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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RACE 1: Post 1:00 ET. Grade: X
Use: 7-Madame Moon; 9-Kayseri; 11-Bee Wings

Forecast: Low-level maiden claiming fillies and mares meet over a mile on grass in the Thursday opener, a race that doesn’t leave us with much to work with. Madame Moon plummets in class for T. Pletcher and clearly is being culled from the stable in just her third career start. Originally a $330,00 yearling purchase, the daughter of Malibu Moon switches to L. Saez after finishing with a bit of interest when third over this course and distance last month in a maiden $50,000 event. A similar effort today beats this modest group, but at even money on the morning line she’ll offer no wagering value. For those looking to beat the favorite, there are a couple of price chances worth consideration. Kayseri, a first-off-the-claim play for R. Dibona (19% with this angle), removes blinkers and shows a speed figure two runs back that makes her reasonably competitive, while Bee Wings overcame early trouble to rally wide and finish a willing second vs. similar last time out, switches to P. Lopez, and with some help up front could be heard from in the final furlong.
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RACE 2: Post 1:30 ET. Grade: B
Single: 11-Followhisfootsteps

Forecast: Followhisfootsteps has been buried on the rail in each of his last four starts and seems certain to appreciate today’s comfortable outside draw. L. Saez has the option of popping and going and stalking and pouncing, and with solid, consistent speed figures for this restricted (nw-3) $8,000 level the V. Barboza-trained gelding is the logical top pick. The concern, of course, is that’s he’s never been all that dependable as the favorite, so we wouldn’t take much less than his morning line of 5/2.
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RACE 3: Post 2:00 ET. Grade: B
Use: 6-Annualized; 7-Ohanzee; 8-Island Song

Forecast: This maiden $25,000 claiming turf sprint has a few price options, starting with Annualized, a lightly-raced gelding showing up for the first time in a seller in his first outing since being transferred to the S. Joseph, Jr. barn. Two poor runs in straight maiden company when well-backed on the tote following a long layoff provides evidence that he’s not the same horse that finished a promising runner-up in his highly-rated debut sprint last year at Oaklawn Park, but the recent work tab is healthy for this high-percentage outfit so let’s hope the class drop combined with the surface switch does the trick. L. Saez stays aboard, another promising sign, and 6-1 on the morning line he’ll offer some value. Ohanzee, an okay runner-up in a maiden $40,000 seller in his comeback last month, takes another class drop, not really an encouraging sign, but on figures this is a logical spot so at 3-1 on the morning line he’s a solid contender. Island Song, away since October and returning at his lowest level ever, has speed figures from last year that make him dangerous, and recent bullet workout at Palm Meadows should have him on edge for a barn that generally does very well with layoff runners. We’ll include all three in our rolling exotics and then have an extra ticket or two keying Annualized on top.
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RACE 4: Post 2:31 ET. Grade: C+
Use: 1-Blakey; 5-False Accusation

Forecast: Here’s a messy one-turn main track mile affair for restricted (nw-3) $8,000 claimers. Blakey is stuck on the rail but he seems as good as any and better than most. A distant second at this level two runs back but pitched too high in his most recent start, the veteran gelding is reunited with L. Saez and has enough early speed to secure a good pace-prompting/stalking trip with a decent break from the gate. False Accusation has low percentage connections but form that makes him a contender. He was third in the same race Blakey finished second in last month and has hit the board in four of five career starts over the Gulfstream Park main track. In a race that we’ll not get too involved in, we’ll use both in our rolling exotics but otherwise sit it out.
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RACE 5: Post 3:03 ET. Grade: B+
Single: 4-Sister Otoole

Forecast: Sister Otoole took the worst of it when breaking slowly, being forced to rally wide into the teeth of slow fractions, and then settling for third in a similar maiden special weight affair over this course and distance earlier this month. The G. Motion-trained filly looks capable of producing the last run with a slightly better trip. In just her third career start the daughter of Amira’s Prince logically has more upside than most of the others, so at 3-1 on the morning line (and certain to go lower) we’ll make her a win play and rolling exotic single.
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RACE 6: Post 3:34 ET. Grade: C
Use: 1-Cat’s Astray; 4-Paula Andrea; 8-Stated

