The featured race on Monday's holiday card at Santa Anita is the Grade 3 Megahertz, a contest for fillies and mares four years old and upward, to be run at a distance of eight furlongs on some California grass. I'll be taking a look at that event below, as I take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.
RACE 6 - Md $30k - Five and a Half Furlongs Dirt
A’s
# 4 Gem of a Guy (Morning Line 2-1)
# 8 Jimmythisnjimthat (ML 5-2)
B's
# 2 Imagineiamfastest (ML 6-1)
# 7 Pure Moment (ML 4-1)
C's
# 1 Agressivebrawler (ML 50-1)
# 6 Lighthouse Boogie (ML 6-1)
Gem of a Guy, making his second career start and first for a tag, looks to be the clear best of the experienced runners in this field; but that's not saying much. Jimmythisnjimthat, one of a half dozen debut runners here, is out of a dam (Nea Nea Denae) who has produced three winners from three starters. Jimmythisandjimthat also has Indian Charlie as a grandsire, which adds to the appeal.
Imagineiamfastest is sired by Violence, whose progeny have been doing well at first asking. Pure Moment had a nice gate work back on the 3rd over this main track.
Agressivebrawler is the only experienced runner in this field to have finished in the Superfecta. Lighthouse Boogie is trained by Art Sherman, whose debut runners tend not to do well at first asking. But Lighthouse Boogie's breeding suggests that he will run well here; and, as previously mentioned, this is not the toughest of fields.
RACE 7 - (F) The Megahertz (Grade 3) - Eight Furlongs Turf
A’s
# 4 Insta Erma (ML 2-1)
B's
None
C's
# 2 Laseen (Ire) (ML 5-1)
# 3 Madame Stripes (Arg) (ML 7-2)
# 5 Thundering Sky (ML 3-1)
# 3 Madame Stripes (Arg) (ML 7-2)
# 5 Thundering Sky (ML 3-1)
Scratch # 6 Bombilate (ML 20-1)
While I really don't enjoy singling in a turf race, Insta Erma looks to be much the best here, as well as being in top form. If Insta Erma repeats her last effort, when she took the Show in the Grade 1 Matriarch, she wins here. If Insta Erma repeats her effort from two starts back, when she won the Swingtime, she wins here. If Insta Erma repeats her effort from three starts back, when she finished fourth in the Grade 2 John C Mabee, she probably wins here; because even though Madame Stripes (Arg) beat her to the wire that day, Insta Erma had the much more difficult trip.
So what if Insta Erma doesn't run to form? Well, if Thundering Sky can finally get a clean trip, then she probably has the best chance out of the three "C" Selections to get her picture taken; but in my opinion any of the three backups should be able to get the job done if Insta Erma decides not to run today.
RACE 8 - OC 62.5k/N2X - Eight and a Half Furlongs Dirt
A’s
# 1 Hot Sean (ML 3-1)
# 4 Colonist (ML 7-2)
B’s
# 2 Donworth (ML 9-5)
# 3 Grazen Sky (ML 5-1)
# 7 Mr. Opportunist (ML 12-1)
C's
# 5 Stormin Monarcho (ML 6-1)
# 6 Air Vice Marshall (ML 10-1)
# 6 Air Vice Marshall (ML 10-1)
Colonist drops the hood and gets off the lawn for Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer; and both those move should help Colonist move up today. Hot Sean has finished in the Trifecta in each of his last two starts, both at this class level. Donworth moves up in class after winning by as many as he wanted to last time out.
Grazen Sky should move up with the return to dirt. Mr. Opportunist got to the line almost four lengths ahead of Donworth last time out.
Stormin Monarcho took the Place at this class level two starts back; but Stormin Monarcho seems to be a need to lead type, and I'm not convinced that he can get the early lead in this field. Air Vice Marshall tries a Fast dirt track for the first time Monday; his works over the Del Mar main track suggest that he could improve with the surface change.
RACE 9 - (F) MSW - Six and a Furlongs Downhill Turf
A’s
# 11 Sunday Prophet (ML 4-1)
B’s
# 1 Delectable (ML 9-2)
# 2 Gone to Town (ML 10-1)
# 4 Meal Ticket (ML 8-1)
# 6 Red Shelby (ML 7-2)
C's
# 5 California Breeze (ML 10-1)
# 8 Starlet Storm (ML 8-1)
# 9 Beauty Divine (ML 12-1)
# 8 Starlet Storm (ML 8-1)
# 9 Beauty Divine (ML 12-1)
Sunday Prophet looks quickest here, and early speed has been holding up of late charging down the hill. Delectable showed some early foot competing at a flat mile; perhaps she'll move up on the downhill course.
Gone to Town was much improved last time out with the blinkers on. Meal Ticket has been on the bench for quite awhile; but the last time she ran, Meal Ticket took the Place at this class level. Red Shelby led most of the way on a flat mile the last time she competed.
California Breeze could improve with the turn back in distance. Starlet Storm and Beauty Divine are two that could improve with the move to the turf.
OK, that's the analysis. Playing my tickets in modified Crist fashion, I get:
All A Entries
$1.00 P4: 4,8 with 4 with 1,4 with 11 $4.00
All A Entries with All B Entries
$0.50 P4: 2,4,7,8 with 4 with 1,2,3,4,7 with 1,2,4,6,11 $50.00
A's with One C
$0.50 P4: 1,6 with 4 with 1,4 with 11 $2.00
$0.50 P4: 4,8 with 2,3,5 with 1,4 with 11 $6.00
$0.50 P4: 4,8 with 4 with 5,6 with 11 $2.00
$0.50 P4: 4,8 with 4 with 1,4 with 5,8,9 $6.00
Total: $70.00
Post Time for Race 6 is 6:06 EST / 3:06 PST. Good luck to all.
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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