Opening Week of the Autumn Meet at Santa Anita Park concludes this afternoon with a nine-race card co-headlined by a pair of Grade 2 events over the main track. The day of racing also includes another promotion from the 1/ST BET and Xpressbet team after the $10k Exacta-Thon on yesterday’s Goodwood Day slate. This time it is a 1 million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split on the late Pick 4 sequence that begins in Race 6. Just remember to register for the new promotion and you will be all set to scoop your share if able to connect the dots on the sequence that includes the Zenyatta (G2) for fillies and mares at two-turns.


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.

Race 6:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 6 Freddy Five Four; 33 Whynotanotherone; 7 Sharon Maxfield
Backups: None

Forecast: A number of runners in this $20k maiden claimer exit a race last month at Del Mar where the eventual winner #3 Whynotanotherone was disqualified for crossing in front of longshot Texas Wildcat early in that 1 1/16-mile event for $16k maiden claimers. Whynotanotherone raced again at Los Alamitos just 11 days ago for Bob Hess Jr. where he finished second beaten over four lengths at odds-on. The son of Midshipman certainly has had his chances, but also meets a field he fits extremely well with once again making his 7-5-ML price understandable. I will use the chalk, as well as a pair of others, including lukewarm top choice #6 Freddy Five Four. The son of Omaha Beach has some upside still having raced four times against better competition, all at one-turn. He has the pedigree to relish more ground and appears the best value option of the bunch.


Race 7:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3 Poppi’s Charlie; 6 Bottled in Bond; 5 Halo Howie; 2 Little King
Backups: None

Forecast: I will try to beat the ML favorite in this state-bred MSW at six-furlongs over the Santa Anita sod where it is #11 Chiseled in Stone that was made the 5-2-top choice after two runner-up efforts at Del Mar to start his career. The son of Stanford has strong early speed, but has made an easy lead twice at five-furlongs and been unable to seal the deal. Now, he moves outside and needs to carry his stamina an extra furlong. I will try to separate a bit from the public with a few against the chalk, including top pick longshot #3 Poppi’s Charlie. The son of Sir Prancealot makes his fourth career start, but first over the grass for trainer Manuel Badilla. His pedigree is as good as any in this group when it comes to the grass and he draws inside, which should allow jockey Tiago Pereira to save ground early and hopefully come with a strong run late. The 12-1 shot is one of several that should offer some value given the amount of public money Chiseled in Stone and #1 Golden Club should take in a race that also kicks off the $3 minimum, 15% takeout late Pick 3.


Race 8: Zenyatta (G2)
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 6 Rebeeba
Backups: None

Forecast: Trainer Bob Baffert may not have won with four starters over the last two days at Santa Anita Park, but he comes in hot nonetheless after Plutarch’s dominant off-the-pace win at Churchill Downs yesterday. The Hall of Fame conditioner sends out two in this year’s Zenyatta, including 5-2-second choice #6 Rebeeba. The $750k Keeneland September ’24 purchase got off to a late start to her career, but has rattled off three wins going away since kicking things off at Los Alamitos in June. Last out, she overcame being in tight in the early stages winning the Torrey Pines (G3) by more than two lengths and now Baffert takes the blinkers off before her biggest test to date. Over the years, the shades off for Bob has often times meant his horse was relaxing better in the mornings. If that is the case with this Curlin filly, she will be tough to hold off in the lane under Juan Hernandez.


Race 9:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 7 Feeling Lucky
Backups: 10 Cardiff Crack

Forecast: I have little doubt that this state-bred first-level allowance over the grass goes through 5-2-ML favorite #7 Feeling Lucky. The son of Vronsky wired out a field at Del Mar in late July in his first start going a route of ground before being best, but losing by a half-length on August 22 at odds of 25-1. I say he was best because he battled early and nearly hung in there all the way to the wire in a race that feel apart late. A move forward for the Brian Koriner trainee and they are running for second place. If Feeling Lucky is to lose, it is likely because they went too fast upfront. If so, I give a puncher’s chance to 7YO gelding #10 Cardiff Crack. He once again was done no favors at the draw, but has one of the better closing kicks in this group. His 4 for 43-record is tough to overlook, but anything can go sometimes when a race collapses in the final furlong. He should offer solid value in the sequence.