4/10/21 Santa Anita Late Pick Four - Preview

"A man can be as great as he wants to be.  If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done." - Vince Lombardi

There's maintenance being done to the turf course in Arcadia this weekend, which means that there was no Friday card, and all of Saturday's and Sunday's races will be run over the main dirt track.  So with that news bite shared let's just get to it, as I take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.

RACE 6 - OC 40k/N1X - Seven Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 1 Exaulted (Morning Line  6-5)

B’s

# 4 Colt Fiction (ML 3-1)

C's

# 2 Wrecking Crew (ML 8-1)

# 3 Howbeit (ML 5-1)

# 5 Tizhotndusty (ML 6-1)

# 6 California Street (ML 8-1)
# 7 Golden Star Rock (ML 15-1)

For those who note such things, California Street is the only entrant in this field that is running with the $40k price tag on his head.

Exaulted, Show finisher in the Grade 2 San Carlos last time out, was victorious at this class level two starts back.  So if he's already won at this level, why is Exaulted able to complete in this contest without being in for a tag?  The answer is because Exaulted's victory at this class level two starts back was his first and (so far) only career Win; so with only one career W, Exaulted gets to run here without being up for sale.

Colt Fiction took the Show at this class level last time out.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 7 - Clm $20k - Eight Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 4 Causeididitmyway (ML 7-2)

B’s

# 1 Contagion (ML 4-1)

# 2 Conquest Cobra (ML 3-1)

# 3 Swamp Souffle (ML 12-1)

# 5 Truth Seeker (ML 5-2)

# 6 Colosi (ML 3-1)

C's

None

I looked at this one a long, long time, before ultimately deciding that I just couldn't figure it out; which is why I decided to go "ALL" in.  The problem is the Morning Line Favorite, the class dropping Truth Seeker.  Last time out, Truth Seeker took the Show against more expensive stock.  But that Show finish really needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as the contest only had four runners, and Truth Seeker was eleven lengths behind the winner at the line.

So with confidence in the Favorite being something less than rock solid, it's a matter of finding those who seem capable of getting under the wire first.  And, to be honest, I don't see much separating the rest of the field.  Therefore it's everybody into the pool in this leg, with all six runners going onto the main ticket.

RACE 8 - OC 62.5k/N2X - Eight Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 7 Bold Endeavor (ML 5-2)

B’s

# 4 Ekklesia (ML 6-1)

# 5 Sash (GB) (ML 5-1)

# 8 Royal Act (ML 10-1)

C's

# 1 Taishan (ML 4-1)

# 2 Lambeau (ML 5-1)

# 3 Charlito (ML 4-1)

# 9 Heywoods Beach (ML 20-1)

Scratch # 6 Country Grammer (No Line)

For those who are curious regarding such matters, none of the runners in this field are in for the $40k claiming price.

Bold Endeavor was victorious at this class level two starts back, and Bold Endeavor took the Place at this class level last time out while disappointing as the Post Time Favorite.  Ekklesia took the Show at this class level last time out while disappointing as the Post Time Favorite.

Sash (GB) puts the blinkers back on and returns to the main track; a combination which saw Sash run a couple of very fine races two and three starts back.  Royal Act closed well while winning two starts back; perhaps Royal Act will be the one running best late today.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 9 - (F) Md $30k - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 1 Big Al's Princess (ML 5-1)

B's

# 4 Lulu D' Oro (ML 6-1)

# 5 Ensley's Dream (ML 5-1)

# 7 Medusa's Gaze (ML 4-1)

C's

# 3 Best of Show (ML 8-1)

# 6 Evening Anchor (ML 15-1)

# 8 Molokini (ML 20-1)

# 9 Kind But She Lies (ML 7-2)

# 10 Phillips Lane (ML 15-1)

# 11 Brio Is Awesome (ML 30-1)

# 12 Season to Remember (ML 20-1)

Scratch # 2 Life's Emotions (ML 15-1)

Big Al's Princess and Lulu D' Oro threw down at this class level last time out, taking the Place and Show respectively, just a half length apart at the wire.  Big Al's Princess gets the inside draw today; perhaps that will be the difference maker.

Ensley's Dream and Medusa's Gaze are making the shift from state bred to open company, and both seem quite capable of getting their picture taken today.  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: 1 with 4 with 7 with 1 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 1,4 with ALL with 4,5,7,8 with 1,4,5,7 $96.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 2,3,5,6,7 with 4 with 7 with 1 $2.50

$0.50 P4: 1 with 4 with 1,2,3,9 with 1 $2.00

$0.50 P4: 1 with 4 with 7 with 3,6,8,9,10,11,12 $3.50

Total: $105.00

Post Time for Race 6 is 6:47 EDT / 3:47 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo