SANTA ANITA Sunday, June 23, 2019

Final day of the Santa Anita Spring meet. Check back with me on July 17 for the opening day of the Del Mar Summer meet. 

With all of the controversy surrounding Santa Anita in particular and horse racing in general, it should be pointed out that race horses are treated much better than 99% of the children in the world, the sport employees 77,000 people in California alone and the tax revenues from the sport are in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

I hope all race lovers were able to watch the races from Royal Ascot in England. Anyone who doesn’t appreciate the pageantry and beauty of the sport and its equine and human athletes is at the very least culturally deprived. 

One winner on yesterday’s card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#4 - INTERESTING TIMES - Finished 2nd in her last start, Tim Yakteen trains.

Race 2

#5 - WE’RE STILL HERE - First time starter, shows good works, Bob Baffert trains.

Race 3

#1 - EDDIE HASKELL - Won a G3 in his last start, Mark Glatt trains.

Race 4

#8 - GOLDEN STAR LADY - Second time starter, finished 2nd in her debut, Flavien Prat rides.

Race 5 G3 American Stakes

#6 - RIVER BOYNE - Finished 2nd in his last start.

Race 6

#1 - SPEAKING OUT - Finished 2nd in a G2 in her last start, shows good works.

Race 7

#4 - MORNING SNOW - Second time starter, finished 2nd in his debut, Bob Baffert trains.

Race 8 G3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes

#1 - MONGOLIAN GROOM - G1 try in his last start.

Race 9

#7 - DER LU - G1 try in her last start, shows good works, Bob Baffert trains.

Race 10

#3 - BARBARDOLLA - Should stalk the pace.

SANTA ANITA Saturday, June 22, 2019

One winner on yesterday’s card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#4 - BOBS BLUES MAN - Second time starter, drops in class to run for a tag, gets Lasix.

Race 2

#5 - ZUZANNA - Finished 2nd in her last start, drops in class.

Race 3

#1 - BELLA LUNA - 4/5 at the distance.

Race 4

#9 - MR. MAGICO - Finished 3rd in his last start, Flavien Prat rides.

Race 5

#5 - WILD BEAN - Finished 3rd in his last start.

Race 6

#9 - LIEUTENANT DAN - Golden Gate shipper, set to turn the tables on the two that finished ahead of him in his last start.

Race 7

#4 - ROAD RAGER - Won and was disqualified from her maiden win, shows good works.

Race 8 G3 Wilshire Stakes

#2 - STORM THE HILL - Won a G3 in her last start, should be set to fire off the layoff.

Race 9

#7 - CRUEL INTENTION - Won a stakes race in his last start, shows good works to fire off the layoff, Bob Baffert trains.

Race 10

#1 - MO FORZA - Finished 3rd in his last start, gets Lasix, Flavien Prat rides.

SANTA ANITA Friday, June 21, 2019

Three winners on last Sunday’s Fathers Day card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#4 - MERCY RULE - Golden Gate shipper, finished 2nd in his last start, drops in class to run for a tag.

Race 2

#7 - TAKES A VILLAGE - Second time starter, finished 2nd in her debut.

Race 3

#7 - LOADED JOE - Finished 3rd in his last start.

Race 4

#1 - I CAN DO THIS - Finished 2nd in his last start, Prat/Glatt team up.

Race 5

#9 - ERIC THE TROJAN - Claimed out of his last start, Prat/Sadler are the connections.

Race 6

#5 - REEDLEY - Second time starter, just missed in his debut, Bob Baffert trains.

Race 7

#8 - ORDER AND LAW - Should stalk the pace.

Race 8

#2 - ROYAL TRUMP - Finished 2nd in his last start, Mark Glatt trains.

Race 9

#4 - SPRINGSTER - First time starter, Prat/Baltas are the connections.

SANTA ANITA Sunday, June 16, 2019

Two winners on yesterday’s card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#8 - SUNRISE ROYALE - Finished 2nd in her last start, Prat/Kruljac team up.

