Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 8-Whatmakessammyrun (Race 9)
Race #1: Selections: 1-4-6
Class dropping 1-Naftis gets the tepid vote in the Sunday opener. The 4-year-old gelding takes a sizable class drop this afternoon for conditioner Mike Puype and figures to sit a favorable trip from the rail with Kimura. 4-Belly Up returns off nearly a six-month freshening for trainer Brian Koriner off a spirited work tab, including a sharp “best of 75” bullet five furlongs in :58.4 on March 16. 6-Tallis shortens back up to a sprint for Hess, exiting an even fifth-place finish against similar.
Race #2: Selections: 1-5-4
1-Gray Frost is in super sharp form, having won two straight by a combined 18 lengths. The 5-year-old daughter of Frosted steps up in class but could easily take her third straight for trainer Bob Hess. She holds a significant Beyer edge over the rest of these mares. A multiple winner over the track and distance, 5-Morning Addiction was a troubled trip fifth in her most recent try on March 8 and can bounce back this afternoon, making her second try off the claim. 4-Dorine’s Wild Cat was a beaten favorite wide third behind repeat winner Super Ellie at this level on Feb. 23.
Race #3: Selections: 2-3-5
The multiple stakes-winning 2-Casalu has won two straight for Team Baffert and has already proven she can handle today’s one-mile trip with her victory in the Blue Norther two-back. A threepeat is well within reach, and Prat stays aboard. The speedy 3-Amorita has won two of her last three starts for Mandella and exits a game frontrunning nose win on Feb. 21 over a pair of today’s returning rivals. Grade 3 Jimmy Durante winner 5-Will Then returns off a four-month freshening for conditioner Jonathan Thomas and has trained steadily for today’s return to action. She defeated Casalu in that stake event, but the top choice holds the recency edge.
Race #4: Selections: 2-3-7
2-Grazen Sun is 0 for 5 at Santa Anita but has good early zip and exits back-to-back sharp tries going 1,000 yards under the Los Al lights. 3-Clever Clover goes turf to dirt and drops in for a career-low $10k claiming tag this afternoon. The five-time winning gelding can improve today in this softer spot while returning to the main track. Turf to dirt 7-Square Cat is another class dropper, exiting a wide trip fourth on Feb. 21. The 7-year-old removes the blinkers today on the stretch-out and has enough positional speed to gall into a favorable stalking journey.
Race #5: Selections: 2-3-7
2-Rodrigoknows finished a much-improved third on the stretch-out in the last when facing several of these and now makes the third try of the form cycle today for trainer Alfredo Marquez. The 5-year-old gelding gets a key rider change to grass specialist Umberto Rispoli. The lightly raced 3-King of Clubs steps up in class off a sharp-looking closing one-mile turf Maiden victory on Feb. 22 for trainer Mark Glatt. Another potential move forward puts this son of Clubhouse Ride right in the mix. Prat sticks. The 3 for 32 7-Moogie Sun finished in front of Rodrigoknows in his most recent try on Feb. 23 and should get another live pace flow to close into. This gelding has several underneath vertical exotic finishes and is the type that usually clunks up for a share.
Race #6: Selections: 1-7-9
1-Spun Not Stirred goes turf to dirt and takes a substantial class drop from $75k Maiden Claimers to today’s $30,000 level. The 3-year-old gelding goes second-time blinkers and Lasix today and can improve substantially for trainer Peter Eurton. His runner-up finish two-back at Los Al would be good enough to beat these. Blinkers on 7-Uncle Evco makes his first start on dirt and drops in for a first-time tag for the Michael McCarthy barn. This 3-year-old gelding is by Smiling Tiger, who gets a solid 18% with dirt route runners. Jockey Flavien Prat takes over and has a great record riding for this top outfit. 9-Cano for the Win is another MDSW to Maiden Claiming class dropper going turf to dirt for team O’Neill. This son of multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach should be making up significant ground late.
Race #7: Selections: 2-5-6
2-Big City Miss (by Mr. Big) debuts for trainer Michael McCarthy off a steady work tab. The 3-year-old filly lures Prat for this afternoon’s unveiling, and this jockey-trainer combo is a perfect 3 for 3 (100%-$12.74 ROI) with debuting turf starters. 5-Less Is More drops back down into the Maiden Special Weight ranks while exiting a fourth-place finish in the California Cup Oaks back in January. This daughter of Nyquist has good positional speed and was a sharp runner-up going this trip at Del Mar two-back. Lasix on. 6-Hello Kid O Kid O finished a decent fourth against similar on Feb. 22, and his turf route effort two-back resulted in a strong runner-up finish at 29-1.
Race #8: Selections 1-5-2
1-Rousing Jewel has good speed to coincide with today’s rail draw and drops from a $32k optional claimer to $20,000 this afternoon. The Dean Pederson-trained 5-year-old mare makes her second try off the mini-freshening today and fired a sharp five-furlong drill in :59.2 on March 16. A beaten favorite third in a four-horse field in the last, 5-Big Pop makes her third start of the form cycle today for Glatt and has trained well in recent weeks. This filly is eligible to make a substantial move forward this afternoon and is reunited with Kimura. 2-Raising Silver goes turf to dirt, making her second try off the nine-month layoff for conditioner Carla Gaines. This daughter of Nyquist ran well in all three dirt starts to start her career and can move forward this afternoon.
Race #9: Selections 8-1-2
A winner of two of her last three starts, 8-Whatmakessammyrun drops in class this afternoon while making his third start of the form cycle today for conditioner Mark Glatt. The seven-time winner returns to the straight grass course where he’s been most successful and is reunited with winning pilot Antonio Fresu. 1-Count of Amazonia (Ire) rallied to dead heat for the place spot despite traffic problems when facing several of these on Feb. 23 but must negotiate another come-from-behind trip with today’s rail draw. 2-Mega Moon goes turf to dirt off the Jan. 26 claim, exiting a solid 3 ¾-length victory. This 5-year-old gelding has run equally well on grass and retains Prat.
