4/9/22 Santa Anita Late Pick Four - Preview

“Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities.  Seize common occasions and make them great.” - Orison Swett Marden

Saturday is Santa Anita Derby Day in Arcadia, a race that could produce the winner of the next Kentucky Derby.  Personally, I look forward to enjoying that contest sans wagering interest, as that event does not fall among the Final Four races on the program.  However, despite the absence of the day's featured race, The Late Pick Four did turn out to be a rather intriguing sequence.  So with that as intro let's get to it, as I take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.

RACE 9 - (F) MSW - Six Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 1 Banjo Queen (Morning Line 8-1)

B's

# 2 Granola Girl (ML 3-1)

# 4 Snark (ML 5-2)

# 6 Scenic Masterpiece (ML 7-2)

C's

# 3 Mygalsdawnnlori (ML 12-1)

# 5 Soul of a Warrior (ML 30-1)

# 7 Lookintogeteven (ML 7-2)

# 8 Adele Darling (ML 15-1)
# 9 Yadiama (ML 20-1)

Banjo Queen made a nice middle move in her debut last time out.  Granola Girl could move up with the return to one turn racing.

Snark and Scenic Masterpiece filled out the bottom two rungs of the Trifecta at this class level last time out.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 10 - (F) [S] The Evening Jewel $150k - Six and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 2 Connie Swingle (ML 9-5)

B's

# 1 Big Novel (ML 3-1)

C's

# 3 Carmen Miranda (ML 8-1)

# 4 Munny Penny (ML 30-1)
# 5 At the Spa (ML 15-1)
# 6 Professors' Pride (ML 4-1)

# 7 Power Surge (ML 15-1)

# 8 Everlys Girl (ML 8-1)
# 9 Youteyourhonor (ML 8-1)

Connie Swingle, making her first start as a three year old, looks to be ready to fire off bench, at least based off her five furlong bullet work on April 3.  Big Novel, boasting a five furlong bullet work of her own on April 2, has won in the past while going around just one turn.

A braver bettor than myself would choose between Connie Swingle and Big Novel, thereby halving the price of the main ticket.  However, I am nowhere near that courageous.  Therefore, Connie Swingle and Big Novel both get a spot on the main ticket, with all others being used as backup "C" Selections.

RACE 11 - OC 80k/N2X - Six and a Half Furlongs Downhill Turf

A’s

# 9 Strike That (ML 10-1)

B’s

# 1 Coulthard (Ire) (ML 6-1)

# 6 Gregdar (ML 8-1)

# 7 Burnin Turf (ML 4-1)

# 8 Anaconda (ML 5-1)

# 10 Harbored Memories (ML 5-1)

C's

# 2 Coast of Roan (ML 10-1)

# 3 Arkaan (ML 8-1)
# 4 Zoffarelli (ML 12-1)

# 5 Encoder (ML 20-1)

# 11 Hudson Ridge (ML 8-1)

For those who note such things, Encoder is the only entrant in this field that will be running with the $80k price tag on his head.

Strike That is going first off the claim for Trainer John Sadler; which shows more than the usual amount of patience, as that claim was over a year ago at Oaklawn Park.  Strike That is also trying the turf for the first time.  Those two factors lead me to believe that this is a very well meant entry; and the class relief that Strike That is getting over his more recent starts makes Strike That very appealing at what should be a very nice price.

Coulthard disappointed as the Post Time Favorite at this class level last time out; perhaps Coulthard can move up off the freshening.  Burnin' Turf won by daylight charging down the hill last time out, and Trainer Dan Blacker tends to do well when placing his last out winners.

Harbored Memories and Gregdar filled out the bottom two rungs of the Trifecta at this class level last time out.  Anaconda took the Show at this class level last time out.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 12 - Md $50k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 Halfbarberbingie (ML 5-2)

B's

# 4 Today Matters (ML 3-1)

# 7 Hulk (ML 6-1)

C's

# 1 Brotherly Love (ML 10-1)

# 2 Its Big (ML 20-1)
# 3 Mongolian Ninja (ML 30-1)

# 5 Tucker's Tribute (ML 12-1)

# 8 Candy for Carmel (ML 6-1)
# 9 Got Curly (ML 10-1)

# 10 Weegee (ML 20-1)
# 11 Asphalt (ML 20-1)

# 12 Lookout Point (ML 12-1)

Scratch the Also Eligible, # 13 Mo Them Down (ML 4-1)

Halfbarberbingie took the Place at this approximate class level two starts back, which was Halfbarberbingie's last grass race.  Today Matters missed graduation by less than a length at this class level last time out.

Hulk appears quickest here; and if he can get an easy lead, Hulk just might steal this one on the front end.  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 9 with 6 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 1,2,4,6 with 1,2 with 1,6,7,8,9,10 with 4,6,7 $72.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 3,5,7,8,9 with 2 with 9 with 6 $2.50

$0.50 P4: 1 with 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 with 9 with 6 $3.50

$0.50 P4: 1 with 2 with 2,3,4,5,11 with 6 $2.50

$0.50 P4: 1 with 2 with 9 with 1,2,3,5,8,910,11,12 $4.50

Total: $86.00

Post Time for Race 9 is 7:22 EDT / 4:22 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo