Preview: I’ll be honest, the first time through the races I didn’t look at the turf races because with rain on Tuesday I didn’t think they would run on it today, but with warmer weather and rain 100% in the forecast for Friday, I think they will run on it. Also in the seventh race, two horses popped up from one of the biggest key races of the year at Del Mar.
Our Eyes: This will be a tough race to beat the favorites, but this filly ran her best race going around two turns at Del Mar and she finally returns to two turns today for trainer Eddie Truman.
Our Eyes: Throw out that last race in the mud. Trainer Peter Miller claimed this mare to run down the hill, where she has three wins. Miller and jockey Kent Desormeaux have been hot. Might be a single in the Pick 5 and Pick 4.
Our Eyes: Sorry, not real original here, but everything Miller sends out is live these days. This gelding has been away since November but it’s Miller and Desormeaux again.
Our Eyes: You never see me “dutch” a race but I’m going to here. These two horses are coming out of a Dec. 2 Del Mar race that has produced four winners from five starters, including Rye ($8) on Sunday. Oscar finished third in that race, beating the fifth place Lad by less than 2 lengths. I would bet both to win and place plus play an exacta box. If the odds get really high on one of them, put an extra bet on that one.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win and 6 units to place. EXBX 8-1.
Race 1: #9 Informant (8-1): This filly has never crossed the finish line first as she broke her maiden on a DQ, but she fits here. She is cutting back to one turn and trainer Eddie Truman is 32% third off the layoff.
Race 2: #2 Sawbuck (3-1) BEST BET: This maiden has been favored in his last two and might be here, too. Flavien Prat takes over and this 2-year-old has the second-best early pace rating and the best late rating by Brisnet.
Race 5: #9 Ruby Trust (6-1): There are plenty of top maidens from Bob Baffert and Jerry Hollendorfer in this race, but I’m going with a filly who finished third in a maiden race at Del Mar and that race has produced three next out winners.
Race 8: #8 Mor Spirit (6-1): This might be a prep for this 3-year-old by trainer Bob Baffert, but the fact of the matter he comes out of the Kentucky Derby and six horses have exited that race to win their next race. This ridgling has a 5-2-3-0 record on this track and 7 furlongs hits him right between the eyes.
Preview: The main track has played different on different days of the week. The track usually gets dug up after training hours on Fridays for the later post time so beware. So trainers having a tough meet on the dirt are Cesar Dominguez 0-for-14, invader Chris Hartman 1-for 12, Keith Desormeaux 1-17 and Kristin Mulhall 1-15.
Race 1: 1. Top of the Game, French General.2. Magical Mystery, 3. Bollywood. LONG SHOT: Student Body Left.
Race 3: 1. #3 With a Twist (9-2), 2. Molly’s Honour, 3. Swiss Skimmer. LONG SHOT: General Ann.
This mare’s last race was the first time she has lost on this turf course in four tries. That didn’t stop trainer Jeff Mullins from claiming her and moving her up in class. Mullins puts apprentice Chad Lindsay aboard and I think he wants to go to the front with the rails at 30 feet.
Race 4: 1. #2 Shanghai Beauty (6-1), 2. Vow Me Over, 3. Nazareth. LONG SHOT: Mint Julep Taffy.
Trainer Bill Spawr is a master at the claiming game, winning 34% first off the claim. This filly is actually taking a class drop from an open claiming to a non-winners of two. The 3-year-old bobbled at the start and now Martin Pedroza gets aboardh.
Race 5: 1. #6 Aeon (3-1) BEST BET, 2. Fin de Semaine, 3. Moose Skowron. LONG SHOT: Broken Up.
This gelding showed improvement first time on the turf and gets a key jockey switch to master grass rider Flavien Prat. Trainer Eddie Truman is 32% third time off the layoff and the 3-year-old has that key element of speed on this turf course.
Race 6: 1. Informant, 2. Broken Marriage, 3. Gemini Journey. LONG SHOT: Hellacious Hadlee.
Race 7: 1. Fanticola, 2. Annulment, 3. Generosidade. LONG SHOT: Energia Fribby.
Race 8: 1. Alltheleavesrbrown, 2. Where’s the Moon, 3. Thesheetsguy. LONG SHOT: Valentine Boy.
Preview: Again due to the weather, no turf racing. In fact, no turf racing the entire week per Santa Anita management. Thursday’s card saw speed dominate early but as the track dried out closers were able to win. How it plays today is anyone’s guess.
Finished fifth in a maiden claimer at Del Mar and the top two finishers from that race came back to win. Joe Talamo keeps the mount for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Think the time off will serve him well.
Broke slow in debut last May but still finished third. Trainer Simon Callaghan is 19% with horse off a 90-plus-day layoff. Callaghan is 26% on the dirt and 23% in sprints. Jockey Tyler Baze stays on.
This filly finished second at Del Mar and was claimed but the claim was voided. She comes back at the same level for trainer Eddie Truman, who is 35% with beaten favorites and 39% third off the layoff.Has early speed and might be long gone under jockey Mario Gutierrez.
FIRST RACE: 1. Guessed Right, 2. Shared Image, 3. Fast Magoo. LONG SHOT: Smooth Talker..
SECOND RACE: 1. California Curl, 2. Dressed to a T, 3. Almost Reality. LONG SHOT: Lily Kai.
THIRD RACE: 1. Okaad, 2. Carlot Cowboy, .3. Cant Do the Danse. LONG SHOT: Tester.
FOURTH RACE: 1. Urlacher, 2. Uninvited, 3. Trojan Nation. LONG SHOT: Diplodocus.
FIFTH RACE: 1. Captain Carchy, 2. Affluent Asset, 3. Anthonysgotgame. LONG SHOT: Desert Express.
SIXTH RACE: 1. Pay the Fine, 2. Oil, 3. Distinctive B. LONG SHOT: Feisty’s Cause.
SEVENTH RACE: 1. #1 Audacious Angel (12-1), 2. Not Now Carolyn, 3. Ceeme Run Wild. LONG SHOT: Daring Darling.
At this stage of his career, jockey Gary Stevens doesn’t need to ride long shots but he jumps on this one for trainer Eddie Truman and the paid are 45% together in 11 mounts. Truman is 2-for-10 with second-time starters.
EIGHTH RACE: 1. PRETTY N COOL (best bet), 2. Surfside Tiara, 3. Lucky Folie. LONG SHOT: Imflatoutsweet.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano had his choice of mounts in this spot and chooses this gelding for trainer Peter Eurton and they are a 28% combination. Eurton is 20% off the layoff.