Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 6-The Reign Song (Race #2)
Race #1: 2-Dominant Soul is only 1 for 17 lifetime and 0 for 10 on the Santa Anita grass, but takes a sizable class drop this afternoon and has prominent early zip. The 5-year-old has run par for this level on multiple occasions. 3-Arrabiata is winless since breaking Maiden last December, but this son of Tapit has been facing much tougher. 6-Bud Knight goes dirt to turf on the class drop. The gelding rarely wins but usually finishes underneath at this reduced level on turf.
Selections: 2-3-6
Race #2: 6-The Reign Song holds the experience edge over most of these juvenile fillies and Solis is 3 for 10 (30%) the past 2 years with 2nd time starters sprinting on dirt. 4-Paddle On Polly showed little in debut but can move forward off that try. 2-Miss Lucilla the other Solis filly by multiple G1 winner Stay Thirsty has worked well enough for unveiling.
Selections: 6-4-2
Race #3: The speedy 2-Octane adds blinkers and is another taking a sizable class plunge for Drysdale. A strong wire-to-wire threat today with key rider change. 3-Kuora drops in class; goes 2nd off the claim and has handled this distance in prior starts. 6-A New Peace goes 2nd off the claim today and earned the field’s best last-out turf Beyer (76) with last runner-up finish. Today’s extended distance, however, is the question mark.
Selections: 2-3-6
Race #4: 3-Synthesis makes second start off the claim (4 for 10/40%) and is proven at the distance after last score March 26. A repeat is well within reach. First time gelding 5-Octopus has been sidelined for nearly a year after being claimed and winning three of his last 5 starts. The fact that he returns without a for sale sign for the Eurton barn must be a positive. 2-Quick Finish has been popular at the claim box and comes off a strong runner-up effort.
Selections: 3-5-2
Race #5: The class dropping 4-Whooping Jay has speed and finished behind multiple graded stakes winner Brickyard Ride in last. 3-Southern Horse moves up off sharp score and owns the field’s best last-out grass Beyer (89). 6-Chaos Theory drops back in for a tag off the mini-freshening.
Selections: 4-3-6
Race #6: 4-Creative Peak adds Lasix and returns off a 7-month freshening for trainer Vladimir Cerin who is 2 for 2 with horses returning off >180 days in Maiden Special Weight events at Santa Anita. A solid work tab adds to the appeal. Beaten favorite 6-Torrid Tommy makes his third career start off a troubled trip 4th and adds blinkers today. 8-Grazed moves up into MDSW level off the freshening and decent Tampa turf unveiling.
Selections: 4-6-8
Race #7: 4-Pray for My Owner showed her typical speed but faded badly in last but should be much tighter making 2nd start off the bench for trainer Mark Glatt. She ran par or better for this level last year. The other Glatt filly 6-Teddy’s Barino is also making her 2nd start off the layoff moving back to the main track off a beaten favorite 5th place finish. 2-Race Judicata owns the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer speed figure (79) and finished behind next-out winner Rose Maddox.
Selections: 4-6-2
Race #8: 6-Nineeleventurbo adds blinkers; has an improving Beyer pattern and makes 3rd start off the layoff today while dropping into Maiden Claimers for first time in career start number 12. 8-Tiz Tact Toe is 0 for 10 but has good early zip and has run par or better for this level on the turf. The 4-year-old gelding makes his 2nd start off the bench today and should move forward for trainer Bob Hess. 3-Candy for Carmel moves inside for top grass barn and makes 2nd start on turf. The gelding is lightly raced and some improvement is still possible.
Selections: 6-8-3
