5/25/20 Santa Anita Late Pick Four - Preview

"I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration [Memorial] Day.  I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it.  We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did." - Benjamin Harrison

It's Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day) in the USA; and, despite the circumstances which each of us are currently facing world wide, hopefully all of you have found at least some time to celebrate those who have given their lives in service to others, and to enjoy at least some time, in some way, doing that which you love with those for whom you care.  For me, one of the things that I love to do is play the ponies; so with that, let's get to it, as I take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.

RACE 8 - (F) MSW - Five and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 2 Buyer's Remorse (Morning Line 7-2)

B's

# 8 Via Angelica (ML 6-1)
# 9 Fierce for Sul (ML 9-5)

C's

# 1 Secret Keeper (ML 6-1)
# 3 Queen of Aces (ML 15-1)
# 4 With This Vow (ML 15-1)
# 5 Queen Verrazano (ML 12-1)
# 7 Frose (ML 30-1)
# 10 River Girl (ML 6-1)

Scratch # 6 Favorite Daughter (ML 12-1)

The Past Performances that I have give this contest as being written for three years old and upward; but all entrants here are three years old; which would be beyond coincidental if older fillies and mares were, in fact, eligible to run here.

Buyer's Remorse, trained by Doug O'Neill, is one of just two experienced runners in this field (Frose is the other, for those curious).  Buyer's Remorse took the Place in her debut at Del Mar three starts back, the only other time that Buyer's Remorse has competed against fellow non-winners.

Via Angelica and Fierce for Sul are a pair of first time starters trained by Bob Baffert, who tends to do well with such.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 9 - The Shoemaker Mile (Grade 1) - Eight Furlongs Turf

A's

# 11 River Boyne (Ire) (ML 4-1)

B's

# 1 Without Parole (GB) (ML 4-1)

# 3 Next Shares (ML 12-1)

# 8 Raging Bull (Fr) (ML 7-2)

# 9 March to the Arch (ML 6-1)

C's

# 2 True Valour (Ire) (ML 20-1)
# 4 Voodoo Song (ML 12-1)

# 5 War of Will (ML 4-1)

# 6 Blitzkrieg (ML 20-1)

# 10 Neptune's Storm (ML 15-1)

Scratch # 7 Majestic Eagle (ML 20-1)

River Boyne (Ire) enters this contest having won each of his last two contests; both Graded Stakes; both over this turf course; and both at today's distance.

Without Parole (GB) took the Show in the Breeders' Cup Mile over this turf course back in November.  Next Shares was just a neck behind River Boyne at the wire last time out in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile.

Raging Bull (Fr) was roughed up pretty good in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile last time out, and could do better with a cleaner trip.  March to the Arch could be the one running best late.

I will not be using War of Will on my main ticket.  God bless him and his connections if War of Will can be victorious here; because that would mean that War of Will is one of the best, if not the best, turf milers in the country.  To be honest, I don't see that happening.  In my opinion this event came up quite strong, even for a Grade 1; which means I don't think it's wise to waste a spot on the big ticket using a turf maiden.  So in my play War of Will will be relegated to backup "C" Selection status, along with the rest of the field.

RACE 10 - Clm $12.5k - Eight Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 2 Camino de Estrella (ML 5-1)

B’s

# 4 Fire When Ready (ML 5-2)

# 9 Imagineiamfastest (ML 8-1)

C's

# 1 Studly Perfection (ML 5-1)

# 3 Will Dancer (ML 8-1)
# 5 Original Intent (ML 20-1)

# 6 Impression (ML 4-1)

# 7 Rockandahardplace (ML 15-1)

# 8 Wilshire Dude (ML 5-1)

Camino de Estrella was hitting the board against more expensive stock at Turf Paradise this past Winter and Fall; and while form gained in Arizona doesn't often hold up in Southern California, Camino de Estrella has made it into the Trifecta in the majority of his races over this main track, which suggests that he'll run just fine today.

Fire When Ready has disappointed as the Post Time Favorite in each of his last four starts; not what you want to see when checking out a runner's resume.  But Fire When Ready tends to do well at today's distance; and that, combined with the class drop, could propel Fire When Ready into the winner's circle.

Imagineiamfastest took the Show against more expensive stock the last time that he competed over this main track.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 11 - (F) The Gamely (Grade 1) - Nine Furlongs Turf

A's

# 3 Lady Prancealot (Ire) (ML 6-1)

B's

# 1 Etoile (Fr) (ML 5-2)

# 7 Beautiful Lover (ML 5-1)

# 11 Keeper ofthe Stars (ML 8-1)

C's

# 4 Giza Goddess (ML 20-1)

# 5 Mucho Unusual (ML 8-1)

# 6 Simply Breathless (GB) (ML 8-1)

# 8 Tiny Tina (ML 15-1)

# 9 Siberian Iris (Ire) (ML 15-1)

# 10 Bodhicitta (GB) (ML 12-1)

Scratch # 2 Ollie's Candy (ML 4-1)

Lady Prancealot (Ire) was two and a half lengths back of Keeper Ofthe Stars in the Grade 2 Buena Vista last time out.  While I will be using both, I think that the added distance Saturday just might give Lady Prancealot the edge.

Etoile (Fr) is a Group Stakes winner in her native France.  Beautiful Lover could be the one running best late.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

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

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: 2 with 11 with 2 with 3 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 2,8,9 with 1,3,8,9,11 with 2,4,9 with 1,3,7,11 $90.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 1,3,4,5,7,10 with 11 with 2 with 3 $3.00

$0.50 P4: 2 with 2,4,5,6,10 with 2 with 3 $2.50

$0.50 P4: 2 with 11 with 1,3,5,6,7,8 with 3 $3.00

$0.50 P4: 2 with 11 with 2 with 4,5,6,8,9,10 $3.00

Total: $102.50

Post Time for Race 8 is 7:07 EDT / 4:07 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo