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.

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.

__________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 1: Post: 1:00 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 4-A Friend of Mine
Backups: 3-Time to Shine.

Forecast: A Friend of Mined outrun her odds (14-1) when nosed out in a decent debut dirt sprint here last month and today stretches out to a mile in a below standard maiden special weight main track affair for fillies and mares. We’d prefer she had another sprint prior to running long, but the daughter of Mineshaft may be an okay sort at least and could produce a significant forward move in her second career outing. In a race lacking in speed, she should be forwardly placed throughout.


__________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 2: Post: 1:32 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 2-Check’s On the Way; 4-Letmein.
Backups: none.

Forecast: Check’s On the Way is a consistent gelding and appears to be most comfortable as a late running sprinter. Conditions are ideal for the S, Callaghan-trained sophomore to settle early and tag the speed close home. He’s listed as the 2-1 second choice behind Letmein (6/5), who finished behind our top pick in a similar state-bred dash last month.


__________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 3: Post: 2:05 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 1-Nevada Beach
Backups: none.

Forecast: Nevada Beach: won at first asking in clever fashion like a pretty nice prospect sprinting for B. Baffert, and although moving right into stakes company and stretching out to a middle distance the son of Omaha Beach should be able to handle the class hike and added distance in stride. In a four runner affair with stable mate Gaming the 6/5 morning line favorite, we’ll prefer the longer price of the two with the colt that may have more upside.


__________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 4: Post: 2:36 PT Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 7-Full Moon Grazen; 4-Mo Town Gal.
Backups: none.

Forecast: Full Moon Grazen plummets to the $5,000 level and appears to have found her friends. Drawn comfortably outside, the S. Martin-trained filly lacks early speed but against this modest group and may be able to tag the leaders close home. Mo Town Gal is another big class dropper seeking her winning level. She’s a fit on numbers and seems likely to step forward in her second start off a layoff.


__________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 5: Post: 3:06 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3-Baldoro
Backups: 5-Rastaman Vibe; 6-Promissio.

Forecast: Baldoro was moved too soon by D. Herrera and paid the price late when winding up second after striking the front at the furlong pole but losing his steam in the final stages in a restricted $30,000 claimer last week. The short rest notwithstanding, the L. Powell-trained gelding can beat this field with waiting tactics. Both of his career wins were accomplished over the local lawn, and this shortened trip to a mile should be in his favor.


__________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 6: Post: 3:38 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 4-Go Go Prancer
Backups: 2-Proud Racer.

Forecast: Go Go Prancer was beaten as the favorite in his last two starts but his speed figures are rising and this drop into the maiden $50,000 level should prove to be the winning maneuver. However, at 6/5 on the morning line he won’t offer any real value other than as a short priced rolling exotic single.


__________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 7: Post: 4:08 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 2-Dicey Mo Chara (GB); 7-Genius Jimmy.
Backups: 5-Spycatcher.

Forecast: Dicey Mo Chara (GB) gets some class relief with this drop into the two-other-than allowance condition and should take full advantage of the opportunity. The veteran gelding has been in nothing but graded stakes events for more than two years, and while his form is solid and his numbers strong the L. Powell-trained import really is overdue for a win. This placement offers that chance. Genius Jimmy does his best on the front end and if he can establish the running without pressure he’s likely to get very brave.


__________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 8: Post: 4:38 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 4-Naida
Backups: 1-Misty Muppet.

Forecast: Naida missed by a half-length and was 10 lengths clear of the rest in a similar restricted $16,000 claiming miler for fillies and mares last month. Anything close to that effort today should make her hard to beat at what probably be close to even money. However, with Del Mar on the horizon, the chances of her being claimed are quite high, leading us to believe that maybe her connections wouldn’t mind losing her, and that’s a bit of a worry.


__________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 9: Post: 5:08 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 2-Vinalia (GB); 4-Unbinding
Backups: 5-Thea; 6-Eiffel.

Forecast: Vinalia (GB) just missed in a photo in a similar turf sprint for maiden fillies and mares in a performance that produced a career top number. She’ll be rolling late again. Unbinding finished a close third in her debut at Lingfield in England in April and makes her first start off the plane for M. Glatt, who does well with the limited number of European imports that he’s had. She looks like a live item in an open fray.


__________________________________________________________