I hope all of you who celebrate had a very merry Christmas; and I hope all of you who don't celebrate had a spectacular weekend as well. And just as sun follows moon and moon follows sun, so too does Boxing Day follow Christmas Day. And, as is traditional, Boxing Day brings with it Opening Day at Santa Anita, which is always a joyful occasion. The card is chock full of Graded Stakes, the featured among them being the Grade 1 Malibu. So with all that let's just get to it, as I take a run at The Late Pick Four at The Great Race Place.
RACE 8 - (F) The La Brea (Grade 1) - Seven Furlongs Dirt
A’s
# 1 Under the Stars (Morning Line 7-2)
B's
# 4 Midnight Memories (ML 5-2)+
C's
# 3 Ganadora (ML 4-1)
# 5 Ain't Easy (ML 6-1)
# 6 Fun to Dream (ML 5-1)+
# 7 Kirstenbosch (ML 15-1)
# 8 Awake At Midnyte (ML 8-1)
# 8 Awake At Midnyte (ML 8-1)
Scratch # 2 Hot Peppers (ML 8-1)
Midnight Memories defeated older horses in the Grade 2 Zenyatta over this main track last time out. Despite that, I put Midnight Memories a shade beneath her stablemate Under the Stars, because I think that one turn racing favors Under the Stars.
Fun to Dream gets the plus sign for being two-for-two at the distance. I decided to spring for the extra two bucks to use the rest of the field as straight "C" Selections, just because I'm not in the mood today for a first round knockout.
RACE 9 - (F) ALW N1X - Nine Furlongs Turf
A's
# 9 Glenall (Ire) (ML 8-1)
B's
# 3 Ballet Dancing (ML 4-1)
# 7 Myfavoritedaughter (ML 6-1)
C's
# 2 Precious Baby (ML 12-1)
# 4 Barrister's Ride (ML 15-1)
# 10 Leisurewear (Ire) (ML 8-1)+
# 11 Claddagh Cure (ML 20-1)
# 12 Karakatsie (ML 5-1)+
Scratch the Also Eligibles; # 13 Maeve of Connaught (Ire) (ML 6-1) and # 14 Annaghiasa (Ire) (ML 7-2)
Glenall (Ire) seemed to really enjoy going nine furlongs last time out. It won't take much improvement off that effort to win against this field, and that Morning Line, if it holds up, is a very attractive price.
Ballet Dancing fits well here with the conditions, and putting the blinkers on could help her stay focused in the stretch. Myfavoritedaughter has a two race winning streak heading into today; perhaps Myfavoritedaughter is just a late bloomer who is now coming into her own. I think those three should cover it in this leg, though, as you can see, I've also given out a couple of plus signs among the C's; sort of a "just in case" since I don't yet know how the turf course will play.
RACE 10 - The Malibu (Grade 1) - Seven Furlongs Dirt
A’s
# 6 Taiba (ML 6-5)
B's
None
C's
# 2 Messier (ML 6-1)+
# 4 Nakatomi (ML 10-1)
You could just single Taiba in this leg and then turn your attention towards more important matters in your life and not have any fears that you've misread this race. Me, I decided to give Messsier some consideration with the C+ designation.
Messier bled last time out at Keeneland (and, despite the great temptation, I am not going to go off on those who made that possible due to their irrational hatred of Lasix; at least, not right now); if that can be corrected, then perhaps Messier can improve to his prior form. Note also the solid five furlong work from the gate a dozen days ago; a gate work which was faster than Taiba's non-gate work last week. Finally, consider that, despite Messier finishing way, way, way back in each of his last two starts, Jockey Johnny V isn't jumping off his back. I mean, that's gotta mean something.
RACE 11 - (F) The American Oaks (Grade 1) - Ten Furlongs Turf
A's
# 5 Bellstreet Bridie (GB) (ML 4-1)
B's
# 1 Rhea Moon (Ire) (ML 8-1)
# 2 Sprakle Blue (ML 8-1)
# 6 Miss En Scene (GB) (ML 4-1)+
# 9 Salimah (Ire) (ML 7-2)
C's
# 7 Skims (GB) (ML 6-1)
# 8 Pizza Bianca (ML 6-1)
# 11 School Dance (ML 15-1)+
A great race to close out the day, as this contest looks to me to be wide open. If your bankroll will allow, feel free to spread even wider than I did in this leg.
I made Bellstreet Bridie (GB) my top selection here because I feel that Bellstreet Bridie has defeated tougher competition than other contenders in this field. I see Miss En Scene (GB) as just a bit beneath Bellstreet Bridie. Miss En Scene has great tactical speed, and Miss En Scene should get first run at the pacesetters. But, I stress again, I see this contest as being wide open; so, as it so often is with turf races, trip could be the ultimate determinate today.
OK, that's the analysis. Playing my tickets in modified Crist fashion, I get:
All A Entries
$2.00 P4: 1 with 9 with 6 with 5 $2.00
All A Entries with All B Entries
$0.50 P4: 1,4 with 3,7,9 with 6 with 1,2,5,6,9 $15.00
All A Entries with All B+ Entries with All C+ Entries
$0.50 P4: 1,4,6 with 9,10,12 with 2,6 with 5,6,11 $27.00
A's with One C
$0.50 P4: 3,5,7,8 with 9 with 6 with 5 $2.00
$0.50 P4: 1 with 2,4,11 with 6 with 5 $1.50
$0.50 P4: 1 with 9 with 4 with 5 $0.50
$0.50 P4: 1 with 9 with 6 with 7,8 $1.00
Total: $49.00
Post Time for Race 8 is 5:35 EST / 2:35 PST. Good luck to all.
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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