Opening Day Winter Meet at Santa Anita, Let's Do Some Pony Picks
Opening day at Santa Anita and our guy @BlackSixMark is here to give you some winners. Follow him on twitter for more horse tips.
Christmas is over and it’s time for bowl games and Santa Anita is opening up today. El Pres’ horse Weirdhaircut Seth is in the 5th race and can’t look any worse than Handsome Hank did the last couple times out (Seth ran a solid first race). There are a ton of wide open races today and a couple horse’s that look tough to beat, so let’s win some money.
Race 1 – 6.5 Furlongs 20k Claiming
#3 – Airfoil – Dropping should come of the pace and can get up for the win.
#6 – Moonlight Meeting – Lots of early speed in this race can sit behind the speed and win.
Race 2 – 6 Furlongs MD Claiming 50k
#5 – Gambler’s Wish – Gets in light with Lopez and might be able to steal the race on the front end.
#8 – Mike’s Benchmark – Third try at this level and can close from off of the pace.
#9 – Nusret – Has hit the board twice at this level
#10 – Da Brooklyn Kid – First timer from D’Amato with solid workouts and breeding.
#12 – Little Mustard – Has raced against #9 and 2nd start off of a layoff.
Race 3 – 5.5 Furlongs Mdn 56k – open maiden race
#1 – Escapee – 2nd off of a layoff for Baffert, cutting back in distance and blinkers back on.
#3 – Angel Lane – 200k purchase good breeding and third start for Puype.
#4 – Everqueen – 145K purchase with a bullet 5f workout for solid two year trainer Ellis Ronald.
#6 – Asian’s Way – 1st time starter for Richard Baltas, good workouts monster 1:12 6f workout on Dec 2nd.
#9 – Quigley’s Corner – Proctor first time starter with solid workouts. Sire hits at 20% first time out.
#11 – Candy Boss – 2nd time runner from Sadler with good breeding.
Race 4 – 6.5 Furlongs Turf Daytona Grade Three
#2 – Big Cazanova – Tuff inside post but good class for Peter Miller
#9 – Holy Lute – Good class and speed.
#10 – The Great War – Dropping in class from the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint and solid turf trainer Wesley Ward. I don’t even want to type how much this horse cost. ($1,000,000) Have a feeling he might like the firm Santa Anita turf.
#12 – No Silent – Coming out of the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint as well for Mandella.
Race 5 – 7 Furlongs Mdn 56k – El Pres’s horse Weirdhaircut Seth is the 6th horse in this race at 5 to 1 on the morning line. Early speed stretching from 5 furlongs to 7 furlongs and going up in class. – Another open maiden race
#3 – Danzing Candy – Solid workouts for Sise that doesn’t run them hard training.
#5 – Oppidum – First time lasix for Baffert with a bullet six furlong workout on Dec 6th.
#6 – Weirdhaircut Seth – Early speed stretching from 5 furlongs to 7 furlongs and going up in class.
#7 – Prince of Arabia – Should like the extra furlong for trainer James Cassidy.
#11 – An Khe Pass – Hollendorfer first time starter with solid works.
Race 6 – 1 Mile Turf Mathis Brothers Mile Grade II – Om is cutting back in distance after his respectable 3rd place finish in G1 Hollywood Derby. He looks like the horse to beat.
#2 – Perfectly Majestic – Coming out of the same optional claiming 62.5k race as Fueled by Bourbon. Hopefully tuck in right behind the speed and give him a chance to win.
#10 – Om – Should have no problem getting the lead or right behind Acceptance and should get up for the win from there.
#12 – Fueled by Bourbon – Cool name and third after the claim for 50k by Peter Miller can stay right behind Om and Acceptance and make his move from there.
Race 7 – 7 Furlongs La Brea Stakes Grade I
#2 – Hot City Girl – Monster 7 furlong win by 8 lengths at Laurel Park, will take them as far as he can. Note the solid 4 furlong workout on December 18.
#3 – Cavorting – Pushed 7 wide in the Breeders Cup Philly and Mare Sprint. Should get a much better trip.
#6 – Ben Duchess – Gets an extra half furlong for his great late kick and has some monster workouts at Santa Anita.
#7 – Rattataptap – Has some solid turf back class, good pressing running style and jumps up in class on dirt for D’Amato.
Race 8 – 7 Furlongs – Malibu S. Grade I
#2 – Marking – Lightly raced Kiaran McLaughlin horse with three bullet works at three different tracks. Steps up in class.
#4 – Runhappy – Ran a huge race at the Breeders Cup and looks poised to win another G1.
#7 – Lord Nelson – Baffert horse that loves 7 furlongs and can upset Runhappy, running fresh .
Race 9 – 1 ? mile on turf – OC40kn1x
#2 – Dreaming of Gold – Baffert claim that moves back to turf after a solid dirt prep.
#4 – Tale of Life – Graham Motion shipper that should like the switch back to firm turf.
#5 – Hunt – 4th place finish behind Om in the G2 Twilight Derby, just missed at this level at a mile.
#7 – Street Fashion – Claimed by Graham Motion and gets Jose Ortiz and has run well on the turf.
#9 – Second Summer – Coming out of the Twilight Derby as well, should like the extra distance.
#10 – Unusually Green – 4 tries at this level, cutting back in distance.
#11 – What a View – Lone front runner, can wire the field with soft fractions.
Wagering Options –
Pick Five –
3, 6 / 5, 8, 9, 10, 12 / 1, 3, 6 / 2, 10, 12 / 5, 7
3, 6 / 5, 8, 9, 10, 12 / 1, 3, 4, 9, 6, 11 / 2, 9, 10, 12 / 7
$1,000,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 -
$5 Pick Four – 10 / 3, 6 / 4, 7 / 5, 10, 11
$0.50 Pick Four – 10 / 3, 6 / 4 / 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11
$0.50 Pick Four – 10 / 2, 3, 6, 7 / 2, 4, 7 / 5, 10, 11
$0.50 Pick Four – 2, 10, 12 / 2, 3, 6, 7 / 4 / 5, 10, 11
$0.50 Pick Four – 10 / 3, 6 / 4, 7 / 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11
$0.50 Pick Four – 2, 10, 12 / 2, 3, 6, 7 / 4, 7 / 2, 4, 5, 10, 11
Key bold horses for exacts, tris and supers and the reverse for the more open races.
@blacksixmark