Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 1-Biggiebiggiebiggie (Race 4)
Race #1: Selections: 6-1-5
6-Authentically has yet to hit the board in five career efforts for conditioner Val Brinkerhoff, but returns to dirt this afternoon, drops in for a first-time tag, and can improve enough to win this against a suspect group of fillies. 1-Kiss Me Coco steps back up from $20k maiden claimers to today’s $32,000 level, but is the only filly in the lineup with some proven form, having run second twice. The daughter of Stay Thirsty tries routing today, second time Lasix, after finishing in front of a pair of today’s returning rivals on Jan. 9. Beaten by double digits in all three tries, 5-Duchess Cat goes two sprints to a route today and can move forward in a weak Friday opener on the stretch out.
Race #2: Selections: 4-3-1
The speedy 4-Cyprus Moon established a clear lead through solid fractions before folding badly late when last seen on Jan. 9 at this level. The 5-year-old mare by Malibu Moon looks like the clear frontrunner again today, and they will have her to reel in late with Mike Smith. A multiple winner over the track and distance, 3-Special Flower weakened to seventh in her first start in eight months for Team O’Neill, but can move forward today, second off the bench. 1-Shamrockin exits the same last race as the top pair but gets a much better inside post today, switches to Berrios, and removes the blinkers.
Race #3: Selections: 5-2-1
5-East Boca Kibbutz rallied for the place spot after breaking a step slowly off the eight-month layoff for trainer Ron Ellis on Jan. 2, and should break through in start number three, making her second try at this reduced level. The 5-year-old mare sports the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer. Second off the claim, 2-Tupelo drops back down to face maiden claiming types after flashing speed and tiring when last seen at the end of December. The filly shortens up to 5 ½ furlongs today and blew out a solid three furlongs in :34.3 on Jan. 24. 1-Can’tdealwithit returns to Southern California, exiting back-to-back runner-up finishes at Oaklawn on Dec. 13 and Jan. 1. The 4-year-old daughter of Violence makes her third try of the form cycle today.
Race #4: Selections: 1-3-5
The Team O’Neill-trained 1-Biggiebiggiebiggie makes career try number eight today but drops in for a first-time tag, adds Lasix, and draws a cozy inside post after several starts outside. This barn is 7 for 21 (33%) with turf route MDSW to MDCLM dropdowns at Santa Anita the past five years. His stablemate, 3-Classico, returns to turf after the three-month mini-freshening and a well-beaten second when last seen on Nov. 22 behind runaway winner Kid Charlemagne. Lasix on. 5-Keagman (Ire) adds blinkers and drops in for a first-time tag today for the Papaprodromou barn, exiting an even fifth-place finish on Dec. 29 when finishing in front of the top choice. The colt switches to jockey Wil Pyle, who piloted his first winner of the meet last Sunday.
Race #5: Selections: 2-5-1
The lightly raced 2-Aloha Dreamin goes turf to dirt on the class drop for trainer Bob Hess and should prove tough to reel in with an alert break. The 5-year-old mare makes her third try of the form cycle today and was a 5 ¾-length maiden winner when last seen over the main track two back. Turf to dirt 5-Booster Club flew home for the win on debut last March but was sidelined 10 months after that encouraging unveiling. She returned to finish an uninspiring eighth behind the top choice on Jan. 18. The 4-year-old daughter of Clubhouse Ride drops in class today, moving back to the main track, and should improve substantially. The other Hess mare, 1-Morgan’s Bluff, is 1-for-18 but makes her second start off the bench today and at today’s $10k claiming level, and switches to veteran pilot Kent Desormeaux, who has had longtime success for these connections.
Race #6: Selections: 9-1-5-8
9-Dea Matrona (Fr) goes first off the claim for Baltas after a five-month hiatus, but lures Hernanez off the bench and has worked steadily for today’s return to action. She should prove tough if able to run back to that last-out (79) grass Beyer before hitting the sidelines. Class dropping 1-Candy Bar has speed from the rail for Hess and has run competitive turf Beyers that match up well this afternoon. The 6-year-old mare was a game 19-1 upset winner at Del Mar two-back, going this one-mile distance. 5-Tam’s Little Angel has hit the board in the last three turf sprints since switching to Demuro and makes her second start off the bench today for trainer Hector Palma. 8-Shin Jidai (GB) exits a career-best Beyer (81) when runner-up against this $25k claiming level on Nov. 14.
Race #7: Selections: 6-1-3-5
6-Tate Batz (by Pavel) finished a good second in a well-backed Nov. 29 Del Mar debut for Team O’Neill and figures to be tough in start number two with any normal second-out progression. The sophomore filly adds blinkers and Lasix for start number two and switches to Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith. The Ian Kruljac-trained 1-Goodgollytizmolly also finished second in her Dec. 29 unveiling over this course when well-supported on the tote and has worked twice since that solid debut try. Berrios sticks with the daughter of Clubhouse Ride. 3-Goje (by Audible) finished behind Goodgollytizmolly when third on debut for the Papaprodromou barn but should appreciate getting off the rail this afternoon, and this barn has strong second-time starter stats. 5-Another Zero is a 3-year-old daughter of multiple G1 winner I’ll Have Another, debuting for trainer Antonio Garcia. This barn is only 3-for-60 (5%) with firsters the past five years, but this gal lures Hernandez off a solid work tab.
Race #8: Selections: 6-4-9
The 6-year-old gelding 6-Trusty Rusty has proven to be equally effective over dirt and turf. He exits a sharp main track score at Los Al on Dec. 5 for trainer Bob Hess and now switches back to grass for the return to Santa Anita. He’s 0-for-6 over this grass course, but an expected live race flow only helps his chances today, and Hernandez sticks here. First off the claim 4-Feel the Magic has only tried turf once, but that resulted in a maiden-breaking win last February over this course. The 5-year-old gelding is back in blinkers today following the $25k purchase. He fired a “best of 35” bullet four furlongs in :47. 1 prior to that last third-place effort, and is reunited with winning rider Kimura. Second off the claim 9-Please Focus adds blinkers back on for the stretch-out and has a good record going one mile (5-1-2-0) for trainer Steve Knapp. He just missed with Ayuso two-back on dirt and figures for an upfront-pressing trip today from the outside.
