Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 3-Ce Ce (Race 6)
Race #1: The Sunday opener is a competitive Maiden Special Weight grass route for juvenile fillies and looks like a spread race for those participating in the early pick 5. 5-Pride of the Nile drops back down to straight MDSW ranks after decent 4th place wide trip effort in DMR Juvenile Fillies Stake 3 weeks ago and Hernandez climbs aboard. 3-Three Strands attracted decent tote support in debut off 4th place finish and barn has solid numbers with second time starters. 2-La Peer was a beaten favorite in washed off turf event September 9 and returns to grass today for D’Amato. 1-Fourth Street removes the blinkers today; stretches out; and moves to grass. The filly doesn’t have a ton of turf pedigree but is improving and makes the all-important 3rd career start. 9-Sakura Flavor did not draw well but has worked well for unveiling. This barn doesn’t usually fire fresh (Only 1 for 55 the past 5 years), but she’s by multiple G1 winner Kingman (GB) who gets a strong 27% with his grass route prodigy.
Selections: 5-3-2
Race #2: 3-Troubadour was freshened off subpar DMR effort July 24 and drops in class and returns to preferred oval where he’s posted his career best Beyer figures (81,84). Recent local drills indicate a rebound effort is likely on the cut back to a sprint. 4-Nice Guy Clay is offered for a $32k claiming price today and has run above Beyer par for this class level in all 3 career starts. 7-Micky From Wexford rallied nicely for the show spot in most recent effort and barn is 5 for 22 (23%) with a $3 ROI with 2nd off the claim runners.
Selections: 3-4-7
Race #3: 5-Anacaro removes the blinkers today and had a troubled trip second start after encountering some traffic problems during the stretch run forcing the filly to lose momentum. She regained her composure after the incident and showed late interest again with a big wide gallop-out. A big chance in here today for trainer Simon Callaghan if she takes to turf. 8-Tea N Conversation adds blinkers off improved try when switched to grass and can certainly factor here with another advanced move forward. 6-Divenly Bolt is bred to handle the stretch-out to turf and makes the all-important 3rd career start.
Selections: 5-8-6
Race #4: Grade 3 winner 2-Midnight Memories is 2 for 2 here at Santa Anita for Baffert and her versatile running style makes the 3-year-old filly dangerous for the repeat victory at likely short odds. 4-Awake At Midnyte got a useful winning impressive prep for this down at DMR and should be even better making 2nd start off the bench. Beaten favorite and likely pacesetter 5-Samurai Charm comes off a career best Beyer (91) and makes second start off the mini-freshening.
Selections: 2-4-5
Race #5: The speedy 2-Straighten Up has improved with each subsequent start for trainer Mike Puype and makes his turf debut cutting back to 5 furlongs. The colt should have little issue with the surface change as his sire Straight Fire is 5 for 14 (35%) with grass turf sprint runners. The question is whether he’ll get the lead or is capable of tracking Baffert’s 9-Speed Boat Beach who earned an eye-catching (104) Beyer in career main track DMR debut. His sire Bayern gets 16% with grass sprint offspring and this obviously talented colt has trained well since impressive unveiling. At extremely low odds is he a potential bounce candidate? 1-Mas Rapido adds blinkers; moves all the way inside today and should improve making second start stateside.
Selections: 2-9-1
Race #6: Multiple G1 winner 3-Ce Ce is 10 for 21 lifetime and should rebound off Belmont flop with a return to the west coast. She’s simply the fastest and classiest mare in this field and is hard to look past at short odds. 2-Under The Stars should fill out the chalky exacta making second start off the mini-freshening and returning to track where she was a winner of the G2 Summertime Oaks two-back. The 3-year-old filly is back sprinting today and has trained well in the interim for Baffert. 1-Teddy’s Barino is in superb form having won 4 straight for trainer Mark Glatt but gets serious class test today facing accomplished graded stakes competition.
Selections: 3-2-1
Race #7: 4-Synnin and Winnin is the choice to break through in start number three for trainer Brian Koriner off encouraging worktab and freshening. The 3-year-old gelding goes 2nd time Lasix this afternoon and showed improvement in second start here back in January. 9-Queen’s Code moves back up to MDSW ranks after just missing on the DMR main track in most recent start. The 5-year-old Maiden is a logical fit off a pair of runner-up finishes on grass here back in May and June. 2-Orth is 0 for 10 but removes the blinkers today and gets back on grass over a track where he’s been competitive sprinting at this level.
Selections: 4-9-2
Race #8: The consistent 1-Timagician moves inside today with good natural early zip and was a runaway 9 length winner in this event in 2021 when it was held in the spring. A speed-sharpening 3-furlong blowout drill September 29 adds to the appeal. 3-Heywoods Beach was a sharp winner over dirt in the G3 Cougar II two-back over both Extra Hope and Tizmagician. 5-Win the Day comes off a tough beat on the Del Mar lawn and moves back to the main track this afternoon for Team O’Neill. The gelding has improved substantially in recent months; is proven on dirt and could potentially fall into a favorable trip from off the pace today.
Selections: 1-3-5
Race #9: 9-Gillian Elizabeth has won 3 of her last 4 for trainer Carla Gaines and is undefeated over the SA turf course. She moves back to a sprint this afternoon where she’s proven to be just as effective. 3-Gem Mine has been freshened; gets some class relief and goes route to sprint for the Papaprodromou barn. Recent Maiden winner 6-Secrets Told invades from Canada for D’Amato who takes over training duties and projects to be on or close to the lead in this spot.
Selections: 9-3-6
Race #10: The nightcap is a bit of a head scratcher from a handicapping standpoint. There are several different directions one could go in this optional claiming 1X turf route. 4-Belle Cherie is the potential price play to close out the opening weekend Autumn Santa Anita meet. This filly could shake free here as the potential lone speed. The late closing 5-Big Mama Sue prefers today’s longer trip and is a multiple winner over this turf course. She comes off a sharp closing second at DMR and is eligible to move forward off that try considering it was her first start in 8 months. 1-Claddagh Cure moves inside; drops in class and is reunited with winning rider. 12-Lady Clementine (GB) is stuck on the AE’s but drops back down to a more realistic level today and was a sharp Maiden winner two-back when making her U.S unveiling. She must be considered if she draws in.
Selections: 4-5-1
