2/24/18 Santa Anita Late Pick Four - Preview

The featured race on Saturday's Santa Anita card is the Grade 3 Daytona; a contest which, unfortunately, did not find it's way onto the final four events on the program.  However, another stakes, the Wishing Well, is the nightcap Saturday; so I will be examining that race below, as I take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.

RACE 7 - Clm $20k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 For Greater Glory (Morning Line 7-2)

B’s

# 1 Conquest Sabre Cat (ML 5-1)
# 5 Trifecta (ML 6-1)

C's

# 3 Cardiac (ML 12-1)
# 7 Malko (Ire) (ML 8-1)

Scratch # 10 Preacher Roe (ML 8-1), # 12 True Valor (ML 12-1), and # 13 Lewis Vale (ML 6-1)

For Greater Glory was victorious at this class level two starts back, with Trifecta taking the Place behind him.  Conquest Sabre Cat defeated more expensive two starts back; but Conquest Sabre Cat crossed the line well behind For Greater Glory last time out in the Super Bowl Starter Handicap, a race in which neither of those two did much running.  Expect Cardiac to be forwardly placed early, while Malko (Ire) could be the one running best late.

RACE 8 - (F) [S] MSW - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 10 Karmic Affinity (ML 3-1)

B's

None

C's

# 1 Warm It Up (ML 6-1)
# 2 Get Yourself Home (ML 5-2)
# 4 Madam Sophia (ML 12-1)
# 9 Easydoes It Please (ML 12-1)

Scratch # 6 Irish Cream N Kafe (ML 12-1)

Karmic Affinity took the Place at this class level in her debut last time out.  Warm It Up fits well here on class; but Warm It Up seems to settle for too many minor awards.

Get Yourself Home should improve with the return to the main track.  Madam Sofia and Easydoes It Please are first time starters out of dams whose produce have proven successful.

RACE 9 - (F) OC 40k/N1X - Five and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 7 Life's Blessings (ML 8-5)

B’s

# 2 Bar Scene (ML 12-1)
# 3 Be a Lady (ML 6-1)
# 5 Powder (ML 6-1)
# 8 Rockport Babe (ML 4-1)

C's

# 4 Time for Ebby (ML 20-1)

# 6 Phantom Proton (ML 6-1)

# 9 Late 'n Left (ML 5-1)

Scratch # 1 Bad Ju Ju (ML 8-1)

Life's Blessings took the Place at this class level last time out.  Bar Scene probably needed that last one after the extended vacation.  Be a Lady goes first off the claim for Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who tends to do well with such.

Powder should improve with the return to the main track.  Rockport Babe could be the speed of the speed.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.  The most logical runner in this field, Life's Blessings, has failed as the Post Time Favorite in three of her five career starts; a record that doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.  But once you get past Life's Blessing, this becomes a wide open race where all runners have respectable chances.  The "ALL" button is probably a good option here.

RACE 10 - (F) [R] The Wishing Well $70k - Six and a Half Furlongs Downhill Turf

A’s

# 10 Algorhythmic (ML 6-1)

B's

# 1 Princess Princess (ML 12-1)

# 2 Miss Southern Miss (ML 6-1)

# 5 Samba (Arg) (ML 5-2)
# 8 Malibu Stacy (ML 15-1)

C's

# 6 Anita Partner (Ire) (ML 20-1)
# 7 Gliding By (ML 8-1)
# 11 Mongolian Shopper (ML 12-1)

Scratch # 3 Cuyathy (ML 15-1), # 4 Bendable (ML 3-1), and # 9 Barbara Beatrice (ML 15-1)

The [R] in the race description above is because any runner who has won a Graded Stakes since July 1, 2017 is not eligible to run here.  Algorhythmic, returning from an extended leave, enters this contest with a four race winning streak, all charging down the hill, all since joining the barn of Trainer Michael Machowsky.  Princess Princess took the Show in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas last time out.  Miss Southern Miss won by daylight charging down the hill last time out.

Samba (Arg) is making her North American debut for Trainer Bob Baffert, who has been enjoying turf success as of late.  Malibu Stacy has shown good early speed when routing on the flat turf course; perhaps that will carry over to her charge down the hill today.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else, as this is another contest that looks to me  to be wide open.

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

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: 6 with 10 with 7 with 10 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 1,5,6 with 10 with 2,3,5,7,8 with 1,2,5,8,10 $37.50

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 3,7 with 10 with 7 with 10 $1.00

$0.50 P4: 6 with 1,2,4,9 with 7 with 10 $2.00

$0.50 P4: 6 with 10 with 4,6,9 with 10 $1.50

$0.50 P4: 6 with 10 with 7 with 6,7,11 $1.50

Total: $44.50

Post Time for Race 7 is 6:36 EST / 3:36 PST.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo