10.08.2021

Jeff Siegel: Santa Anita Wagering Strategies | Friday, October 8

Race 1 / Post time: 1:00 PT / Grade: B- / Use: 1-Pistachio Princess; 7-Go Greta // The Friday opener is a restricted (nw-2) $25,000 claiming turf miler for older fillies and mares that has a strong potential for a chaotic result. Go Greta takes a significant drop in class and has numbers that are better than par for this level...

10.02.2021

Jeff Siegel: Santa Anita Analysis/Wagering Strategies | Saturday, October 2

Race 1 / Post time: 12:30 PT / Grade: B / Use: 6-Fluent; 10-Music Festival // Let’s go with a couple of newcomers in the Saturday opener, a five furlong turf dash for juvenile fillies. Fluent shows a solid series of main track workouts that should have her plenty fit and ready and a pedigree that suggests she’ll be most effective on grass...

10.01.2021

Jeff Siegel: Santa Anita Analysis/Wagering Strategies | Friday, October 1

Race 8 / Post time: 1:00 PT / Grade: B- / Use: 2-Ferrariano; 6-Viking Plunder // The Friday opener is a challenging affair for older first-level state-bred allowance runners over a mile on grass. We’ll try to survive and advance using just two in our rolling exotics....

9.26.2021

Jeff Siegel: National Prime Plays | Sunday, September 26

Remington Park – Race 8 / Post time: 6:33 CT / 3 – Amendment Nineteen (7/2) // Freshened since late July and with an improving pattern that we suspect will continue, the daughter of Constitution looks capable of successfully handling this raise in class this year’s edition of the Remington Park Oaks-G3...

9.25.2021

Jeff Siegel: National Prime Plays | Saturday, September 25

Churchill Downs – Race 7 / Post time: 3:50 ET / 9 – Cloudy (6-1) // Was quite impressive displaying excellent speed in the OBS April sale when previewing in 10 seconds flat and then brought $130,000 through the ring...

9.24.2021

Jeff Siegel: National Prime Plays | Friday, September 24

Belmont Park – Race 6 / Post time: 3:38 ET / 6 – Judge Davis (9/2) // Ran better than the line will show in his debut last month at Saratoga when winding up fourth behind subsequent stakes winner Major General and seems very likely to improve...

9.17.2021

Jeff Siegel: National Prime Plays | Friday, September 17

Belmont Park – Race 4 / Post time: 2:34 ET / 1 – Miss You Ella (3-1) // The known element doesn’t inspire in this maiden turf mile for juveniles so let’s go with a nicely-bred first-timer with a series of solid works for a high percentage trainer-jockey team...

9.12.2021

Saturday, September 12: Jeff Siegel’s National Prime Plays

Kentucky Downs – Race 7 // 2 – Koala Princess (6-1) // Couldn’t have been more impressive winning her debut sprinting on grass at Monmouth Park last month, taking control quickly and then cruising to an eight length romp without ever being asked for her best...

9.11.2021

Saturday, September 11: Jeff Siegel’s National Prime Plays

Kentucky Downs – Race 7 // A winner of five of six career starts and with further improvement likely, the daughter of Karakontie is a versatile type that can adjust to any type of pace scenario...

9.4.2021

Saturday, September 4: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 2 // Barristan the Bold was victimized by one of the worst trips of the season when finishing third, beaten less than a length, in a five-furlong grass dash for this $32,000 tag last month. Claimed by R. Hanson and wheeled back at the same level but this time...

9.4.2021

Saturday, September 4: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 12 // Forza Di Oro looked terrific winning his recent comeback against a third-level allowance field over this local main track in late July, doing so while pressing the pace throughout and then coming away when ready. His speed figures make him a solid fit...

9.3.2021

Friday, September 3: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 8 // Scabbard looks fairly solid in the Friday nightcap, a seven furlong sprint for restricted (nw-3) $20,000 claimers. Popular of late at the claim box, the son of More Than Ready has switched barns in three of his last four outings and today...

9.3.2021

Friday, September 3: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 4 // This state-bred first-level allowance two-turning grass event is knee deep in contenders. Big ticket players should use as many as they can afford to; we’ll recommend three major players as a starting point. Austrian was victimized...

9.2.2021

Thursday, September 2: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 1 // Tmorrowisalongtime didn’t get the best of runs when fifth in her recent comeback on grass, lacking room entering the lane and then failing to produce any real turn of foot when clear (though she did gallop out strongly). Bred top and bottom...

9.2.2021

Thursday, September 2: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 8 // Candy Tycoon shows up in a claimer for the first time and has recent speed figures that are good enough to win at this level. The T. Pletcher-trained gelding was in a tad steep when a weakening fifth over this track and distance...

