January 26, 2020

Jeff Siegel’s Daily Analysis & Wagering Strategies
Santa Anita

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Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s “Daily Analysis and Wagering Strategies” isolates those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6.
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It is recommended that Jeff’s selections be used to augment the reader’s own personal handicapping, though excellent results can be achieved by applying the rolling exotic strategy specified by Jeff’s analysis. Jeff’s recommended plays are intended for players with a moderate budget; however, readers are encouraged to adjust Jeff’s wagering strategy to fit their preferred investment level.
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Handicappers also are encouraged to access Jeff’s Daily Santa Anita Workout Analysis (see below), an exclusive report containing commentary, fractional times, grades, and a link to the video of the actual workout by each race’s key contenders.

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Grade A=Highest degree of confidence.
Grade B=Solid Play.
Grade C=Least preferred, or pass.
Grade X=probable winner but odds are not likely to offer wagering value.
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The selections are available every racing day after morning scratches. For updates, please follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing.

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Today’s Day Makers: View Video

Today’s Workout Analysis: View PDF File


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RACE 1: Post 12:30 PT. Grade: B
Use: 1-Untouched Elegance; 9-Jaccat

Forecast: Untouched Elegance has the route-to-sprint angle that we like combined with the addition of blinkers and a class drop to a restricted (nw-2) $25,000 claimer for fillies and mares. She also picks up J. Rosario, lands the rail, and is a definite threat to lead from gate to wire. Jaccat also is adding blinkers (for the first time) after returning from the Bay Area, where she failed at 7/5 in an all-weather sprint vs. tougher. She has a prior win over this course and distance and might be most effective when held up early and allowed to run late. We’ll take the best speed and the best closer and include both in our rolling exotics, with a slight preference on top to Untouched Elegance.
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RACE 2: Post 12:57 PT. Grade: B-
Use: 1-Royal Insider; 2-Implicitly

Forecast: The main contention is drawn inside in this starter allowance middle distance main track affair. Implicitly looked good winning a restricted $16,000 affair at Los Alamitos last month and is being protected today in a sign of confidence following a claim by a low profile outfit. A prior winner over the local main track and with a good pace-stalking style that should ensure a trouble-free trip, the veteran son of Artie Schiller is a fit on speed figures and should fire another big shot. Royal Insider seeks his third straight score and is a three-time winner (from six starts) at Santa Anita. Fresh from a nice win vs. $40,000 foes on New Year’s Day, the S. Knapp-trained gelding is the likely choice and one to beat. Both should be included in rolling exotic play.
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RACE 3: Post 1:27 PT. Grade: B
Use: 1-Regal Beauty; 4-Morning Addiction; 7-Golden Star Lady

Forecast: This looks like a stronger than par maiden special weight abbreviated sprint for 3-year-old fillies. Regal Beauty had the misfortune of drawing the rail but the daughter of Malibu Moon has done some very good work in the morning leading up to her debut. If she breaks cleanly with her field, the B. Baffert-trained should be a major player and we’re expecting her to get bet accordingly. Morning Addiction didn’t show much in a highly-rated, productive turf sprint at Del Mar in November but she’s trained very well since and seems certain to improve. The daughter of Carpe Diem is bred to more effective on dirt. Golden Star Lady had a couple of disappointing runs as the favorite last summer and was stopped on but could easily return a much better filly following her extended vacation for a barn that does extremely well with layoff runners. Drawn comfortably outside with a series of nice workouts and picking up J. Rosario, the daughter of Candy Ride should enjoy clear sailing outside and have every chance to show her best stuff. We’ll include all three in our rolling exotics with a very slight edge on top to Regal Beauty,
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RACE 4: Post 1:57 PT. Grade: X
Single: 7-Yeng Again

Forecast: Yang Again has trained like a smoker for R. Baltas and appears fit and ready to turn some heads in his debut. A likely strong favorite following two recent bullet five furlong workouts, the son of Carpe Diem appears blessed with much speed but has the option of settling and stalking outside should the race flow dictate. Let’s make him a logical rolling exotic single.
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RACE 5: Post 2:27 PT. Grade: B
Use: 3-Mystery Messenger; 6-Worthy Turk

Forecast: Here’s a tricky starter’s allowance turf sprint that appears to be fairly wide open. We’ll try to survive and advance using just two. Mystery Messenger is turning back from a route and showed earlier in his career than he can be effective sprinting. Though he will display early speed if asked, the D O’Neill-trained gelding may be more effective with patient handling, and that’s the type of ride we’re expecting he’ll get from good grass jockey U. Rispoli. On pure numbers, he’s a solid fit. Worthy Turk has been away since December of 2018 but returns protected, so we’re expecting good effort from the P. Miller-trained gelding. Yes, it’s possible the son of Lemon Drop Kid is merely prepping for a two-turner down the road, but his recent San Luis Rey Downs work tab is promising, so he may fire a big shot fresh. He’s 4-1 on the morning line and shouldn’t go any lower than that.
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RACE 6: Post 2:57 PT. Grade: C+
Use: 1-Takeo; 2-Tartini; 5-Mayan Warrior

Forecast: Mayan Warrior stretches out again after finishing a willing fourth in a better-than-average starters allowance sprint and may be as good as any in a fairly competitive race for the level. The S. Knapp barn has enjoyed a pretty good meeting so far, and this gelding’s only prior win was accomplished over this main track. R. Fuentes should have him on or near the lead throughout. Tartini is just 1-for-21 in his career and certainly not one to trust, but the Giant’s Causeway gelding has hit the board in similar events in his last two starts and should be set for a good effort in his first start since early November. He’ll be running on late. Takeo*
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RACE 7: Post 3:27 PT. Grade: B
Use: 2-Ghoul; 3-Lil Milo; 7-Bay Muzik

Forecast: Lil Milo was most unlucky when a close third over this course and distance in a strong second-level allowance affair last month and with clear sailing today the veteran son of Rocky Bar could spring a mild surprise at 6-1 on the morning line. A three time winner over the Santa Anita turf course, the A. Marquez-trained gelding has an ideal stalking style and speed figures that fit. GhoulBay Muzik may be the quickest of quick and almost stole the recent Joe Hernandez S.-G2, leading until deep stretch before being worn down and winding up a close third. The race already has been flattered (Texas Wedge came back to win yesterday at Gulfstream Park) so if he can shake loose early without undue pressure the Maclean’s Music gelding may roll all the way to the wire.
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RACE 8: Post 3:57 PT. Grade: C+
Use: 1-Diosa; 2-Promnesia; 6-She Cherie

Forecast: The final is a restricted $12,500 claiming sprint for fillies and mares that is full of question marks. We’ll use three, but best advice is to include as many as you can afford to. Diosa failed at 6/5 an extended sprint earlier this month in a similar claimer but shortens to six furlongs today and seems likely to stick better. Also, she should be fitter in her second start off a nine month layoff for a barn that has very good stats with this angle, so if the B. Hess, Jr.-trained daughter of Uncaptured leaves quickly from the rail, she may never look back. She Cherie was a nice winner in a modest maiden claimer at Zia Park in New Mexico last month while earning a speed figure that makes her a fit at this level on this circuit. She should be on or near the lead with a similar effort today. Promnesia, in the frame in her last three starts, most recently at Turf Paradise in an optional claimer 19 days ago, is a tad slower on pure numbers than her two chief rivals but should be within range throughout and have her chance to at least pick up a minor award.