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Jeff Siegel: Santa Anita Wagering Strategies | Saturday, October 16

by Jeff Siegel

October 16, 2021

Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s Daily “Workout Report, Analysis, and Wagering Strategies” isolates those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6.

The selections are posted at 6:00 a.m. and updated later in the morning to reflect late scratches and changes (approximately 10:30 a.m.). For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing.


Grade Descriptions:
Grade A=Highest degree of confidence
Grade B=Solid Play.
Grade C=Least preferred or pass
Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play

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RACE 1: Post: 1:00 PT Grade: B
Use: 2-Feathers; 4-Ivy League

Forecast: The Saturday opener is a nine furlong allowance optional claimer on grass restricted to 3-year-old fillies. Feathers, the 9/5 morning line favorite, earned by far her career top Beyer speed figure (88) when an excellent fourth (beaten less than three lengths) at 69-1 in the Del Mar Oaks-G1 in late August and anything close to that type of performance today in this much softer spot gets her back into the winner’s circle. The lightly-raced Irish-bred filly seems effective when held up early, though in race lacking in pace she might find herself close up throughout. The P. Miller-trained ex-claimer sports a solid, healthy recent work tab at San Luis Rey Downs so we’re not anticipating any regression. Ivy League, seventh in the same race Feathers exits, is another that should appreciate today’s easier assignment. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro shows good form over the local lawn, including a nice maiden win over at this trip last winter, and is a grinding type that projects to be comfortably placed on or near a modest early pace. These are the two we’ll be including in rolling exotic play with the edge on top to Feathers.

Notable Workouts:
4-Ivy League (October 10, Santa Anita, 6f, 1:14.4h. Grade: B
Even but best outside Wicked (same time) while working from the furlong pole out to the seven furlong pole, some restraint to mid-stretch and then proving slightly best late while mildly coaxed, splits of :25.1, :37.1, 1:02 flat and 1:14.4, solid work for a filly that’s done all of her racing on grass. Has some improvement in her, especially if returned to the first-level allowance ranks.
View Workout Video

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RACE 2: Post: 1:30 PT Grade: B
Use: 1-Escape Route; 4-The Great One

Forecast: Escape Route had the misfortune of facing Flightline in a non-winners of two sprint at Del Mar last month and never had a chance, though to his credit he wound up a distant second (beaten nearly 13 lengths) while still earning a fairly decent speed figure despite the margin of defeat. The lightly-raced son of Hard Spun had won his previous two outings in good fashion with strong numbers so against this five-runner allowance optional field the M. Glatt-trained colt should have every chance to return to winning form. The Great One, nosed out in the Los Alamitos Futurity-G1 last December and then a 14 length maiden winner over the Santa Anita main track the following month, subsequently ran two dull races when overmatched and was given several months off. The D. O’Neill-trained colt finished a respectable fourth behind Medina Spirit in the Shared Belief S. at Del Mar in late August upon his reappearance and today shortens to a sprint while facing considerably easier foes. This seven furlong trip should be ideal for his pacesetting/stalking style. We’ll give Escape Route a very slight edge on top but include both in rolling exotic play.

Notable Workouts:
4-The Great One (September 25, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:02.2h). Grade: B-
In blinkers, under heavy restraint throughout while pulling on the turn but finally settling late while traveling out to the seven furlong pole, splits of :24.1, :49.3, and 1:02.2. Obviously could have gone much faster if permitted. Exits a tough race and can do much better with a proper drop in class.
View Workout Video

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RACE 3: Post: 2:01 PT Grade: B
Use: 3-Savvy Gal; 4-Invincibella; 5-Nightlife

Forecast: Here’s a tough, contentious affair requiring a three-runner spread in rolling exotic play. Invincibella won a turf sprint at Del Mar at this level in mid-August and seeks a repeat score in this seven-runner $25,000 claimer for fillies and mares. Today’s extra furlong shouldn’t bother her in the least, so this two-time winner over the local lawn should once again be able to settle early and tag the leaders late. Nightlife, first off the claim for J. Mullins (powerful stats with this angle), has looked sharp in the a.m. in recent weeks and appears cranked up for a major effort. Freshened since July, the veteran daughter of Into Mischief projects to enjoy an ideal stalking trip and have every chance from the head of the lane to the wire. Savvy Gal is worth including on your ticket somewhere as well. She’s a class-dropper with the route-to-sprint angle in her second start off a layoff, and with a prior win over the course and two strong recent five furlong workouts at San Luis Rey Downs she appears set to produce a significant forward move.

Notable Workouts:
5-Nightlife (October 6, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:00.4h TT). Grade: B
Nice and relaxed while on her own courage throughout in solo training track drill for new trainer J. Mullins, final three furlongs in :11.4 and :36 flat. Freshened since July and appears perked up off the layoff. Dangerous on dirt or turf when she’s on her game.
View Workout Video

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RACE 4: Post: 2:35 PT Grade: B+
Use: 3-Established; 6-I Got No Munny

Forecast: I Got No Munny was well below his best form when third at 4/5 in a similar second-level allowance sprint at Del Mar in late August, but the M. Glatt-trained gelding draws the cozy outside post today and seems likely produce his best stuff over a main track that he clearly prefers (three wins in four starts). A bullet five furlong workout (:58 4/5) tells us he’s doing very well and on pure numbers he’s simply faster than these. For protection, we’ll also include Established on our rolling exotic ticket. A winner against lesser at this seven furlong trip last time out at Del Mar. the R. Baltas-trained gelding should be on or near the lead throughout in a race that projects to have soft early splits. He’ll need another forward move to worry our top pick but may have it in him.

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RACE 5: Post: 3:06 PT Grade: B
Use: 3-Fearless Girl; 6-Rose’s Crystal; 9-Ultimate Hy

Forecast: Fearless Girl missed as the favorite when runner-up in her U.S. debut last month at Del Mar but actually ran quite well when finishing strongly after running into a roadblock entering the lane. A similar effort with good racing luck likely lands the P. D’Amato-trained Irish-bred filly in the winner’s circle. Ultimate Hy, a respectable third (beaten two lengths) in the same race our top pick exits, moved prematurely into a hot pace and then paid the price late, so with a properly-timed ride today the B. Heap-trained filly may be able to offer a serious threat. She’s a two-time winner over the Santa Anita turf course and is lightly-raced with further improvement in her. Rose’s Crystal, twice a winner in her last three outings and with speed figures that are gradually rising, exits state-bred races and will tackle tougher open company today. This nine furlong trip should be well within her range, especially if sufficient early pace materializes to compliment her late-grinding style. At 8-1 on the morning line, she’s worth including on your ticket, at least as a back-up or a saver.

Notable Workouts:
3-Fearless Girl (October 9, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:00.3h TT). Grade: B-
Broke off a couple of lengths in front of Going Global (5f, 1:00h TT) in training track drill for P. D’Amato and was no match for her classy barn mate in the final stages while being ridden a bit in the final furlong while ‘Global was under cruise control, final half mile on our watches in :24.1 and :48.1. Decent work under the circumstances, looks fine, and should fire another good shot vs. allowance foes next time out.
View Workout Video

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RACE 6: Post: 3:37 PT Grade: C
Use: 2-Roses R Blue; 3-So Very Smart; 8-Supersonic Flyer

Forecast: This maiden claiming $50,000 sprint for older state-bred fillies and mares looks treacherous and chaotic, so the best advice is to spread as deeply as your budget allows. Supersonic Flyer and So Very Smart have plenty of zip but not a lot of stick, and both have been vulnerable under pressure in the final stages of their respective races. If one can clear the other in the opening stages we might see a gate-to-wire winner but if they hook up early there’s a reasonable chance that both will fall apart. First-time starter Roses R Blue has trained okay for L. Mendez, and in a soft spot such as this might be reasonably competitive. She lands the capable seven pound bug rider D. Herrera and clearly won’t have to be a world beater to act with this group.

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RACE 7: Post: 4:19 PT Grade: B+
Single: 5-Bella Vita

Forecast: Bella Vita was scratched out of last week’s Chillingworth S.-G3 but worked the following morning so she’s fine, and against this Cal-bred group of fillies and mares the daughter of Bayern seems properly spotted for another top effort. She earned a career top speed figure when dismantling a first-level allowance field at Del Mar in August and her second flight, stalking style should work quite well in this downhill grass dash. There’s plenty of wagering value in the win pool and in rolling exotic play at or near her morning line of 5/2 if you can get it.

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RACE 8: Post: 4:40 PT Grade: C
Use: 6-Respect the Ride; 7-Unwritten Code; 10-Spoiled Rotten

Forecast: Maiden claiming $50,000 state-bred juvenile fillies sprint six furlongs in another race that on paper appears borderline inscrutable. Spoiled Rotten has plenty of early speed but has faded readily in her first three starts while facing much tougher straight maiden foes. Against this group she could get loose early and brave late, so at 4-1 on the morning line we’ll put her on top but certainly not with a great degree of confidence. Unwritten Code is another sporting the maiden-to-maiden claiming class drop angle while also removing blinkers, so this second-time starter is another likely to improve a bunch in a weak affair. She trained okay leading up to her debut, so at 15-1 on the morning line the daughter of Desert Code is a “must use” in rolling exotic play. Respect the Ride is a debuting daughter of Boat Trip with a work tab that doesn’t look half-bad, so at 8-1 on the morning line the L. Mendez-trained filly can be tossed in as well.

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RACE 9: Post: 5:12 PT Grade: B+
Use: 2-Vivacious Vanessa; 9-Candy On Top

Forecast: Candy On Top just failed at 40 cents on the dollar when missing by a neck (and two lengths clear of the rest) in a similar maiden turf miler for juvenile fillies at Del Mar so she may be a hard one to trust, but the daughter of Twirling Candy doesn’t appear to have much to beat, so she’ll likely to be a short price once again.. Her speed figure did improve eight Beyer points in what was just her second career outing, so and with a similar bit of improvement today she’s very likely to graduate. Long shot players should find a spot on their ticket for the debuting Vivacious Vanessa, a debuting daughter of the hot second-crop stallion Not This Time A $90,000 auction purchase as a yearling, the G. Mandella-trained filly has done some good work in the a.m. and should be capable of at least outrunning her 15-1 morning line odds.

Notable Workouts:
2-Vivacious Vanessa (October 9, Santa Anita, 6f, 1:13h). Grade: B
Pretty nice work in company inside Micro Share (same time) for G. Mandella, neither one really being asked much while stride-for-stride throughout, splits of :24 flat, :35.4, 1:00.4 and 1:13.2 on our watches from the five furlong pole out to the seven furlong pole. Daughter of Not This True acts like she’ll enjoy a route of ground and seems fit enough by now. Okay sort, maybe.
View Workout Video

9-Candy On Top (September 22, Santa Anita, 4f, :49.3h). Grade: B-
Breezing in easy drill for Gaines, final three furlongs in :11.4 and :37.3, a simple maintenance drill for juvenile daughter of Twirling Candy. Looks fine and should be a short price vs. California-bred maiden juvenile fillies again next time out.
View Workout Video