Race 2

#3 - CAL’S GEM - Second time starter, finished 2nd in his debut, Luis Mendez trains.

Race 3

#4 - SQUARE PEGGY- Shows early speed.

Race 4

#4 - TOUGH BUT NICE - Finished 2nd in his last start, shows early speed.

Race 5

#3 - MUCHO UNUSUAL - Wired a stakes field in her last start, Flavien Prat rides.

Race 6

#3 - RATHER NOSY - Just missed in her last start, Prat rides.

Race 7

#2 - PANTSONFIRE - Big win in a G3 in her last start, shows good works, Prat/Baltas are the connections.

Race 8 G3 Affirmed Stakes

#6 - MUCHO GUSTO - Wired the field in his last start, Bob Baffert trains.

Race 9

#2 - MONGOLIAN HERO - First time starter, Ganbat Engbish trains.

SANTA ANITA Saturday, June 15, 2019

Three winners on yesterday’s card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#4 - BIG SHANTY - Finished 2nd and was claimed out of his last start.

Race 2

#7 - KENJISSTORM - Drops in class, shows early speed.

Race 3

#1 - BAM BANS LIL RIVER - Finished 2nd in her last start.

Race 4

#6 - FREDRIKSTAD - Second time starter, finished 2nd in his debut, Mark Glatt trains.

Race 5

#1 - KING ABNER - Finished 2nd in his last start, shows good works, Flavien Prat rides.

Race 6

#12 - NICE ICE - Finished 3rd in her last start, previous winner at the distance.

Race 7

#9 - SIR EDDIE - Previous winner at the distance Flavien Prat rides.

Race 8

#6 - DESERT LAW - Multiple winner at the distance.

Race 9

#12 - CALENTITA - Second time starter, drops in class, Martin Garcia rides.

SANTA ANITA Friday, June 14, 2019

Four winners on last Sunday’s card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#2 - SEDAMAR - Finished 2nd in her last start, Martin Garcia rides.

Race 2

#5 - SQUARE DEAL - First time starter, Prat/Callaghen are the connections.

Race 3

#1 - HIGHER POWER - G1 try in his last start, John Sadler trains.

Race 4

#7 - SATCHEL PAGE - Finished 2nd in his last start, third time should be the charm.

Race 5

#8 - UNBRIDLED’S SKYE - Finished 2nd in his last start.

Race 6

#6 - HOT SEAN - Won his last start, Bob Baffert trains.

Race 7

#5 - KENTAN ROAD - Won her last start, John Sadler trains.

Race 8

#6 - ZILLINDA - Finished 2nd in her last start.

SANTA ANITA Sunday, June 9, 2019

I invite everyone to read my commentary on yesterday’s Belmont Stakes. My selection, Sir Winston, paid $22.40 to win. Three winners on yesterday’s Santa Anita card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#7 - SHEZA FACTOR - Finished 3rd in her last start.

Race 2

#6 - PLATINUM EQUITY - Won his last start at the same level, shows good works, 4/7 at the distance.

Race 3

#7 - TRUFFALINO - Finished 3rd in her last start, drops in class, Richard Mandella trains.

Race 4

#7 - JEN GO UNCHAINED - Drops in class to run for a tag.

Race 5

#3 - AND COUNTING - Finished 2nd in her last start, drops in class, Flavien Prat rides.

Race 6

#1 - GINGER NUT - Kentucky shipper, won a stakes race in his last start, John Sadler trains.

Race 7

#6 - GIRONA - Second time starter, drops in class to run for a tag.

Race 8

#4 - MISS HOT LEGS - Second time starter, finished 2nd in her last start, Simon Callaghan trains.

Race 9

#4 - SUNNY DALE - Turf to dirt angle, Flavien Prat rides.

SANTA ANITA and BELMONT STAKES - Saturday, June 8, 2019

Third leg of the Triple Crown! One winner and on scratch on yesterday’s card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#1 - CANDY SWIRLS - Shows early speed, Bill Spawr trains.

Race 2

#1 - MISS THAT KAT - Drops in class, turf to dirt angle.

