Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s “What You Need to Know” isolates 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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Santa Anita Race 1: Post: 1:00 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 3-Trump Era; Southern Melodee
Backups: none.

Forecast: Trump Era ran a winning race when second in his debut (well clear of the rest) and will be tough to deny with a similar effort today. He’s actually likely to run better, not worse. Southern Melodee has done some good work in the morning leading up to his debut and should fire a good shot. He has a nice way of going and appears to be a quick sort, so we have to use him somewhere on our ticket.


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Santa Anita Race 2: Post: 1:32 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 3-We’re in Trouble
Backups: 5-Virat.

Forecast: We’re In Trouble is a genuine and consistent turf sprinter and has never been worse than second in four starts over the local lawn. He’s a first time blinker user and may display a bit more gate speed today, though his style as a late runner has done him quite well, so far. We’re expecting him to be along in time while offering reasonable value at or near his morning line of 2-1.


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Santa Anita Race 3: Post: 2:05 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 4-Splendora; 6-Seismic Beauty.
Backups: none.

Forecast:: Trainer B. Baffert has two bullets to fire in this year’s Santa Margarita S.-G2 and either one can win. Splendora has been facing the best in her division of late and won’t have Kopion ort Richi to worry about today. She’s fast on numbers and projects to be prominent throughout. Seismic Beauty gets a class test after demolishing a softer allowance field by 10 lengths with a high quality speed figure. A bullet workout since raced indicate she’s nowhere near done improving.


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Santa Anita Race 4: Post: 2:36 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 7-Oveta’s Hobby; 4-Headed for Om
Backups: 1-Lovin’ On the Run.

Forecast: Oveta’s Holiday returns to the flat course and is nicely drawn outside. She should be on or near the lead throughout. J. Sadler’s other entrant – Headed for Om – is a major player as well and based strictly on speed figures is the one to fear most. We’re expecting the winner to be one of these two and both should be used on the top line.


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Santa Anita Race 5: Post: 3:08 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3-Can’t Help Myself; 1-Flashy Fritz.
Backups: none.

Forecast: Here’s a challenging baby race with a number of possibilities among the newcomers. We’ll try to get by using just two. Can’t Help Myself is bred to be quick (Violence) and has trained well enough to win at first asking for a barn that scored with a first time juvenile yesterday. We’ll give him the edge on top while also including Flashy Fritz, who has been questionable leaving the gate in the morning and had the misfortune of drawing the rail. But he has ability and could be a factor if he breaks with his field.


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Santa Anita Race 6: Post: 3:38 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 8-Word Play (GB)
Backups: 3-Ms Brightside.

Forecast: Word Play (GB) is a first-off-the-claim for J. Mullins and that’s an automatic play in our book. A good recent second over this course and distance for $50,000 last time out, the English-bred filly is protected today in a starter’s allowance affair, seems likely to produce a significant forward move, and looks capable of producing a winning late kick. U. Rispoli stays aboard and knows her well.


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Santa Anita Race 7: Post: 4:08 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 5-Discrepancy
Backups: none.

Forecast: Discrepancy is a three time winner over the local main track and returns to her claim level after earning a decent number when second in a tougher starter allowance affair last time out. She lacks tactical speed and probably will need a bit of help up front today to be most effective, but on her best day she can wear down this group close home. Her morning line of 3-1 seems about right.


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Santa Anita Race 8: Post: 4:38 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 7-Broski (Ire); 2-Mutaz.
Backups: 5-Catch the Breeze.

Forecast: Broski (Ire) , in the frame in six of seven career starts with solid numbers for the level, is overdue for a maiden win and seems well spotted to graduate. He’s likely to draft into a comfortable stalking position and have every chance to seal the deal when the pressure is turned on from the quarter pole to the wire. Mutaz almost certainly is the one he has to beat. Fifth in his debut after pulling hard early, the son of Nyquist shows the always dangerous blinkers off angle for B. Baffert (25% with second timers), and it would be surprising if this well regarded colt doesn’t step forward significantly.


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Santa Anita Race 9: Post: 5:08 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 4-Ryan’s Girl; 3-Miss Miche Lada.
Backups: none.

Forecast: Ryan’s Girl takes a substantial class drop seeking her winning level and appears to have found it in this restricted (nw-2) $16,000 claimer for sophomore fillies. She’s a fit on numbers, switches to K. Kimura, and projects to be forwardly placed and have every chance against this modest group. She’s listed at 4-1 on the morning line and will offer good value if you can get it. Miss Miche Lada is worth using, as well. First off an $8,000 claim following a 12 length romp, the daughter of Stay Thirsty is raised three levels in class in a sign of confidence and based on numbers she’s a fit at this level for her new, high percentage connections.


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Santa Anita Race 10: Post: 5:38 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 5-Severe Clear
Backups: 2-Ride Elbow Ranch; 4-Darlin Tami.

Forecast: Severe Clear is a first timer with ability and should be extremely live in this maiden special weight turf sprint for older state-bred fillies and mares. The daughter of Vronsky is an efficient move with plenty of speed, and her pedigree suggests she should be at her best on grass. The barn has powerful stats with newcomers so at 8-1 on the morning line this sophomore filly offers an excellent gamble in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.


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