The racing week in Arcadia, California concludes this afternoon with a 9-race card that gets rolling at 3:30 PM eastern/12:30 PM local time. The day includes 5 races over the grass and a $3 All Turf Pick 3 that begins in Race 5. Here are the runners I will be keying in on at the Great Race Place later today.


Race 2:
This MSW event for 3YO fillies at one mile drew a compact group of 6 where I like the chances of third-time starter #5 Brooklyn Blonde. The daughter of Gun Runner debuted in a live MSW for 2YOs at Del Mar in early August that included Super Corredora and Bottle of Rouge. She stalked early and tired late that afternoon before running a good second against the flow to stablemate Piney Woods off the layoff on February 7. Trainer Michael McCarthy stretches this Keeneland September 2024 purchase out to two-turns for the initial time and retains the services of jockey Kazushi Kimura. I like her chances to earn her first lifetime victory.

Play: #5 Brooklyn Blonde (7-2 ML)


Race 3:
I will tie Brooklyn Blonde up in a Daily Double with my top choice in this state-bred first level allowance event at 6-furlongs over the grass #1 Uecker. The son of Sir Prancealot was done no favors at the draw pulling the rail for the second consecutive start, but ran quite well in defeat on January 19. The Ryan Hanson trainee battled early from his inside post before giving way late to a pair of off the pace runners, including winner Ventry Strand. That late running John Sadler trainee moved forward with a runner-up effort in his first start against winners last week suggesting he would likely tower over this field of California-bred turf sprinters. I will hope that jockey Adrian Escobedo can somehow figure out how to avoid getting caught up in a battle in the early stages. If so, he has a big shot to spring the upset.

Play: #1 Uecker (6-1 ML)


Race 8:
My final spot play of the week in Southern California comes in this state-bred first level allowance event at 6-furlongs over the main track where I am expecting the pace to be honest in the early stages.I#3 Clubhouse Bride is the one I hope takes advantage. The 5YO mare was claimed by trainer Andy Mathis out of a similar spot at Los Alamitos on September 13. Mathis gave the daughter of Clubhouse Ride time before bringing her back for a pair of starts to end her 4YO season. She ran well to finish second in her first try on December 5, but has failed to hit the board in a pair of starts since. That said, she had an adventurous voyage in a full field event 23 days later before making a solid run late to finish fourth at odds of 16-1 to start her 2026 campaign. Veteran Tyler Baze has been aboard this horse through the first three starts for her new barn, but she gets a rider upgrade to jockey Emisael Jaramillo this afternoon. I expect her to be finishing full of run at a playable price.

Play: #3 Clubhouse Bride (5-1 ML)