Santa Anita: 20:30 – Lil Sydney @ 9/2
We get going with a 6-furlong maiden claimer on the dirt in a race where Paddy is going money back if your horse finishes second, third or fourth in this race.
Not a lot of decent form between the runners and perhaps the best bit of recent form belongs to LIL SYDNEY, who ran a career best when second in a 7 furlong event at Santa Anita 56 days ago. Lil Sydney put up some decent fractions on that occasion and finished three lengths clear of the third placed Ultimate Mystery, who he faces again today.
Mark Glatt’s four-year-old looks like he is improving with his racing and only needs to repeat that run to be on the premises. He looks a cracking bet with our special offer in mind.
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Santa Anita 22:04 – Justinian @ 5/2
A one mile contest on the dirt and it’s very much a case of quality over quantity.
There are plenty of decent winners in this small field of old pros but it may pay to side with the youngest horse in the field, and potentially the one with the most upside, JUSTINIAN.
Bob Baffert’s progressive four-year-old is seeking to land a hat trick and put up a career best last time out when scoring over course and distance back on January 1st. Justinian has been impressing in his morning work and is reportedly in better form than ever.
Jockey Drayden Van Dyke notably abandons regular mount Ax Man to stick with this colt.
Take the hint.
Santa Anita 22:35 – Kris’ Wild Kat @ 10/3
The one-mile claimer on the turf looks to be one of the most open races on the card.
Go For A Ride has been significantly dropped in grade and is interesting, Liberal has also shown he is capable since being switched from Jamie Osborne’s yard over to his current connections and Worthy Turk is a solid favourite.
But a chance is taken with the lightly-raced KRIS’ WILD KAT who is stepping up to this trip having previously won over 6.5 furlongs. Friday showed the advantage a good draw can make when coming around the tight final bend, and Kris’ Wild Kat is beautifully drawn in stall two.
He has enough early speed to take the lead and jockey Flavien Prat, who rode a double here on Friday, is just the man to get the perfect position.
Look for Kris’ Wild Kat to try and make all.
Santa Anita 23:06 – Phantom Boss @ 7/2
The first of two Stakes races on the card is a 6 furlong sprint on the dirt for the three-years-old.
Big Sweep is attempting to become the first filly ever to win this race and will be very popular with punters after her comfortable debut win. But at the prices it’s tough to overlook PHANTOM BOSS.
Jorge Periban’s colt is the class act of the field based on his Grade 3 win last summer at Churchill Downs. After that victory he was aimed at Grade 2 races, but got injured and has been off the track for 260 days.
The trainer has reported Phantom Boss to be in great form and bigger and stronger than ever. If he is back to his best he can take advantage of this step down in class and provide Drayden Van Dyke with another winner.
Santa Anita 00:08 – Warren’s Showtime @ 7/2
The second Stakes race is also over 6 furlongs on the dirt, but is reserved for fillies. It’s the most fascinating race on the card and a case can be made for plenty of these.
But it’s hard to overlook WARREN’S SHOWTIME who is looking to land a hat trick here. Craig Lewis’s star filly has swept all before her this season, winning both her starts at Santa Anita, over a mile on the turf on both occasions. She now switches back to the dirt and is dropped in trip back to 6 furlongs.
But she has shown enough ability on this surface in the past to suggest that she is more than capable of landing this prize. Jockey Jorge Velez was among the winners on Friday and will drop Warren’s Showtime in behind the pace-setters and he can take advantage of the projected fast pace to finish late and hopefully land another big prize for this rapidly improving filly.
*Prices correct at publishing but are subject to change
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