Santa Anita picks and handicapping for the Winter/Spring meet (late December through June), the Fall meet (September through November), Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Handicap, Big ‘Cap, Frontrunner Stakes, and Breeders’ Cup when held at The Great Race Place. Full-card value plays from The Pony Conductor.
The Conductor apologizes for the late post. Hopefully you passengers had the 19/1 winner in the first.
On to the rest of the card at Santa Anita.
Good luck passengers
Let’s have a nice lazy Sunday in the coal mines, passengers. Skip.
#3 Mas Rapido (4/1) – This gelding ran sneaky well last time. He was covered 2-wide and completely stuck behind horses in stretch. He finally angled out when the race was basically over and finished full of run. Now he takes a major class drop and gets a rider upgrade to Rispoli. 4/1 would be a gift from the pony gods.
#6 Bizzee Channel (5/2) – The Conductor is going for an ice cold 3/6 exacta in this first race. Bizzee Channel was best at this level last time with a brutal trip. He was bumped hard at the start, keen entering the first turn and still finished well, galloping out in front. Now 2nd off a layoff for strong connections, only Mas Rapido can beat him.
#3 Broski (6/1) – He has been well bet in his two tries at Del Mar after showing talent across the pond. He has disappointed the American punters, but he has been gelded since his last race. After being clipped, Broski has shown much improved workouts in the mornings. The Conductor thinks he has major upside in a wide open maiden race.
*Gullet Shot of the Day #6 Cathal (6/1) – This is another great betting race, with many closely matched contenders. The Conductor gives the edge to this gelding dropping in class, stretching out in distance and getting Berrios in the saddle. He’s consistently run strong late pace figures behind slow paces and tougher competition. Cathal looks to get a beautiful trip today with pace to run at. #9 Fearless Soldier (30/1) and #3 Red Cross Knight should keep the pace honest early.
Monday went well at Santa Anita with a 5/2 winner and a 24/1 2nd place finisher. Hopefully you passengers had the juicy exacta with Lila in the 8th race…and she was green in the stretch. Heading into the upcoming Pegasus weekend at Gulfstream we need all the coal we can get our hands on. The Conductor already has that card nailed down. Bountiful treasure is on the horizon. Skip.
#6 Big Whoosh (7/2) – This filly debuted sprinting and finished well with a strong gallop out. That race looked like a clear prep for a stretch-out in distance. Like the Conductor expected, she shows up routing today and gets Lasix for the first time. Trainer Leonard Powell is 18% with a positive ROI this year with 1st time routers
#1 Shuangxi (8/1) – The Conductor likes the “other” Mullins here at a much bigger price. She disappointed sprinting off the bench last time, but is working bullets entering today. This is the lowest class level she’s faced since last spring and she gets Berrios in the saddle. Shuangxi has major upside.
Bonus racing at Santa Anita Park this Monday. Shout out to Martin Luther King Jr. He would want all us passengers to be get rich today, he told me so. It’s time for the prices to come home. Skip.
#1 Ocala Kid (9/2) – In his turf debut last time, Ocala Kid got stuck on the rail entering the stretch. He showed the Conductor real grit as he bullied his way through tight hole and galloped out in front of the pack. Now in his 2nd try mowing with a rider upgrade to Hernandez, he should take a step forward. Ocala Kid can start our day off right.
#7 Crystal Proof (6/1) – This old mare showed speed off a year layoff last time. Now she drops in class and shortens in distance. This is a very evenly matched field and the Conductor will take a stand with her. He expects her to match one of her best efforts from 2023 today, and that will put her in the winners’ circle.
#4 Princess Midnight (6/1) – This filly won nicely sprinting at this distance at Santa Anita two starts back. She tried two turns last time and had a no chance trip. She was wide around the first turn and made a suicidal early move on the backstretch. Now returning to 6 furlongs with a nice inside draw, the Conductor likes her chances.
#3 Lila (10/1) – This filly was well bet on debut and had a no chance trip far back behind a slow pace and hung wide on the 2nd turn. Now she adds blinkers and gets Lasix for the first time. With a nice inside draw today, the Conductor sees her getting a more favorable trip. There’s more under the hood than we saw last time.
The Conductor is not sure what happened when the calendar turned. Santa Anita is not cooperating. Just keep grinding the tape until your eyes bleed Conductor, the tide will turn. Skip.
#4 Triple Diamonds (5/2) – This gelding won’t be a big price, but the Conductor was impressed by his debut win. He was sandwiched at the start and still ran down the loose 3/5 favorite on the lead. The added furlong should only help his cause and he adds Lasix for the first time. For the Glatt barn, the Conductor will be very surprised if he isn’t victorious.
#4 Musical Mischief (2/1) – She’ll be the 2nd or 3rd choice in this 6 horse field and the Conductor thinks she’s the most likely winner. She’s run faster than the Baffert favorite, #6 Cavalieri (8/5), who the Conductor is against with the added distance. Musical Mischief is a Grade 2 winner and now ships back home after setting a scorching pace in the slop. She’s working well and looks ready to fire for McCarthy.
*Gullet Shot of the Day #2 Nadette (10/1) – This mare shipped back to California off a break last time and ran better than it looks vs Grade 1 company. She was well back behind a slow pace and ran a huge late pace figure making up 4 lengths in the stretch. Now she cuts back down the hill and faces a much weaker group today. The Conductor trusts Hernandez to give her a good ride and she’ll be finishing best late. Nadette will be our savior on Sunday.
Only 2nds and 3rds Friday at Santa Anita. The Conductor may have to retire soon. Skip.
#5 Andiamo Ragazza (10/1) – This filly finished close behind the heavy favorite #7 Stay and Scam (6/5) last time they faced down the hill. Andiamo Ragazza overcame a poor trip that day and that was with Tyler Baze aboard. Her last dirt race can be ignored and she looks primed to run her best with Hernandez in the saddle today. The Conductor is licking his chops at double digit odds.
#2 None Above the Law (10/1) – This gelding made an early move into a quick pace going 1 1/2 miles last time and rightfully tired late. Now he drops in class, cuts back in distance and draws well to the inside. The Conductor he’s a major contender in a race where the favorites look beatable.
#7 Aligato (6/1) – The only other horse that concerns the Conductor is this gelding off the bench. He has the best turf numbers in the field at this distance and can win if he fires his best shot. Entering out for the Glatt barn with Prat aboard, that seems likely.
Too many 2nds and thirds Thursday at Santa Anita. That won’t pay the coal bill. Let’s start the weekend off right. Skip.
#7 Ready to Dare (9/2) – This filly got a nice rail trip in her last turf race cutting back in distance and galloped out well. That was for a low % trainer and she has since upgraded to the Puype barn. Now returning to the surface she’s bred for after a dirt race, the Conductor expects to see a big step forward today.
#1 Isabel Ludlow (4/1) – This filly always runs her race sprinting on the dirt. She had trouble in her last at the start and still finished with interest. Now moving into the Glatt barn, the Conductor expects her to improve. 7/2 or better is fair.
#7 Man Child ( 15/1) – The Conductor likes two prices today in the finale. This gelding was favored on turf vs similar at Santa Anita back in June and had a poor trip that day. Since then, he has moved into a stronger barn and won his comeback race on dirt. Now he switches back to the turf and the Conductor likes this spot for him. Man Child is 0/2 on the turf, but he’s bred to improve on the lawn. With Hernandez hopping aboard, this longshot is live.
#8 Andy Can U Hear Me (8/1) – This gelding returns off a layoff, but that doesn’t concern the Conductor coming from the Mullins barn. His horses are firing at Santa Anita and his turf numbers fit with this group. With a top turf rider in Berrios aboard, the Conductor must include him.
Santa Anita is finally back after the terrible fires and we get four racing days this week. Time to welcome it back with open arms and then bankrupt the place. Let’s Ride.
#1 Final Edition (9/2) – This colt finished strong last time sprinting and now stretches out to a route off a bit of a break. He’s been working well and is bred to get the distance just fine. Final Edition gets a nice rail draw today and the Conductor thinks he has the most upside of the bunch. 7/2 or better works for him.
#4 Yacowlef (4/1) – This gelding moved forward after switching into the Jeff Mullins barn last time. He was 3-wide on the turn and still showed a strong late kick. Now he gets back to his best distance with a nice post. Mullins is 15% with a +$1.50 ROI this year with horses making their 2nd start for him. Rispoli in the saddle on the turf is an added bonus.
#6 Jai Ho (9/2) – The Conductor was really impressed with this filly’s maiden breaker three starts back despite a poor turf trip. She disappointed in her next turf race, but that was against much tougher competition. Then dropping in class and switching to dirt last time, she ran a solid closing 2nd. Moving back to the lawn today, she looks primed to run a peak effort. Hernandez hopping aboard only enhances the Conductor’s confidence.
*Gullet Shot of the Day #3 Bizzee Channel (9/2) – The Jonathon Thomas shippers have been firing in California and he’s got another live one here. This gelding has run better than it looks in his last two starts, being too close to quick paces vs tougher. Now he shortens in distance, draws well to inside and looks to pick off a weaker west coast turf bunch. 3/1 or better would be a treat.
The train is running sloooooowwww to start the New Year. We need more coal and fast. No excuses, cap harder. Skip
*Gullet Shot of the Day #5 Springs (9/2) – The Conductor has been waiting to play this colt back from his debut. He missed break, steadied sharply entering turn, and still rallied to finish well against the front-runner flow. He’s working well entering today and now adds blinkers and Lasix for the first time. Most importantly, he gets a major turf rider upgrade from Baze to Rispoli. Springs is the Conductor’s best bet on the card if he remains 7/2 or better.
#7 Six Magpies (20/1) – The Conductor is going bomb hunting in the finale. This gelding is a deep closer and hasn’t had any pace to run at in his last two starts. Last time he was stuck on the rail and couldn’t find room until deep in stretch. When it was far to late, he finally got out and finished well with a huge gallop out miles in front of the pack. This gelding is better than his recent form shows and this is a mediocre group he faces today. As long as a quick pace develops as the Conductor expects, he has a major chance.
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Another goose egg at Santa Anita Friday. Time to stop messing around and rip some gullets out. The Conductor loves the card today. Skip.
*Gullet Shot of the Day #5 Ketonia (8/1) – This is an evenly matched group and the Conductor loves this filly in this spot. Ketonia is coming in off multiple poor trips and looks to get a perfect one today. She’ll have plenty of pace to run at and she gets a major turf rider upgrade to Berrios. Hector will save ground from this post and look to find a seem as they turn for home. The Conductor sees Ketonia mowing them all down in the stretch.
#5 Bullard (4/5) – The 3.2 Million dollar Baffert runner, #2 Barnes, will vie for favoritism in this race. His debut was impressive, but he’ll have to take a massive step forward in this race to beat Bullard. Bullard looks to get an ideal outside stalking trip and the Conductor thinks he’ll deny Bobby B another graded stakes win.
#4 Refocus (6/1) – This colt is a deep closer and always finishes with a big late stretch kick. He usually settles for minor awards, but this looks like the perfect pace scenario for him to get his picture taken. There will a scorching pace in this race, with a full field of speed balls. It looks like a classic meltdown race to the Conductor, and he’ll take a swing with the best closer. It’s going to be a fun Saturday on the lawn.