9.1.2021

Wednesday, September 1: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 4 // Sun Summers is winless in five starts this year but in her third start in her current form cycle and with solid recent speed figures the M. Maker-trained mare could break through in a below average second level allowance/optional claiming turf...

8.29.2021

Sunday, August 29: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 2 //Delta Wind didn’t leave cleanly and lost early position and her best chance when fifth in a state-bred sprint on grass earlier this month. With a better break today on the main track, the J. Sadler-trained filly should be quick enough to run her rivals off their...

8.29.2021

Sunday, August 29: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 1 //Moonachie is listed at 4/5 on the morning line after plummeting in class to the $12,500 level despite showing good recent form in strong state-bred allowance company throughout the year. The Central Banker gelding must have problems, but if he has one...

8.28.2021

Saturday, August 28: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 2 // Magic Tiger is a first-off-the-claim play for M. Maker and adds blinkers for the first time as well, so there are at least a couple of reasons to expect this son of Smiling Tiger to improve enough to beat this modest restricted (nw-2) $16,000 claiming field of...

8.28.2021

Saturday, August 28: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 12 // Essential Quality has won seven of eight career starts, the only blemish being his fourth place finish (beaten a length) in the Kentucky Derby-G1. The son of Tapit made hard work of it in his most recent victory, a half-score score over Keepmeinmind...

8.27.2021

Friday, August 27: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 3 // Conquest Cobra makes a significant barn change to S. Miyadi via a $16,000 claim. Today, the ex-classer drops to the $10,000 level for a trainer that hits with 21% with the first-off-the-claim angle while also picking up one of the stable’s “go to” riders...

8.27.2021

Friday, August 27: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 8 // Rinaldi just won the Forbidden Apple S.-G3 over the local lawn from open company and today faces state-bred foes in this year’s renewal of the West Point S. The Posse gelding will be the controlling speed from his favorable inside draw and given...

8.25.2021

Wednesday, August 25: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 10 // This race has been handicapped for turf. If it is transferred to the main track, we’ll pass. My Candy Girl, freshened since May and arriving from Indiana Downs, joins the M. Maker barn, lands I. Ortiz, Jr., and looks extremely...

8.22.2021

Sunday, August 22: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 6 // Trainer P. D’Amato has two major players in this maiden claiming middle distance turf event for older fillies and mares. Witch Moon, competitive with straight maiden foes last spring at Santa Anita, she drops...

8.22.2021

Sunday, August 22: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 5 // We’ll go three-deep in the fifth race, a restricted (nw-2) $25,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares. Cazilda Fortytales battled bravely under pressure on the front end in a similar event last month before being worn down...

8.21.2021

Saturday, August 21: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 10 // Royal Ship may have been victimized when attempting to rally inside along the deeper lanes and appeared to lose his punch in the closing stages when third in the San Diego H.-G2 in an important prep for this race...

8.21.2021

Saturday, August 21: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 9 // Technical Analysis sprung a 7-1 surprise to win the Lake George S.-G3 here last month but will be a considerably shorter price to win right back in this year’s edition of the Lake Placid S.-2 for 3-year-old fillies. She earned by far...

8.20.2021

Friday, August 20: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 1 // The Friday opener is a competitive $40,000 turf claimer for older horses that offers several possibilities. We’ll go three deep with preference on top to First Premio, a first-off-the-claim play for C. Dollase. A veteran...

8.20.2021

Friday, August 20: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 7 // Road to Success, another one of those high-percentage first-off-the-claim plays for R. Atras (34% with a strong ROI), is properly spotted after beating maiden $30,000 claimers last month at Belmont...

8.19.2021

Thursday, August 19: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 6 // Eddie’s New Dream stretches out again and returns to the state-bred entry level allowance ranks after finishing fifth with a rough trip in the Fleet Treat S. last month. She ran well routing two runs back when a solid second...

8.19.2021

Thursday, August 19: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 5 // Silver Stand, a $575,000 Saratoga yearling purchase two years ago, finally makes it to the post in this extended maiden sprint for fillies and mares. A half-sister to a Grade-1 winner in Japan and out of the multi-stakes winning...

8.18.2021

Wednesday, August 18: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 4 // Blewitt has seen better days but in his second start off a layoff combined with a considerable class drop to the $25,000 level the veteran son of Uncle Mo will beat this field if he has one good one left. The T. Pletcher-trained...

8.15.2021

Sunday, August 15: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 5 //Maidens meet over a mile on grass in a race that contains several promising 2-year-old fillies. Hemmerle is listed as the 2-1 morning line favorite after a series of strong workouts that should have her plenty...

