Really intriguing sequence to close out the Golden Gate meet so let’s try to score!
SA Race 8, leg 1: 3,4,5
Small but contentious field of older allowance runners going a mile on the dirt. I probably won’t single, but I do want to lean on #3 Midnight Mammoth (7/2). He exits a couple of graded stakes tries where he wasn’t completely disgraced two back in the Californian. He wants no part of sprinting so getting back to this trip should produce a solid effort out of him. I like that his Beyers had steadily been increasing in four consecutive starts prior to the sprint try and he’s still just a 4 year old so he has more upside than his rivals. I think he could get a perfect trip sitting just off the dueling leaders and getting first run on the deep closers. There’s been some buzz around #5 Missed the Cut (3-1). The horse he defeated two back would end up finishing second in the Dubai World Cup so he’s got plenty of back-class, and his workouts on XBTV have looked excellent. He’s never won on dirt and the layoff is a concern, but is certainly very talented and is one to watch down the line. I’ve always been a fan of #4 American Admiral (5-1). He’s not exactly a win machine(2 for 17, 7 seconds), but he shows up pretty much everytime and he’s the one that’ll benefit if they go too fast up front. I have a gut feeling Tripoli was only entered to ensure this race goes, but he’s one I want to take on a short price if he does find himself in the starting gate.
UPDATE: The 2 and 6 both scratched so I will probably just buy the race since #1 It’s My House could get loose and this field of 4 actually looks pretty evenly matched
GG Race 8, leg 2: 7
Really tough race with several of these exiting the same allowance race just two weeks ago. I watched the replay and thought Anitanewmercedes clearly ran the best race as he was completely against the race flow and still did well to finish 3rd. He’s going to be a short price in here though and has settled for several minor awards lately so I want to take a stand with the new face in #7 Auspicious Style (5-1). He’s got a similar running style to the favorite, but drew outside of him so he should be able to sit just off that rival and have dead aim when the real running starts. This guy is in career form having won four straight races against easier competition, but he’s been crushing those fields and his Beyers have gone up by at least 5 points in all of those victories so who knows where his ceiling is. He’s also been against the raceflow in those last couple of starts, but that hasn’t bothered him a bit. I like the spacing he has coming into this race compared to all of his rivals coming back on short rest to fit in one last grass race before the meet ends. All systems go.
SA Race 9, leg 3: 3,5,7,10,11
Completely wide open main race to close out the Santa Anita card, top choice is the comebacking #3 Ridin’thestormout (7/2). This gal was able to make the front end in a 5 furlong dash at Del Mar last summer so she’s got plenty of early zip. I thought she ran well that day too and she took a ton of money so somebody thinks she’s got some talent. The winner that day ended up winning a stakes at Golden Gate, but the rest of that field hasn’t done much since and the layoff is a concern. Still, there doesn’t appear to be very much true speed in this spot, so she could get brave and take this field a long way. #10 Firsttimeinforever (15-1) and #11 Yolo Calls (20-1) are a couple of comebacking bombers that wouldn’t shock me. ‘Forever’s last start looked good to me on the replay as she closed several lengths to move into contention before flattening out in the final furlong. She looked like a filly that definitely would benefit from a cutback which she gets today. Layoff is a concern, but first time lasix and if she can improve off that speed figure from October this three year old should be right there. Yolo Calls is an older runner who ran a solid third in her debut at Belterra. She’s another coming off a long layoff, but Eurton is sending out nothing but live runners. #5 Make It Snow (4-1) should really appreciate getting back to the turf. That debut run was pretty good considering the barn is atrocious with first time starters and that race has produced several winners since then. And #7 Sultry Kitten (10-1) goes out for a barn that isn’t usually ready to go on debut, but the work tab looks pretty good and she’ll be a solid price.
GG Race 9, leg 4: 1,4,8
And yet another tough race to close out the meet at Golden Gate, my top choice is the #4 Mojave Princess (6-1). She’s shown some speed, but not a whole lot of stick in both of her starts. However, those were against straight maidens and she’s dropping in to face claimers today. The speed figures are actually a really solid fit for this level and if she can improve in her third career start she’ll have a big chance. #1 Dawn at Last (3-1) showed a ton of early foot in her debut and did well to finish second. She earned a 55 Beyer that day, second highest in this field, and Mathis rarely wins first time out so I bet she has some improvement in her. She was claimed that day by Wong who sends her back out in just nine days and I love the confident hike in class. She’s strictly the one to beat. And a price play for #8 Soo Brooklyn (12-1). Her form last year doesn’t look great, but her only start against claimers produced a solid second place finish. She’s been working pretty well for her first start as a four year old.
Ticket:
SA 1: 3,4,5
GG 1: 5
SA 2: 3,5,7,10,11
GG 2: 1,4,8
$45