Race 3

#2 - DUKES UP - Finished 2nd in his last start.

Race 4

#6 - MY JOURNEY - Second time starter, set to fire off the long layoff for trainer Richard Baltas.

Race 5

#1 - TIME FOR KISSES - Drops in class.

Race 6

#2 - G Q COVERGIRL - Finished 2nd in her last start.

Race 7

#1 - MARKET SENTIMENT - Finished 2nd in his last start.

Race 8

#8 - OVERDUE - Finished 2nd in his last start.

Race 9

#6 - WICKEN FAN - Finished 2nd and was claimed out of his last start.

Race 10

#5 - FORMAL DUDE - Drops in class.

Race 11 -  Belmont Park -  G1 Belmont Stakes

#7 - SIR WINSTON - Finished 3rd in his last start; when Country House was declared the winner of the Kentucky Derby, instead of the real winner Maximum Security, he was Bill Mott’s other horse with Tacitus reputed to be his best entry. This time, Sir Winston is Mark Casse’s other horse instead of War of Will who is reputed to be his best entry. I’ve seen the so called lesser horse win all the time -  usually at a big price.

SANTA ANITA Friday, June 7, 2019

Three winners on last Sunday’s card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#7 - GOODTHINGSCOMEINPINK - Finished 2nd in her last start, shows good works.

Race 2

#1 - FRIDAY’S AT SHADY - Wired the field in his last start.

Race 3

#3 - TWIRLING APPLES - Finished 2nd in her last start, should fire off the layoff.

Race 4

#2 - MAJESTIC DIVA - Won her last start, multiple winner at the distance.

Race 5

#2 - PSYCHO DAR - Just missed in his last start.

Race 6

#3 - HARPER’S GALLOP - Drops in class to run for a tag.

Race 7

#10 - SUCCESSFUL RULER - Just missed in her last start.

Race 8

#1 - TAKES A VILLAGE - First time starter, shows good works, Luis Mendez trains.

SANTA ANITA Sunday, June 2, 2019

One winner and two scratches on yesterday’s card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#5 - SNAPPISH - Second time starter, shows experience on the turf at the distance.

Race 2

#3 - D K’ S CROWN - First time starter, shows good works.

Race 3

#5 - WAR CHEST - Should stalk the pace.

Race 4

#5 - PHANTOM BOSS - Second time starter, finished 2nd in his debut.

Race 5

#1 - MORE ICE - Finished 3rd in his last start, Mike Smith rides.

Race 6

#1 - COMMANDING CHIEF - Second time starter, finished 3rd in his first start, Espinoza/Sadler are the connections.

Race 7

#7 - SEASIDE DANCER - Won her last three starts.

Race 8

#1 - UNO TROUBLE MAKER - Won her last three starts, Bill Spawr trains.

Race 9

#4 - THE NIGHTINGALE - First time starter, Flavien Prat rides.

SANTA ANITA June 1, 2019

Two winners on yesterday’s card. Good luck today!

Race 1 

#7 - TIME IS NOW - Drops in class to run for a tag, Prat/Mandella team up.

Race 2

#4 - TIZ TOFFEE - Big win and claimed out of her last start, Andrew Lerner trains.

Race 3

#1 - TOUGH IT OUT - Finished 2nd in his last start, drops in class, John Sadler trains.

Race 4

#6 - EL VASCO - First time starter, Prat/Mandella are the connections.

Race 5

#6 - FOSTER BOI - Finished 2nd in his last start, Flavien Prat rides.

Race 6

#1 - MORNING SNOW - First time starter, shows good works, Bob Baffert trains.

Race 7 G3 Honeymoon Stakes

#8 - HOSTESS - Previous win at the distance, Simon Callaghan trains.

Race 8 G2 Santa Maria Stakes

#2 - PARADISE WOODS - Monster win in her last start, 2/2 at the distance, shows good works, Smith/Shirreffs are the connections.

Race 9

#10 - PRICING - Second time starter, shows good works, shows experience at the distance.