8.15.2021

Sunday, August 15: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 7 // Never Explain and Mira Mission, two-three finishers in a similar entry-level allowance affair, meet again in this nine-furlong inner turf course event. ‘Mission had a rough trip in that race, lacking room at the critical...

8.14.2021

Saturday, August 14: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 9 //Here’s yet another race on today’s program that offers a logical top choice that’s likely to be a shorter price than he should be. Letsgetlucky flashed speed before weakening to be a distant third in the...

8.14.2021

Saturday, August 14: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 1 // King Angelo was well-clear of the rest when a good runner-up in a dirt sprint at Belmont Park last month while earning by far a career top speed figure. If can repeat that type of race on grass, the son of Lemon Drop Kid...

8.12.2021

Thursday, August 12: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 1 // The Thursday opener is a maiden $40,000 claiming miler that looks to have two main players. Raisebefortheflop shows up in a seller for the first time while stretching out and adding Lasix, so the Liam’s Map...

8.12.2021

Thursday, August 12: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 4 // Chocolate Cookie stumbled badly at the start to lose her best chance and then closed wide against slow fractions to be a much-better-than-looked third in a similar event here last month. It was her first...

8.11.2021

Wednesday, August 11: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 9 //W. Ward holds the aces in this sprint turf stakes restricted to 3-year-olds. The speedy Into the Sunrise will bust out and go from his rail position but he won’t be alone, as there are others, most notably Memos and...

8.8.2021

Sunday, August 8: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 5 // Big Summer is the logical top pick based on her promising debut performance sprinting on grass in February at Santa Anita. The daughter of Mr. Big was quick enough to rush up from the rail to establish the pace...

8.8.2021

Sunday, August 8: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 8 // Wicked Halo was highly impressive winning her debut at Lone Star Park in a fast, highly-rated affair (beating two next out winners) and then lost nothing in defeat when setting sizzling fractions from...

8.7.2021

Saturday, August 7: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 2 // Trainer M. McCarthy has a pair of live entries in this maiden middle distance turf event for older fillies and mares and we’re expecting the winner to be one or the other. Queen Goddess overcame some traffic through the lane...

8.7.2021

Saturday, August 7: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 6 // Value Proposition allowed Rinaldi an easy trip up front and then simply couldn’t catch him when second in the Forbidden Apple S.-G3 last month but earned a triple-digit Beyer speed ...

8.6.2021

Friday, August 6: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 3 // Bobby Bo has burned money in his first two starts, both times enjoying good trips outside but then coming off the bridle and flattening out under pressure. He’s sure to be heavily backed again today when the...

8.6.2021

Friday, August 6: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 7 // Though he was beaten at even money when missing by a head in the listed Manilla S. last month at Belmont Park, Public Sector deserves a chance to make amends in this year’s renewal of the National...

8.5.2021

Thursday, August 5: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 1 //Northern California shipper Smiling Anne makes her third start off a long layoff, landing in a modest bottom-rung claiming main track miler for fillies and mares that should be within her capabilities. An...

8.5.2021

Thursday, August 5: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 4 //The improving Bar Fourteen earned a career top speed figure when beating state-bred rivals on the lead sprinting at Belmont Park in late June and we suspect similar tactics will be employed today. Turn of Events, claimed...

8.4.2021

Wednesday, August 4: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 8 // Aunt Kat seeks her fourth straight win in this year’s renewal of the Shine Again S. and catches a pace flow that should allow her a fairly easy time of it on the front end. Fast on speed figures and with the ability to handle...

8.1.2021

Sunday, August 1: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 2 // In a two-old turf sprint with a pair of quick fillies tackling the boys, Urban, a $375,000 Timonium purchase where she previewed beautifully is 10 1/5 seconds, may be the best of the lot. Closely related...

8.1.2021

Sunday, August 1: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 4 //Here’s a spread race for starter’s allowance fillies and mares sprinting on grass. Smooth Pebble seeks her third straight score and should maintain her good form while shortening in trip. She’s not particularly...

7.31.2021

Saturday, July 31: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 10 // The 2021 renewal of the Bing Crosby S.-G1 is a salty affair and is as deep as any sprint stakes for older horses we’ve seen in the West in quite some time. Dr. Schivel is a 3-year-old tackling older for the first time but after earning...

7.31.2021

Saturday, July 31: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 9 // Essential Quality is the obvious free bingo square in this year’s Jim Dandy S.-G2 for rolling exotic players but is listed on the morning line at 50 cents on the dollar and that makes him unplayable other than as a no-value...

7.30.2021

Friday, July 30: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 3 // Zuboshi had every chance but weakened late to finish second as the 6/5 favorite in her debut at Los Alamitos earlier this month but gets her chance to make amends today while switching to grass...

