Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 5-Storming Lady (Race #1)
Race #1: 5-Storming Lady was a lukewarm beaten favorite in last closing very wide from post 12 to grab the show spot, and now goes first off the claim for trainer Peter Miller and jockey Juan Hernandez. This 7-year-old mare is a 4-time winner over this turf course; has won at this level going 6 panels; and looks primed for top effort making 3rd start off the mini-freshening. 2-Ready Jet Go seeks back-to-back wins for trainer Andy Mathis and based on recent victory should easily stretch-out an additional furlong. 3-Miss Fia returns off a 7-month layoff at a reduced class level and last two lone turf starts finished 4th beaten less than 2 lengths in both efforts.
Selections: 5-2-3
Race #2: 1-Whistler’s Style moves inside and makes 2nd start off the claim and layoff for trainer Vladimir Cerin. This filly comes off a sharp second going this mile trip; gets in light this afternoon; and barn is 5 for 9 (56%) with a $3.13 ROI the past 2 years at Santa Anita with 2nd off the claim runners. 4-Over Attracted went turf to dirt and earned the field’s best last-out main track Beyer (82) with 16/1 runner-up finish. 3-Bowl of Cherries this will be this filly’s 3rd start in three weeks as she looks for the repeat coming off runaway win against cheaper going 7 furlongs. The immediate question that comes to mind is how much gas she still has left in the tank.
Selections: 1-4-3
Race #3: 2-Mining Crypto goes 2nd time blinkers and has flashed good early zip in each of her 4 career starts. The 4-year-old filly drops back down for a $50k claiming tag today and when last seen trying this level two-back earned close to par for this level. 5-Ryder’s Candy has shown little in 3 starts but drops back down in class today and goes turf to dirt. The filly shows a sharp recent 4-furlong bullet drill October 13 indicating she may have more to offer returning to the main track. 1-Linger is one of two new shooters in here and doesn’t have to be much to compete against these here.
Selections: 2-5-1
Race #4: Beaten favorite 9-My Summer Dream has run close to par in recent starts and figures to be the one to beat on today’s class drop. 1-Uncle Jeff finished behind top pick in last but is another who should appreciate some class relief. 3-Wyfire gets in light and returns off a 13-month layoff for Miller at a significantly lower level while in for a $32k tag this afternoon. The gelding has run well before off an extended break and has worked steadily for his return try. However, he’s winless since Maiden score back in 2020.
Selections: 9-1-3
Race #5: 3-Sugar Sugar deserves another chance at this reduced level after improved runner-up finish on September 23 at Los Al as the beaten chalk. The filly goes out for new barn today off the claim and these connections have solid numbers with new acquisitions. Vazquez sticks here. 5-Miss Baylee drops from $50K to $20,000 Maiden Claimers today and has run above par for this class level in last three starts. 4-Golden Halo has hit the board twice at this level running close to par and fought on steadily in last to grab the 4th spot. The 5-year-old mare makes 3rd start off the bench today and could be set for one of her better tries.
Selections: 3-5-4
Race #6: 8-Pillar Mountain (Ire) was legged up for this over the synthetic at Golden Gate when making first start in over a year for trainer Bob Hess. The 7-year-old gelding was overmatched in lone start here last June but was extremely competitive in prior turf routes at Gulfstream stringing together a pair of victories against better. This jockey/trainer combo scored with Founders Day ($17.40) last Sunday. 1-Opry an accomplished road warrior goes first off the claim for trainer Jeff Bonde off a sharp runner-up finish down at Del Mar this past August. The 6-year-old gelding makes first start at Santa Anita but has been training steadily over the main track here the past 2 months. 4-Alvaaro moves back to grass on the stretch-out and has run some competitive figures on turf albeit against this level or cheaper. The gelding is projected to be forwardly placed.
Selections: 8-1-4
Race #7: This is a competitive tricky $12,500 claiming sprint which usually incites chaos as far as consistency and form goes. The veteran 8-year-old gelding 2-Black Storm is 11 for 52 lifetime and a multiple winner over this track and distance. He comes off a mild closing 3rd at this level at Los Al and now goes first off the claim for trainer Steve Knapp. This conditioner is a strong 7 for 21 (33%) with a $2.82 ROI the past several years with new barn purchases. 5-Reckoning Day was a 10/1 winner at this level earning par for the class in last and did finish a close second here going 7 furlongs. The gelding worked a solid 4 furlongs since that win. Perhaps he can string two together for Dollase. 3-Devoted To You ships in from Canterbury off the claim and moves back to dirt on the cutback. It’s hard to gauge where this gelding fits class-wide over this circuit but he’s flashed speed in recent grass efforts and could work himself out a decent trip here.
Selections: 2-5-3
Race #8: 10-Rexford must overcome the outside draw but is the only colt in here that’s shown some decent turf form for D’Amato. He cuts back to a sprint where he came up just a neck short in debut. 4-Clooney is by multiple G1 winner City of Light that’s had good success with his turf sprint prodigy (10-2-3-3). 3-Captain Sparrow is by Speightstown; comes in with some snappy a.m. drills for unveiling and attracts Hernandez. Trainer Mark Glatt is only 1 for 55 (2%) with turf first time starters, however. 1-Midnight Taxes has some decent grass pedigree on the dam side and could wake up here making his 3rd career start today.
Selections: 10-4-3
