Swing in a miss yesterday. The Conductor likes today’s late pick 5 much better today, however. Here are his keys. Let’s Ride
Race 3: 1 1/16 Mile. F.OC 40000n1x
#1 Miss Stormy D (5/2) – Stretching out to a route for the first time, she ran better than it looks last time fighting for the lead in between horses and turning away the other speed.
#4 Meso (6/1) – The longest price in a short field, she looks to get a perfect setup with a hot pace to close into.
Race 7: 1 1/16 Mile. MC 30000
*Gullet Shot of the Day #3 Handsome Michael (6/1) – He ran very well last time, pressing a hot pace wide all the way around the turn. He finished behind an even money favorite and runners with much more favorable trips. The Conductor will try to get alive only to him in the last.
Woof, Santa Anita weekday cards have been brutal lately. Small fields, so the Conductor must pick his spots like the disciplined man that he is. He loves one price today. Let’s Ride
Race 4: 1 Mile. (Turf) Mdn 55k
*Gullet Shot of the Day #6 Cardiff Cay (8/1) – 2nd off the layoff, he’s exiting a strange race with a very slow pace. The fields he faced this fall in New York were miles tougher than this group and the Conductor sees him taking a big step forward with more fitness today. The Chatios barn has been running well and Franco won aboard a 9/1 runner the only other time he and Chatios have teamed up this meet.
Hopefully you passengers were able to make some money yesterday, the Conductor had some good opinions and some bad ones. Over 3 million in free money in the pick 6 pot getting paid out today, so we have to play. Let’s Ride
He’s Baaaaaaaaaccccccccckkkkkkkkkkk. The Conductor apologizes for his recent absence, but not really. The train went off the rails and needed some maintenance, that’s just part of ductor life. Nothing a few weeks back at the station can’t fix. You passengers didn’t think he’d miss the Pegasus did you? Silly passengers, after all this time you still can’t figure out the Conductor. Great card today at Gulfstream, big fields and the Conductor is salivating. Time to take a nice slow ride THROTTLE IT! Let’s Ride.
Race 7: 1 Mile. G3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes
This is a very intriguing race to start the Pick 6 sequence. We’ll have to see if the dirt is a speed highway, but this looks like a meltdown race with a blistering pace on paper. The Conductor will turn to the closers.
#5 Phat Man (10/1) – Exiting a good 2nd last start, splitting War Story and Bode Express (who we’ll talk about later), he looks to get a great trip with Irad aboard. The Conductor will key him in the exacta as well.
#7 Tale of Silence (10/1) – He’s had time off after running a dud last start. His race two back closing into a slow pace and finishing 1 ¾ lengths behind Maximum Security makes him a must use.
Other contenders #8 Free Enterprise (4/1), #10 Gray Magician (6/1), and the Conductor can see #9 Olympic Village (20/1) hitting the board underneath.
Race 8: 1½ Mile. (Turf) F.G3 La Prevoyante Stakes
#6 Lady Paname (3/1) – She’s clearly the one to beat from the Conductor’s perspective and will single her on most tickets. The long layoff doesn’t concern him with Chad.
#3 Kelsey’s Cross (8/1) – This filly is making her first start as a four-year-old and has sneaky back class. She’s run behind Cambier Parc and Concrete Rose and this field is much weaker than what she’s used to.
#4 Mean Mary (8/1) – She’s the controlling speed and the Conductor likes her steady progression.
Race 9: 7 Furlongs. F.G2 Inside Information Stakes
Another race with what looks like a hot pace, the Conductor sees only 3.
#7 Spiced Perfection (8/5) – The heavy favorite, she’d clearly the class of the field and can dictate her own trip.
#6 Nonna Madeline (8/1) – She didn’t live up to the hype last year but took care of business in her comeback race. The Conductor thinks she has the potential to take a big step forward.
#11 Pink Sands (8/1) – This mare is going to get a good setup like she did in her last victory and loves Gulfstream.
Race 10: 1½ Mile. (Turf) G3 W. L. McKnight Stakes
Nothing creative, the logical contenders, no strong opinion: #1 Red Night (3/1), #7 Cross Border (9/2), #8 Pumpkin Rumble (8/1), #12 American Tattoo (7/2)
Race 11: 1 3/16 Mile. (Turf) G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes
The Conductor is going to toss #12 Magic Wand (7/2) from that post. She’s classy and can win, but loves to run 2nd and will be hammered at the windows. There is a trainer named Chad Brown you may have heard of who will win this race.
#3 Without Parole (4/1) – He ran well behind Uni on Breeders Cup Day last time and the Conductor thinks he’s a cut above this field. Most of his money will go through him.
#6 Instilled Regard (10/1) – The Conductor has always been a fan of this horse and is improving on the turf.
#11 Sacred Life (12/1) – He’s a hard knocker and the Conductor will use him defensively.
Race 12: 1 1/8 Mile. G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes
This race obviously completely changed with the scratch of Omaha Beach, but the Conductor thinks its now a much better betting race.
*Gullet Shot of the Day #4 Seeking the Soul (30/1) – He went off form last fall but has had a long time off and is training well. His 2nd behind Seeking the Soul in last years Pegasus behind City of life would win this year’s running and he has the most back class. The Conductor has a feeling he’s going to run a big one and will key him in the exacta and trifecta.
#12 Bode Express (30/1) – He won’t be that price, but he’ll be on the lone lead and has the talent to take them all the way around if he can tick off favorable fractions. He was fractious last start and went too fast early, but his race two back and run behind Maximum Security as a 3-year-old show he has the talent.
#6 Higher Power (6/1) – He ran a very good 3rd in the BC Classic and there aren’t any Vino Rosso’s or Mckinzie’s in this field.
#10 Mucho Gusto (9/2) – The Conductor can’t toss him with his form against Maximum Security.
We couldn’t finish the double yesterday and another poor card at Santa Anita today with small fields. The Conductor doesn’t have many strong opinions, so he’ll pick his spots today. Let’s Ride.
Race 5: 1 Mile. G3 Sham Stakes
#1 Authentic (8/5) – This colt was all the buzz at Del Mar this summer and won nicely in his debut. He’s working well leading into today.
Race 9: 6½ Furlongs. OC 40000n1x
*Gullet Shot of the Day #4 Truck Salesman (4/1) – He’s run big in his last two dirt sprints and has an early pace edge over this field. He’ll get to the front and will be very tough to pass.
This is a very weak card today at Santa Anita, so the Conductor will only focus on the late double. An ice cold double leading into Friday night is just what the doctor ordered. Never use two when one will do. Let’s Ride.
Race 8: 6 ½ Furlongs. F.MC 20000
#5 Buyback (7/2) – 2nd off the layoff today, her race pressing a hot pace vs tougher two back makes her the one to beat in the Conductor’s opinion. She should stay above 3/1.
Race 9: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.Alw 50000s
#2 Quarelle (3/1) – 1st off the claim for a red-hot Peter Miller, she’s got the strongest late pace figures in the field.
With the chaos at Santa Anita in 2019, the Conductor took his train elsewhere and his bottom line suffered. Barring more catastrophes at the track this year, the Conductor will turn his focus back to the Great Race Place and play there almost exclusively. The California circuit is where the Conductor is at his best and he needs to tighten his scope. Santa Anita will rue the day they let the Conductor walk back in through their gates. In 2020, there will be blood, Let’s Ride.
Race 3: 1 Mile. OC 62500n2x
#1 California Street (3/1) – Stretching out to a route for the 1st time 2nd off the layoff, this gelding has run against some classy runners in his last few. His bullet works entering today show the Conductor he’s ready to fire.
Race 5: 6 Furlongs. F.Clm 25000
#7 Nomizar (4/1) – Drawn well to the outside, this filly can dictate her own trip and is working like a rocket ship.
Race 6: 1 1/8 Mile. (Turf) F.OC 40000n1x
*Gullet Shot of the Day #6 Kittyhawk Lass (8/1) – There looks to be a scorching pace up front in this one, so the Conductor is looking for a closer. This filly is steadily progressing and has a win at the distant. She’ll be finishing late.
#8 Mulhima (20/1) – This filly is trying turf for the first time and the Conductor is intrigued that Prat takes the mount for a low % barn he rarely rides for. In his last two rides for trainer Anna Meah, he’s hit the board.
Race 8: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) G2 Joe Hernandez Stakes
#8 Grinning Tiger (15/1) – He can fly early and his sprint efforts on grass have been his best. His race two back over this turf course came back very fast.
Race 9: 1 Mile. Mdn 55k
#4 Snap Chap (5/1) – This 1.2-million-dollar colt will improve on the stretch out. The blinkers come off today and Mike Smith stays aboard.
#3 Don V. (15/1) – A price to include at least underneath. This colt is well bred to route and trainer David Hofmans can pop with 1st timers. He was 17% with a +$0.65 ROI last year with debut runners.