7.30.2021

Friday, July 30: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 9 // First Captain is undefeated in three starts, most recently winning the one-turn mile Dwyer S.-G3 at 40 cents on the dollar. The son of Curlin had to make hard work of it and earned his lowest Beyer speed figure (90) of...

7.29.2021

Thursday, July 29: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 5 // Old pro Madam Barbarian, a winner of 13 races from 79 starts to go along with 24 other placings, should be able to find a way to win this $10,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares. Beaten at odds-on when third two races...

7.29.2021

Thursday, July 29: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 7 // This $40,000 inner turf claimer for older horses is yet another on today’s highly challenging card that requires a significant spread in rolling exotic play. Hieroglyphics, a $25,000 claim by D. Schettino (from M. Maker), returns...

7.28.2021

Wednesday, July 28: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 3 // Six of the nine entrants in this New York Stallion Series Stakes exit the same June extended turf sprint at Belmont Park, including the first five finishers. Ocala Dream won that seven furlong turf sprint...

7.25.2021

Sunday, July 25: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 1 // Bobby Bo somehow managed to get himself beat in his debut despite having worked as well as any maiden in the B. Baffert barn all year. He was sent off at 50 cents on the dollar in what was assumed...

7.25.2021

Sunday, July 25: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 2 // This race was handicapped for turf only. We’ll go three-deep in the second race, an abbreviated turf sprint for state-bred first-level allowance older horses. Veterans Beach, in his second start off...

7.24.2021

Saturday, July 24: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 7 // Honor It is a Tapit filly out of the outstanding local stakes winning grass filly With Honors from the remarkable family of Kitten’s Joy and Dreaming of Anna. She’s a quick-actioned, athletic filly that has been...

7.24.2021

Saturday, July 24: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 5 // Unbeaten Malathaat has just three rivals in this year’s edition of the C.C.A. Oaks-G1 and will be a very short price to extend her perfect streak to six in this nine furlong main track event for sophomore...

7.23.2021

Friday, July 23: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 3 // Here’s a bottom-rung maiden claiming sprint that probably should be left alone. Rolling exotic players may choose to spread; for those with a smaller budget we suggest you go two-deep, with slight preference on top to Mad...

7.23.2021

Friday, July 23: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 9 // This year’s edition of the Lake George S.-G3 for sophomore fillies over a mile on the inner turf is typically very contentions with several possibilities to consider. Jouster projects as the controlling...

7.22.2021

Thursday, July 22: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 9 // At first glance this race looks a bit treacherous due to a projected pace scenario that may compromise several of the contenders, who prefer to do their best work on the lead. They all can’t have it, and the one that earns...

7.21.2021

Wednesday, July 21: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 3 // Coalition Building has a well-deserved reputation as a money burner, having been beaten as the favorite in each of her last three starts. The four-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid shows up...

7.18.2021

Sunday, July 18: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 4 // Sally Stanford has plenty of zip but maybe not a whole lot of stick, so this drop into the maiden $50,000 ranks appears warranted for the S. Miyadi-trained juvenile who is likely to be...

7.18.2021

Sunday, July 18: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 8 // There appears to be two main players in this state-bred allowance sprint for fillies and mares with preference on top to Awesome Debate. She’s a first-off-the-claim for D. Gargan (an amazing 40% with...

7.17.2021

Saturday, July 17: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 1 // Head for Business missed by a neck in a similar maiden $50,000 sprint at Santa Anita last month while more than five lengths clear of the rest. However, It wasn’t a great race – the Beyer Speed figure of 59 is 16...

7.17.2021

Saturday, July 17: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 7 // Familiar faces meet in this second level allowance/optional claiming sprint at five and one-half furlongs on turf in a race in which several have a legitimate look. Spread as deeply as your budget allows. Shekky...

7.16.2021

Friday, July 16: Jeff Siegel's Del Mar Picks

RACE 4 // California-bred maiden juvenile fillies sprint five furlongs in a messy affair that drew an overflow field of 14 starters. For the purposes of this analysis, we’re going to assume the four also-eligible runners will not draw...

7.16.2021

Friday, July 16: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 8 // Patty H has plenty in her favor in this $40,000 claiming sprint restricted to 3-year-old fillies. A winner of her last pair, mostly recently over a sloppy track at Indiana Downs, the B. Cox-trained daughter...

7.15.2021

Thursday, July 15: Jeff Siegel's Saratoga Picks

RACE 2 // Speedometer has the benefit of a prior outing, a better-than-looked third place finish in a hot race at Churchill Downs last month won by Pretty Birdie (entered in today’s Schuylerville S.-G3). In that race...