1/17/16 Santa Anita Late Pick Four - Preview

We're right smack in the middle of a three day weekend here in the USA, and the good people at Santa Anita have given us the three turn on the turf Astra Stakes as our featured race.  We'll be taking a look at that contest below, as we take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.

RACE 6 - Clm $25k N2L - Eight and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 8 L's Choice (Morning Line 5-2)

B’s

# 6 Black Tie (ML 6-1)

C's

# 4 Exemplar (ML 5-1)

L's Choice drops in class after taking the Show in an N2L Starter Allowance.  Black Tie should improve with the stretchout, and can be expected to be forwardly placed.  Exemplar is another that could improve going to two turns from one, as Exemplar earned his career best Beyer Speed Figure in his only career route.

RACE 7 - (F) The Astra $75k - Twelve Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 2 Gaga A (Uru) (ML 5-2)

B's

# 1 Fresh Feline (ML 4-1)
# 5 Generosidade (Uru) (ML 6-1)

C's

# 8 Nancy From Nairobi (GB) (ML 4-1)

Gaga A (Uru) was a Graded Stakes winner in his final start in France.  In her North America debut two starts back Gaga A won a listed stakes over this turf course at today's distance off a layoff similar to the one that she's coming off today.  Fresh Feline closed well in each of her last two starts, and could improve with the added distance.  Generosidade (Uru) get some much needed class relief.

Nancy From Nairobi (GB) showed much improvement overseas when she added the blinkers, so it's unclear why they have been removed for her North American outings.  However, even without the hood, Nancy From Nairobi should be forwardly placed in what could be a pretty paceless affair.

RACE 8 - (F) Clm $25k - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 2 One Bye Two (ML 6-1)
# 9 Pico Chick (ML 3-1)

B’s

# 3 Sooner Time (ML 6-1)
# 8 Heed to Speed (ML 8-1)

C's

# 6 Mazboot (ML 6-1)

# 10 Tribal Headdress (ML 7-2) has been scratched.

One Bye Two defeated more expensive at Los Alamitos last time out.  Pico Chick took the Show against classier competition last time out, and could improve with the cutback to just one turn.

Sooner Time took the Place behind One Bye Two last time out.  Heed to Speed graduated over this main track last time out; Trainer Peter Miller tends to do well placing his last out winners.  Mazboot was a winner in her only prior race on a fast dirt track.

RACE 9 - (F) MSW - Six and a Half Furlongs Downhill Turf

A’s

# 2 Nodiac (Ire) (ML 5-2)
# 7 Lady Valeur (Ire) (ML 3-1)
# 9 Albeit (ML 8-1)

B's

None

C's

# 3 Lethal Legacy (ML 12-1)
# 6 How Unusual (ML 8-1)

Nobody draws in off the Also Eligible List; so scratch # 11 Miss Injustice (ML 15-1); # 12 Coronado Cool (ML 8-1); # 13 Newcomb (ML 3-1); and # 14 Macalla (No Line).

Nodiac (Ire) took the Place at this class level routing on the Del Mar grass last time out.  Lady Valeur (Ire) took the Place in her debut in her native Ireland last time out.   Albeit ran the best race of her six race career the only prior time that she competed on grass.

Lethal Legacy and How Unusual are a pair of first time starters trained by Barry Abrams and sired by Unusual Heat; so both have the proper breeding for the grass, and both look to have been working well in preparation for this event.

OK, that's the analysis.  Playing our tickets in Crist fashion, we get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: 8 with 2 with 2,9 with 2,7,9 $6.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 6,8 with 1,2,5 with 2,3,8,9 with 2,7,9 $36.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 4 with 2 with 2,9 with 2,7,9 $3.00
$0.50 P4: 8 with 8 with 2,9 with 2,7,9 $3.00
$0.50 P4: 8 with 2 with 6 with 2,7,9 $1.50
$0.50 P4: 8 with 2 with 2,9 with 3,6 $2.00

Total: $51.50

Post Time for Race 6 is 6:03 EST / 3:03 PST.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo