6/19/21 Santa Anita Late Pick Four - Preview

“If you dare to struggle, you dare to win.  If you dare not struggle, then damn it, you don’t deserve to win.” - Fred Hampton

It's closing weekend for the Santa Anita meet, and in accordance with tradition the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano, run over the entirety of the turf course, is Saturday's featured race.  I'll be taking a look at that contest below, as I take a run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.

RACE 8 - OC 40k/N1X - Six and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 1 Howbeit (Morning Line  4-1)

B’s

# 4 Palace Coup (ML 5-1)

# 7 Ka'nah (ML 3-1)

# 8 Stay Happy (ML 15-1)

C's

# 2 Established (ML 7-2)
# 3 Littlebitamedal (ML 6-1)

# 5 Whisky My God (ML 20-1)

# 6 Ginobili (ML 12-1)

# 9 Wipe the Slate (ML 6-1)

Howbeit has taken the Place at this class level in each of his last two starts.  Palace Coup, Show finisher at this class level in each of his last two starts, could move up with the cutback in distance.  Ka'nah could improve with the return to the main track.

Stay Happy goes first off the claim for Trainer Kristin Mulhall, who tends to do well with such.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 9 - [S] The Snow Chief $150k - Nine Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 2 None Above the Law (ML 9-5)

B's

# 3 Ferrariano (ML 4-1)

# 4 Big Talker (ML 4-1)

C's

# 1 Found My Ball (ML 7-2)

# 5 Que Sera Sir Ralph (ML 50-1)
# 6 Ingest (ML 15-1)

# 7 Jimmy Blue Jeans (ML 15-1)
# 8 Cargo (ML 8-1)
# 9 Play Chicken (ML 12-1)

None Above the Law should probably be a big ticket single in this leg; but because None Above the Law is trying nine furlongs for the first time, I thought it best to spread a bit here.

Ferrariano raced above his conditions last time out, breaking his maiden against winners at odds of 25-1.  Ferrariano won't be that nice of a price this go-round, but Ferrariano certainly deserves consideration here.

Big Talker has won previously at today's distance.  Big Talker is also a candidate to improve going second off the layoff.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 10 - (F) [S] The Melair $150k - Eight and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 1 Pawnee (ML 5-1)

B's

# 3 Fi Fi Pharoah (ML 5-1)

# 6 Eddie's New Dream (ML 3-1)

C's

# 2 Mucha Woman (ML 10-1)
# 4 Smoothlikebuttah (ML 12-1)

# 5 I'm So Anna (ML 4-1)

# 7 Misty Cat (ML 12-1)
# 8 Omg It's Jessica (ML 5-1)

Pawnee tends to run well over this main track, and Pawnee has won previously off a layoff.  Fi Fi Pharoah was victorious last time out in her first route race; perhaps Fi Fi Pharoah wanted two turns all along.

Eddie's New Dream could improve stretching out for the first time.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 11 - The San Juan Capistrano (Grade 3) - Fourteen Furlongs Turf

A's

# 2 Red King (ML 5-2)

B's

# 4 Acclimate (ML 9-5)

# 6 Astronaut (ML 8-1)

C's

# 1 Lure Him In (ML 8-1)

# 3 Ward 'n Jerry (ML 5-2)

# 5 Pillar Mountain (Ire) (ML 6-1)

Red King and Acclimate are both prior winners of this event; Red King last year, and Acclimate in 2019.  Look for Acclimate to try to win it on the front end, while Red King will attempt to pick up the pieces late.

Astronaut hasn't finished out of the Exacta since joining the barn of Trainer John Shirreffs, and Astronaut looks like he can run all day.  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: 1 with 2 with 1 with 2 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 1,4,7,8 with 2,3,4 with 1,3,6 with 2,4,6 $54.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 2,3,5,6,9 with 2 with 1 with 2 $2.50

$0.50 P4: 1 with 1,5,6,7,8,9 with 1 with 2 $3.00

$0.50 P4: 1 with 2 with 2,4,5,7,8 with 2 $2.50

$0.50 P4: 1 with 2 with 1 with 1,3,5 $1.50

Total: $64.50

Post Time for Race 8 is 7:50 EDT / 4:50 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo