5,7,8

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 8 Coyote Lakes S. (3:49 ET)
#4 Jade's Revenge 4/1
#7 Tiger's Rock 2/1
#1 Nite Light 8/5
#2 Precursor 10/1

Analysis: #4 Jade's Revenge was off poorly last out and finished up evenly for a third place finish at Laurel Park versus optional claimers. The field was tough, the winner Ah Day a multiple stakes winner and the runner up Understatement came back to win the Evening Attire Stakes in his next outing on Jan. 16. The seven year old has won at the distance, taking the Ft. Harrod at Keeneland over poly back in '08. He looks primed for a good effort, but one of his worst career starts came in his lone start on the inner. The Pletcher duo figure to get pounded at the windows leaving this guy as a possible overlay.

#7 Tiger's Rock won the Gallant Fox last out at nearly 12/1 over his 4/5 stablemate. It was his first go in a stake and just his sixth career outing. He is picking up six pounds off the win while #1 Nite Light sheds two pounds, but he just looks like he has more upside.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 4,7 / 1,2,4,7
TRI: 4,7 / 1,2,4,7 / 1,2,3,4,7

Live Longshots: These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Aqueduct
R4: #4 Dreamnote 10/1
R5: #7 Client Eight 8/1
R6: #8 Wynot Siyue 15/1
R6: #4 Thunder Reigns 10/1
R8: #2 Precursor 10/1
R9: #11 Cottage Industry 8/1
R9: #5 Kristen Elizabeth 8/1

Good luck today!