2/7/16 Santa Anita Late Pick Four - Preview

They're playing Super Bowl Half a Hundred today, so the Post Times at Santa Anita have been pushed forward so that all horses can be back in the barn in time to watch the commercials featuring The Budweiser Clydesdales, and to root for The Broncos (surely they won't be rooting for The Panthers against one of their own; right?).  As for us, we will be doing some rooting as well, as we take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.

RACE 5 - Hcp 25000s - Nine Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 Hobbits Hero (Morning Line 4-1)

B’s

# 3 China Girl Lover (ML 9-2)

C's

# 1 Oligarch (ML 7-2)

# 10 Buymeabond (ML 8-1)

Note that there's no Lifetime Win restrictions in the conditions; any runner that has started for a claiming price of $25k or less this year or last was eligible to enter.  Oh, and the winning owner gets an autographed NFL football.

Hobbits Hero is a career four-for-six over the Santa Anita turf course.  China Girl Lover won an Optional Claimer over this turf course last time out, but the deceased distance today may make it tough for this deep closer to do his thing.

Oligarch could steal this one on the front end, and the blinkers off could get him to relax in the early going.  Buymeabond seems to fit at this class level, but may be left with too much to do late.

RACE 6 - The Palos Verdes (Grade 2) - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 1 Kobe's Back (ML 5-2)

B's

# 2 Salutos Amigos (ML 2-1)

# 5 Rocket Heat (ML 9-2)

C's

None

Scratch # 3 Mystery Train (Arg) (12-1).

Kobe's Back turned in a sharp bullet workout on Jan 24, and with the blinkers being added he should be more forwardly placed today than is his custom.  Salutos Amigos disappointed in each of his last two outings as the Post Time Favorite, but could find the competition somewhat softer today (despite moving "up" from a pair of Grade 3's to a Grade 2).  Rocket Heat could find himself all alone on the front end for a quite a while in this contest; perhaps all the way to the finish line.

RACE 7 - OC 62k/N2X - Nine Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 Patentar (Fr) (ML 12-1)

# 7 Lucky J Lane (ML 4-1)

B’s

# 1 McHeat (ML 7-2)

# 3 Chips All In (ML 8-1)

# 8 Procurement (ML 5-1)

# 10 Slim Shady (GB) (ML 5-1)

C's

# 4 Diamond Bachelor (ML 20-1)

# 11 Generoso (Uru) (ML 20-1)

Needless to say, I think this one is pretty wide open.  Patentar (Fr) took the Show at this class level two starts back, and was within two lengths of the winner last time out, again at this class level.  Lucky J Lane is three-for-six lifetime over this turf course, and appears to be rounding into top form.

McHeat won at this class level, last time out, albeit charging down the hill, with Chips All In taking the Show less than two lengths behind him.  Chips All In looks to be the quickest here, tough the removal of the hood creates some uncertainty in that area.

Procurement has been working well, and Trainer Tom Proctor does rather well with those returning from a few months vacation.  Slim Shady (GB) has recent wins at this class level in the slop and on the synthetic; perhaps he can do it again on the turf.

Diamond Bachelor's two career Wins have both come on the grass, and new rider Victor Espinoza may be able to work out a stalking trip off the rail right behind Chips All In.  Generoso (Ur) could improve off the freshening.

RACE 8 - (F) Md $20k - Five and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 3 Dream Navigator (ML 12-1)

# 11 Mad Mango (ML 5-2)

B's

# 12 Darling Grace (ML 7-2)

C's

# 4 Maid Easy (ML 6-1)

There are two program scratches: # 2 Amitie Pour La Vie (No Line) and # 6 Ryderroo (NL).

Dream Navigator drops in for a tag for the first time.  Mad Mango has finished in the Trifecta in each of her three career starts, all at this class level.  Darling Grace gets some class relief after showing good early speed against more expensive; expect Darling Grace to be even quicker today with the blinkers added.  

Maid Easy made her debut over a year ago against non-claiming state bred maidens; so the fact that she's up for sale today must be viewed as a red flag.  But if Maid Easy is in any kind of shape, then she could challenge here today.

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

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: : 6 with 1 with 6,7 with 3,11 $4.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: $0.50 pick P4: 3,6 with 1,2,5 with 1,3,6,7,8,10 with 3,11,12 $54.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 1,10 with 1 with 6,7 with 3,11 $4.00

$0.50 pick P4: 6 with 1 with 4,11 with 3,11 $2.00

$0.50 pick P4: 6 with 1 with 6,7 with 4 $1.00

Total: $65.00

Post Time for Race 5 is 4:04 EST / 1:04 PST.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo