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: 4-Cooey; 5-Into the Hall.
Backups: none.

Forecast: Cooney is much faster than these based on her dirt form; today she has to prove she can be as good on grass. The B. Baffert-trained filly sports the always popular blinkers off angle and projects to be the controlling speed in a race that likely will present a moderate early pace. Today should be her day. Into the Hall improved her Beyer speed figure by 30 points in her second career start, and with another forward move today the daughter of Constitution could give our top pick a serious challenge.


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Santa Anita Race 2: Post: 1:32 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3-Looks Rare; 5-Resemblance.
Backups: 2-Cuban Confusion (GB).

Forecast: Looks Rare ran well when third at this level last time out and not much more should be needed to land him in the winner’s circle. The D. O’Neill-trained gelding has much faster numbers to go back to, so anything close to his best race should be good enough in this restricted (nw-2) $16,000 claiming dash. Resemblance earned a number three races back in his maiden claiming win that charts quite well with this group. This drop in class is warranted and makes him the one to fear most.


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Santa Anita Race 3: Post: 2:05 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket:n1-Call Me Corey; 4-A Day to Remember
Backups: none.

Forecast: Calo Me Corey didn’t get the best of runs from an inside draw yet kept to his task to be a willing third in a promising debut over the local lawn. If he leaves cleanly from the rail, the son of Uncle Mo should be on or near the lead throughout. A Day to Remember removes blinkers in his second start off a layoff and seems very likely to produce a forward move. The M. Glatt barn has superior stats with this angle, so we’re expecting a career top performance by the American Pharoah gelding.


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Santa Anita Race 4: Post: 2:36 PT Grade: A-
Main Ticket: 2-Wound Up
Backups: 1-Positivity.

Forecast: Wound Up simply lays over this field based on the triple digit speed figure in earned in is most recent victory, his fifth in a row. He doesn’t need the lead to win but from where he’s drawn the vastly improved five-year-old gelding should be prominent throughout as a pace presser. Being a perfect three-for-three over the Santa Anita main track adds fuel to the fire.


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Santa Anita Race 5: Post: 3:06 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 5-The White Lady
Backups: 7-Rosalee May; 8-Defiance.

Forecast: The White Lady was beaten at odds-on in her U.S. debut when second in a similar first level allowance affair last month. We suspect she’ll make amends today. From the red-hot P. D’Amato barn, the French-bred filly has trained well in the interim, gets an extra furlong to work with, retains U. Rispoli, and should be capable of wearing down the leaders close home. She’ll be a more realistic price today after being listed at 3-1 on the morning line, though we suspect she’ll go a bit lower.


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Santa Anita Race 6: Post: 3:36 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 2-Navajo Warrior; 4-Joint Venture.
Backups: none.

Forecast: Navajo Warrior: has won three of his last four and in his present form there’s no reason he can’t continue his winning ways in this starter optional claiming main track miler. The T. Yakteen-trained gelding has solid numbers and is capable of winning as the controlling speed or from a stalking position, so regular pilot A. Fresu can choose his strategy depending upon the unfolding race shape. Joint Venture needs a boost in the speed figure department but if he’s allowed to inherit his favorite role as the controlling speed the son of Mizzen Mast could take this field a very long way.


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Santa Anita Race 7: Post: 4:08 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 8-Be Your Best (Ire); 5-No Show Sammy Jo.
Backups: none.

Forecast: The two high class Eastern shippers have the edge in this year’s edition of the Gamely S. -G1 and both should be used on the top line. Be Your Best (pictured above) had her three-race winning streak snapped when she finished unplaced in the Jenny Wiley S.-G1 at Keeneland, but this is an easier group, and we suspect the Irish-bred mare will bounce back in a big way. No Show Sammy Joe (GB) is a lightly raced mare (four wins in seven starts) with rising numbers and F. Prat in the saddle. She projects to settle in the second flight and then blast home.


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Santa Anita Race 8: Post: 4:38 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 5-Skippylongstocking ; 4-Extensive.
Backups: none.

Forecast: Skippylongstocking has been competitive against the best middle distance runners in North America and won’t be facing that level of competition in this year’s edition of the Hollywood Gold Cup-G2. If he shows up with his “A” game, he’ll win. The one to worry about is the vastly improving Extensive. Winner of his last pair with huge numbers and with just four races on his resume, he was very impressive in his last pair, albeit against much softer foes. There’s really no telling how good he may be but suffice to say he has upside the others don’t have.


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Santa Anita Race 9: Post: 5:08 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 1-Seal Team; 7-Mi Hermano Ramon.
Backups: 5-Formidable Man.

Forecast: Seal Team broke thru the gate prior to finishing an excellent second in the Thunder Road Stakes over this course and distance last time out. The son of War Front has had his issues but appears to be regaining his best form and we’re expecting a career top effort in this year’s renewal of the Shoemaker Mile-G1. He switches to J. Hernandez and is guaranteed a ground saving trip from his rail draw. Mi Hermano Ramon, a close fifth as the favorite in the Kilroe Mile-G1, was somewhat victimized by the race shape and should do better today. He’s right there with these with his best effort.


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Santa Anita Race 10: Post: 5:38 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 10-Waiting for My Cue.
Backups: 5-Tapatia Leah; 4-Approval Rating.

Forecast: Waiting for My Cue: has done some good work in the morning leading up to her debut and in a field in which the known element looks average, let’s go with a fresh face. We like her outside draw, the barn has solid stats with first timers, and the workouts on video show promise. Smiling Tiger fillies are usually pretty quick, and this one may be, too.


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Santa Anita Race 11: Post: 6:08 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 6-Winning Patriot
Backups: 12-Shapoval.

Forecast: Winning Patriottipped his hand when finishing a promising second over this course and distance in his debut last month and most second time starters from the C. Gaines barn move forward with experience. A bullet half mile breeze (:46 1.5) over the bouncy training track since raced jumps off the page. R. Gonzalez got to know him in his debut and stays aboard.


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