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: B+
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 6-Boss Lady; 5-Kleen Karma
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: Boss Lady was a stylish and unexpected debut winner at 20-1 over the local turf course last month, drawing away with power to daylight her rivals, and while she may not have had much behind her the daughter of Street Boss did it the right way while giving indication that today’s extra furlong will only help. The Jeff Mullins-trained filly shows three easy breezes since raced and should be double tough right back despite the class hike to the first level allowance ranks. Kleen Karma certainly has an edge in experience over our top pick – she’s had 30 more races – and on pure numbers holds a significant edge based on her best outing. However, she’s 1-for-18 over the Santa Anita turf course and that win was accomplished down the Hill, not over today’s flat course. We’ll toss her in on a backup ticket while reserving the main punch for Boss Lady.

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RACE 2: Post: 1:30 PT Grade: B+
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 1-Issa Court
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: Issa Court shows up in a $20,000 claimer after a series of disappointing runs and seems likely to step forward significantly today while facing considerably softer opposition. She stretches out again, and from her favorable rail draw the daughter of Acclamation projects to be the controlling speed without need of being sent. Given the likely race flow, this should be easy pickings for the Dan Blacker-trained mare, who fits the bill as a win play and rolling exotic single.

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RACE 3: Post: 2:01 PT Grade: C+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 6-Going Mobile; 2-Last Call London
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast:There are two logical contenders based on a limited amount of information in this sprint for California-bred juveniles. Going Mobile was aggressively ridden in a three horse half mile gate drill last week and proved much the best when clocking good :47 flat. Not much more may be needed today. Last Call London is a sneaky San Luis Rey Downs shipper from the Peter Miller barn. His workout times look decent, and as a son of Stay Thirsty he has every right to be an early winner. In an unclassified field with little to work with, the best advice is to tread lightly.

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RACE 4: Post: 2:32 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 5-Creatively
Backups/Savers: 4-Marinas Tina

Forecast: Creatively displayed some ability in a four race European campaign and could easily be a better type on this circuit after joining the Michael McCarthy barn. She’s a first-time Lasix user making her California debut in a soft maiden affair under top rider Juan Hernandez, and with a steady and healthy work tab to have her plenty fit the daughter of Zoffany looks well-spotted for a major effort. Marinas Tina finished with some interest to be third over this course and distance in a much tougher maiden affair than tasked with today. With another forward move, the Phil D’Amato-trained filly could be a dangerous late threat. We’ll try to get by using just these two in rolling exotic play, with the main gamble going to Creatively.

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RACE 5: Post: 3:04 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): Texthelegend; 5-Yellow Brick
Backups/savers: none

Forecast: Texthelegend just finished second to subsequent Santa Anita Derby-G1 third place finisher Skinner and there’s nobody in here even remotely as good as that colt. Making his first start since being gelded, the Bob Baffert-trained son of Justify earned a big number in his last outing, one that if repeated today should earn him his maiden diploma. Yellow Brick is a one-paced grinder who probably can’t beat a decent maiden, but on pure numbers he’s pretty close to our top pick and really won’t need to improve much to win. The son of Quality Road continues to work well for Richard Mandella and can be counted on for a solid effort if nothing else. We’ll prefer Texthelegend on top but include both in our rolling exotics.

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RACE 6: Post: 3:35 PT Grade: B-
Main ticket (in order of preference): Duvet Day; 5-Queen Ofthe Temple
Backups/savers: none

Forecast: Duvet Day and Queen Ofthe Temple are the proven turf marathoners in this year’s edition of the 12 furlong Santa Barbara Stakes for fillies and mares, having finished one-two in the similar Astra Stakes over this course and distance earlier this season. They’re hard to separate, each having beaten the other on occasion, so we won’t split hairs and simply concede that the winner likely will be one or the other. Both should be included in rolling exotic play.

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RACE 7: Post: 4:06 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 2-Ultimate Gamble; 3-Katonah
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: Ultimate Gamble is a progressive 3-year-old fresh from a convincing maiden winner in his sophomore debut over a distance of ground earlier this month. The speed figure was strong, and this $1.75 million son of Medaglia d’Oro should step forward with that bit of experienced behind him. If the Mark Glatt-trained colt is going to be worth the kind of money that he brought at auction he really must beat this field. Katonah has numbers that fit with our top pick but with eight prior starts already certainly has room for less improvement. Nonetheless, the son of Klimt has good tactical speed and could easily inherit the role as the controlling speed without undue pressure. Give that type of trip, he may be difficult to run down.

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RACE 8: Post: 4:37 PT Grade: B-
Main ticket (in order of preference): 7-Quatroelle; 5-Closing Remarks
Backups/savers: 3-Rhea Moon

Forecast: Evenly matched middle distance grass fillies and mares who know each other well square off again, this time in the Wilshire Stakes-G3 over a flat mile. Quattroelle has won her last two races and could easily extend to her streak to three if she can maintain her sharp recent form. Most effective when held up and produced late, the Irish-bred mare has an excellent turn of foot, and there should be enough pace up front to compliment her style. Closing Remarks projects to draft into a comfortable second flight stalking position and then have every chance from the quarter pole home. If things break her way, she can repeat her clever recent victory in the Royal Heroine St.-G3. Rhea Moon won the American Oaks-G1 impressively in late December, was given some time off, and returns for trainer Phil D’Amato with a slow and easy series of workouts. It’s hard to say how cranked up she is – this could easily be just a prep for bigger and better things down the road – but on her best day the Irish-bred filly absolute can run these.

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RACE 9: Post: 5:08 PT Grade: B+
Main ticket (in order of preference): Super Chief; 2-My Man Bags
Backups/savers: none

Forecast: Super Chief was an impressive debut winner here last year but then disappeared. He returns with a series of sharp, quick drills that should have him fit and ready. The rail post does him no favors; if he breaks running he’s pretty much obligated to make the pace inside under pressure and that won’t be an easy task at this extended sprint distance. We still like him but will also include My Man Bags, a sharp gate-to-wire winner with a career top speed figure when facing state bred foes in mid-March. The Mark Glatt-trained gelding can win on the front end or employ stalk and pounce tactics; in either case he is the one to fear most.

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RACE 10: Post: 5:39 PT Grade: B-
Main ticket: (in order of preference): Unjokable; Jai Ho
Backups/savers: 4-Jensco

Forecast: Unjokable ran twice in Dubai this past winter, finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas Trial in her racing debut and then winding up a distant third in the Guineas itself, beaten nine lengths by two very good fillies. She makes her U.S. debut in a soft maiden turf sprint and based on her overseas form she should be highly competitive and arguably the one to beat. Jai Ho brought $175,000 at Timonium last April, sat out her entire 2-year-old season, and finally makes it to the races for clever trainer Mark Glatt, whose first timers often run better than they work. The daughter of Mendelssohn has looked good in recent drills and should be ready for a major effort first time out. Jensco has done some solid work in the a.m. for trainer John Shirreffs and is likely to be competitive. She doesn’t really have a grass pedigree and the barn rarely wins with first timers but this daughter of Gormley probably is worth including on your ticket as a backup or a saver.