2/18/18 Santa Anita Late Pick Four - Preview

Sunday's featured race at Santa Anita is the Grade 3 Las Flores, a six furlong sprint for fillies and mares four years old and upward.  I'll be taking a look at that contest below, as I take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.

RACE 6 - (F) OC 40k/N1X - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 7 Girl Downstairs (Morning Line 7-2)

B’s

# 2 Candy Swirls (ML 6-1)
# 3 The Tulip (Ire) (ML 3-1)
# 4 Siberian Iris (Ire) (ML 5-2)
# 5 Cynthiana (ML 12-1)
# 6 Glory and Power (ML 8-1)
# 8 Quinn Murphy (ML 20-1)

C's

# 1 Literary Critic (ML 15-1)
# 9 Proud 'n' Ready (ML 8-1)

Girl Downstairs goes first off the claim for Trainer Mike Puype, who tends to do well with such.  Candy Swirls is a Lifetime two-for-two over this turf course, albeit against lesser company.  The Tulip (Ire) and Quinn Murphy look like the two that will be running best late.

Siberian Iris (Ire) took the Place at this class level charging down the hill last time out.  Cynthiana could improve going second off the layoff.  Glory and Power could improve with the turn back in distance.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 7 - (F) Clm $12.5k N2L - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 3 Ransomed (ML 5-2)
# 8 Velvet Jones (ML 6-5)

B’s

None

C's

# 5 Sharp Holiday (ML 6-1)

Ransomed and Sharp Holiday filled out the bottom two slots of the Trifecta at this class level last time out.  Velvet Jones should move up with the class drop.

RACE 8 - (F) The Las Flores (Grade 3) - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 5 Skye Diamonds (ML 8-5)

B's

None

C's

# 1 Princess Karen (ML 6-1)

# 3 Coniah (ML 4-1)

# 6 Selcourt (ML 6-5)

Skye Diamonds makes her 2018 debut here, and if she's ready to roll then this race is hers for the taking.  Selcourt and Princess Karen project to be the early leaders in this field.  Coniah fits well here on class, though I'm not convinced that taking her off the grass is in her best interests.

RACE 9 - (F) Md $75k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 1 Bunny Yogurt (ML 7-2)

# 7 Curlin's Journey (ML 5-2)

B's

# 2 International Diva (Ire) (ML 12-1)

# 3 Mischievous Song (ML 4-1)
# 4 Sekhmet's Revenge (ML 6-1)
# 6 Biscate (ML 12-1)

# 9 Swallows Inn Gal (ML 30-1)

# 10 It's Alexus (ML 6-1)

C's

# 5 Roses and Candy (ML 12-1)
# 8 Gal Factor (ML 15-1)

Scratch the Also Eligibles: # 11 Super Patriot (ML 4-1); # 12 Mongolian Window (ML 10-1); # 13 Sweet Congrats (ML 15-1); and # 14 Seattle Drop (ML 6-1)

Bunny Yogurt could improve with the drop in class and the return to the flat course.  Curlin's Journey could improve with the drop in class and going second off the layoff.

International Diva (Ire), Sekhmet's Revenge, and It's Alexus are the three debut runners here; as none of the experienced entrants have shown themselves to be a standout, it seems wise to use all three first timers.  Mischievous Song is trying the turf for the first time; perhaps she'll like it.

Biscate could move up with the class drop.  Swallows Inn Gal could improve with the surface switch.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

OK, that's the analysis.  Playing my tickets in modified Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: 7 with 3,8 with 5 with 1,7 $4.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 with 3,8 with 5 with 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,10 $56.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 1,9 with 3,8 with 5 with 1,7 $4.00

$0.50 P4: 7 with 5 with 5 with 1,7 $1.00

$0.50 P4: 7 with 3,8 with 1,3,6 with 1,7 $6.00

$0.50 P4: 7 with 3,8 with 5 with 5,8 $2.00

Total: $73.00

Post Time for Race 6 is 6:14 EST / 3:14 PST.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo