Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s Daily Santa Anita Handicapping Analysis, Wagering Strategies, and Workout Commentary identify those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6.
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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: C
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 8-Landsdowne; 5-Beaudacious
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: The Friday opener is a $32,000 restricted (nw-2) claiming turf sprint without a whole lot in it. In a race he had a right to need, Landsdowne was outfooted when a non-threatening fourth in a quick abbreviated dash at this level last month as the favorite. He gets an extra half furlong to work with today, and this will be his second start off a 10 month layoff, so he has every right to improve, but the Phil D’Amato-trained gelding hardly is one to trust. The fact that top rider Juan Hernandez jumps off to ride Franklin Star isn’t encouraging. Beaudacious, third in the same race that Landsdowne just finished fourth in, should appreciate today’s softer projected pace, and seems likely to have every chance from a stalking/prompting early position. The lightly raced six-year-old has numbers that fit and has run well over this course and distance in the past. Franklin One Star makes his second start off a layoff (the barn has strong stats with this angle) and takes a realistic class drop while likely to be on or near the lead from his rail draw. With a steady, healthy series of workouts since raced, the Doug O’Neill-trained gelding appears primed for a major effort. All three should be included in rolling exotic play in a race that must be handled with care.
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RACE 2: Post: 1:30 PT Grade: C
Main ticket: (in order of preference): American Conquest; 4-Hot Rod Mama
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: American Conquest drops to the bottom rung ($20,000) maiden claiming level, picks up leading rider Juan Hernandez, and may have found her friends in this woefully weak main track miler. The Peter Miller-trained filly exits an infinitely tougher first-level allowance race that was taken off the turf and was completely out of her element, but against this group the daughter of Finnegans Wake should be quite competitive. Hot Rod Mama, in the frame in her last pair at this level, isn’t fast on figures but at least her numbers are moving in the right direction. By default, she is the one to beat. We suggest you tread lightly in another race that gets a “C” rating.
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RACE 3: Post: 1:56 PT Grade: C+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 1-Irish Patsy; 2-Soul of a Warrior
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: The two main players in this maiden $50,000 turf sprint for older fillies and mares are drawn inside, and with the rails out at 30 feet the lower lanes are the best place to be. Irish Patsy takes the always dangerous maiden to maiden claiming class drop, picks up leading rider Juan Hernandez, and should have every chance to earn her diploma with a projected ground saving trip. She earned a speed figure two races back over this course and distance when finishing fifth that puts her right there. Let’s put the daughter of Street Boss on top while also including the highly logical Soul of a Warrior, who was far back in an infinitely tougher turf miler last time out but a solid runner-up under these conditions two races back. The Declaration of War filly may be the quickest in the field, so if she can shake loose early she could get very brave.
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RACE 4: Post: 2:29 PT Grade: B+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 4-Pequena Tormenta
Backups/Savers: 6-Awesome Taylor.

Forecast: Pequena Tormenta has been away since last summer but returns protected in a sign of confidence by new trainer Jeff Mullins and shows a bullet :58 1/5 workout five days ago to have her primed and ready. The barn’s “go-to” rider Hector Berrios gets the call on the daughter of Dialed In, who has won over this track in the past and has the ideal pace-stalking style that works best at this seven furlong trip. Also worth noting is that she won here last year off a similar layoff, so we know she can fire fresh. Awesome Taylor is worth including, at least as a saver. Back on her preferred surface (dirt), the Classic Empire filly is another ideally suited for this extended sprint distance and is a fit on numbers. She goes for an underrated barn and recently worked five furlongs from the gate in :59 1/5 to have her cranked and ready.
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RACE 5: Post: 3:00 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 4-Stan From Malibu
Backups/savers: 7-Chrome to Riches.

Forecast: Stan From Malibu shows the classic two-sprints-and-a-stretch-out pattern and appears primed for significant improvement in this turf miler for state-bred maidens. His Beyer speed figure improved 18 points in his second outing and a sharp :46 3/5 half mile workout (second fastest of 116) last Sunday provides further evidence that another forward move is likely. The barn has a second entrant in the field, Chrome to Riches, who also produced significant improvement in his second start when finishing fourth over this course and distance last month. The son of California Chrome will be running on late, and with some help up front could at least get a piece of it. We’ll try to get by using just these two in rolling exotic play.
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RACE 6: Post: 3:30 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 3-Con Seal and Kerry; 4-Secret Hello
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: In a split of the second race, Con Seal and Kerry is quite intriguing. She shows the first-time routing, blinkers off, and turf-to-dirt angles that always catch the eye and certainly is bred to run long (Gun Runner x A. P. Indy). Adding fuel to the fire, the Steve Knapp barn has solid stats with stretch-out runners. Sweet Hello remains a major contender in her ninth career start, though as a beaten favorite in three of her last four starts she’s hardly one to trust. The daughter of Danzing Candy, in the frame in her last five outings with rising (if not particularly fast) speed figures, should settle into a stalking position and then have dead aim and every chance from the quarter pole home.
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RACE 7: Post: 4:00 PT Grade: B+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 4-Boss Sully; 5-Old Pal
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: Boss Sully was visually quite pleasing when graduating in his second career start sprinting over the local lawn last month, doing so with a solid speed figure while giving every indication that added distance should be within his wheelhouse. The California-bred son of Street Boss probably didn’t have a whole lot behind him but did it the right way and appears capable of winning on the raise at this one mile trip. Old Pal is the logical favorite and one to beat following a convincing maiden tally over this course and distance in his second career start last month. The son of Grazen can really turn it on late and the strong 78 Beyer speed figure he recently earned bodes well for the future. We’ll give Boss Sully a slight edge on top (he’ll be the better price) while including both in rolling exotic play.
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RACE 8: Post: 4:30 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 4-My Harbors Dream 8-Octopus
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: Anything goes in these bottom-of-the-barrel $10,000 claiming sprints for older horses, but we’ll be somewhat surprised if the winner isn’t one of the two listed above. My Harbors Dream is a significant class dropper that should be highly competitive in this league. Although unplaced in his last four starts (when facing much tougher company), his race four back against restricted (nw-3) $20,000 foes in January charts very well against this group and his recent (buried) numbers make him better than the lines might suggests. Octopus, in his first off a $12,500 claim by Peter Eurton, also is dropping to his lowest level ever and seems well-placed to regain his best form. He’s a four-time winner over the Santa Anita main track (though just 1-for-9 overall in the last two years) and has recent speed figures that are good enough to make him dangerous.
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RACE 9: Post: 5:00 PT Grade: C
Main ticket (in order of preference): Bella Baby; 8-Mygalsdawnnlori; Map to My Heart
Backups/savers: Miss Joannie

Forecast:Here’s another raffle, a maiden ($50,000) claiming turf sprint for older fillies and mares. Bella Baby is nothing more than an educated guess, having done all of her preparatory work at San Luis Rey Downs, but she is bred to be quick (Maclean’s Music), lands top rider Juan Hernandez, shows some decent recent morning activity, and hails from an outfit that usually is quite realistically with its stock. In a race in which the known element doesn’t inspire, let’s put her on top. Mygalsdawnnlori shows the maiden-to-maiden claiming angle and a speed figure over this course and distance two races back that makes her a fit, so we’ll consider her a “must use.” She’s also shortening up from a speed/fade effort over a distance of ground, so if nothing else she should be plenty fit. Map to My Heart is a second-off-a-layoff play after displaying speed before weakening in a similar affair earlier this meeting. She should stick better today, so we’ll toss her in. Miss Joannie, a fair fourth in her debut, adds blinkers, tries grass (bred for it), and has a right to produce a forward move at a decent price.