Forecast: This grass grab bag for restricted (nw-3) $16,000 claiming fillies and mares looks borderline inscrutable, so we suggest you use as many as you can afford to in rolling exotic play. Small ticket players should consider the three that we’ve listed above. Cat’s Astray, runner-up in her last pair and first or second in four of seven career starts over the local lawn, should have enough early speed to gain a favorable position from her rail post and enjoy a ground-saving trip. She’s never been all that generous under pressure but these are her friends and she should have every chance. Paula Andrea, third in the same race Cat’s Astray just finished second in, switches to L. Saez, and has some past speed figures that could beat this field. She’s most effective when she’s in the fray right from the bell and in her last pair found herself to far back early to make any impact. Stated just won a race over this course and distance when facing a non-winners of two field. She hails from a hot barn, so if she can turn in two alike the veteran mare could have some say in the matter. Tread lightly here.
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RACE 7: Post 4:05 ET. Grade: B+
Single: 6-Blue Buff

Forecast: Blue Buff crushed a similar starter optional claiming field over a one-turn mile last month that produced a career top speed figure and today tries two turns in search of his third straight score. The lightly-raced 6-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song is undefeated in three career starts over the Gulfstream Park main track dirt and seems likely to draft in a soft stalking position in a race flow that projects favorably to his style. He’s 2-1 on the morning line – you’d have to think he’ll go lower – and is a logical rolling exotic single.
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RACE 8: Post 4:36 ET. Grade: C+
Use: 1-Jost Sayin; 9-Elite Appeal

Forecast: Elite Appeal, a close third when earning a career top speed figure under these conditions earlier this month, should display enough tactical speed to gain a favorable stalking position from her outside draw and then have every chance when the pressure is turned on. She’s a grinding type without a turn of foot, so her best chance is to find herself within striking range throughout. Jost Sayin has numbers that can win and a rail draw that ensures a ground-saving trip, but she’s been a beaten choice in each of her last three starts and might wind up the chalk again. She’s certainly not one to trust, but who in here is? These are the two we’ll be using in rolling exotic play but certainly not without any great degree of confidence.
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RACE 9: Post 5:07 ET. Grade: B+
Use: 1-Soldado; 5-Frosted Grace; 8-Mihos

Forecast: Soldado returned off a 10-month layoff in peak form, breaking from the rail and winning a first-level allowance sprint on the main track with stakes quality speed, and will try to repeat on the raise while again drawing the fence. He’s facing considerably more early heat today which means he’ll probably have to take some dirt, and while the son of Verrazano doesn’t need the lead to win – he rallied from fifth in his debut score – the T. Pletcher-trained colt may not offer much value at 9/5 on the morning line. Mihos, a stakes winner here last year and probably most effective around one turn, launches a comeback for J. Jerkens with a couple of recent bullet workout to indicate fitness. He’ll race with blinkers for the first time, and after going a bit stale last fall and being stopped on he could easily return better than he left in his first start as a 4-year-old. Also worth some consideration is Frosted Grace. He isn’t quite as fast on pure numbers as Soldado but at 6-1 on the morning and with the always-enticing blinkers off angle and a healthy recent work tab the son of Mark Valeski has a reasonable look at a price.
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RACE 10: Post 5:38 ET. Grade: B
Use: 1-Peacock Kitten; 3-Belgrano

Forecast: Peacock Kitten, claimed by his current connections for $35,000 two runs back and protected last time in a starter’s allowance turf miler, shows up in a $16,000 restricted (nw-3) seller today, an aggressive move by a barn known to place them where they can win. The son of Kitten’s Joy has enough tactical speed to use his rail post to good advantage and will be tough if he has one good one left, but at 8/5 on the morning line he’s not going to be offering any real wagering value. Belgrano makes his first start for new connections following a $16,000 claim and should find himself in a pace-prompting position and have a legitimate chance to reproduce his best form. A prior winner over the local lawn and with past numbers that are better than par for this level, the War Front gelding is interesting at 8-1 on the morning line.