1/30/21 Santa Anita Late Pick Four - Preview

"The sky is the limit. You never have the same experience twice." - Frank McCourt

Handicapping a Pick Four sequence where half the contests have a field of five is not exactly the funnest of activities.  However, two of the events in Saturday's sequence are Graded Stakes; so they can be expected to be competitive, if nothing else.  So with that as backdrop let's get to it, as I take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.

RACE 5 - The San Pasqual (Grade 2) - Nine Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 2 Idol (Morning Line 9-5)

B's

None

C's

# 1 Tizamagician (ML 9-2)

# 3 King Guillermo (ML 2-1)
# 4 Express Train (ML 2-1)
# 5 Zestful (ML 15-1)

If you're going to single, might as well do it in the opening leg and get it over with.  Idol took the Place in the Grade 2 San Antonio on Boxing Day last time out, and looks to be well meant here.  While I certainly don't see this contest as a breeze for Idol, I do think Idol is best here; and with a field this small, singling strikes me as the way to go.  So it's Idol solo on the main ticket, with all others being used as backup "C" Selections.

RACE 6 - OC 62.5k/N2X - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 3 Loud Mouth (ML 9-5)

B’s

# 1 Speed Pass (ML 5-2)

# 5 Parsimony (ML 2-1)

C's

# 2 Sparky Ville (ML 5-1)

# 4 El Tigre Terrible (ML 6-1)

Loud Mouth had a rough go of it last time out, and should do better with a cleaner trip today.  Speed Pass is coming off a layoff of just under a year; but Bob Baffert trained runners often do well off an extended vacation, and Speed Pass fits well with the contenders here.

Parsimony took the Place at this class level last time out.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 7 - The Robert B Lewis (Grade 3) - Eight and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 4 Hot Rod Charlie (ML 3-1)

B's

# 1 Medina Spirit (ML 5-2)

# 8 Spielberg (ML 7-2)

C's

# 3 Parnelli (ML 12-1)

# 5 Roman Centurian (ML 8-1)
# 6 Waspirant (ML 20-1)
# 7 Wipe the Slate (ML 4-1)

Scratch # 2 Rombauer (ML 8-1)

Hot Rod Charlie took the Place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last time out, and Hot Rod Charlie has been working well for this contest.  Median Spirit and Spielberg, both trained by Bob Baffert, have both proven their mettle against Graded Stakes competition.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 8 - [S] Md $50k - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 1 Crash Corrigan (ML 7-2)

B's

# 5 Stone's River (ML 20-1)

# 6 Theluteismine (ML 8-1)

# 9 Sabuda (ML 3-1)

C's

# 2 Seahawk Cody (ML 6-1)
# 3 Cousin Eddie (ML 15-1)
# 4 Robin's Legacy (ML 15-1)
# 7 The Roan Ranger (ML 30-1)

# 8 Little Mischief (ML 30-1)

# 10 J T's Watch (ML 8-1)

# 11 Careless Kitten (ML 30-1)

Scratch # 12 Gabby Hayes (ML 4-1)

Note that first time starter Seahawk Cody is actually a Kentucky bred, not a California bred; but Seahawk Cody is California sired, as he is by Champ Pegasus, who stands at Barton Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez.

Crash Corrigan took the Place at this class level two starts back, and Crash Corrigan should appreciate the return to one turn racing.  Stone's River has twice finished in the Trifecta against open (non-state bred restricted) company, and Stone's River may have needed that last race off the freshening.

Theluteismine has disappointed as the Post Time Favorite in each of his last two contests; not a good trend.  But Theluteismine is getting the blinkers put back on, and it was with blinkers on that Theluteismine took the Show against state bred non-Claiming Maidens two starts back.

Sabuda took the Show against non-Claiming state bred Maidens last time out.  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: 2 with 3 with 4 with 1 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 2 with 1,3,5 with 1,4,8 with 1,5,6,9 $18.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 1,3,4,5 with 3 with 4 with 1 $2.00

$0.50 P4: 2 with 2,4 with 4 with 1 $1.00

$0.50 P4: 2 with 3 with 3,5,6,7 with 1 $2.00

$0.50 P4: 2 with 3 with 4 with 2,3,4,7,8,10,11 $3.50

Total: $27.50

Post Time for Race 5 is 5:33 EST / 2:33 PST.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo