Weekend Winners Club

.

Monday, May 25.  Sunny Santa Anita offers a welcome break from the rainy eastern tracks this Memorial Day, hosting and 11 race card with three graded stakes races: Monrovia G2, Gamely G1, and the featured Shoemaker Mile G1 which is worth an automatic entry to the Breeders’ Cup Mile On November 7 at Keeneland.

.

As aforementioned, the weather is sunny and in the 70s, a perfect day for racing in Arcadia.  We shall break down the stakes races and make a few other picks here, identifying long shot specials (LSS) as needed.  Grab the free Grid with the link below to follow along.  Racing begins at 3:30PM ET.

.

R5 5:34ET 5.5f T Mnrovia-G2 3 UP FM:

The race is less than ¾ mile on turf, and there are only 2 frontrunners in this field, so it’s going to be mostly about speed. 

7 Jolie Olimpica 8-5 ML has good speed and won her last turf sprint, a G3 right here at SA in January.  

6 Into Mystic 10-1 is trying turf for the first time coming off some great performances on dirt.  She has good speed but also top LP. If she does like the turf she’ll be tough to beat.

1 Stealthediamonds 5-1 has the inside post and top EP so an automatic contender.

4 Surrender Now 10-1 has 2^nd EP and top 5 power and could have enough speed to get ITM.

2 Oleksandra 3-1 is an S0 so will have to giddy up early, has 2LP and 2 Power, good closer.

8 Just Grazed Me 5-1 is a solid mid pack runner 3^rd in Power and has a good chance also.

Predicted order:  7 6 1 4 2 8          LSS 6 4

.

R9 7:38ET 8f T ShoemkrM-G1 3 UP 

The Shoemaker has some legit speed with a pace profile of 8-7-6-6 so we’ll focus on Power and LP mainly for the contenders.

1 Without Parole 4-1 is top in Power , 2 Stamina and was 3^rd in last year’s BC Mile just 3 lengths back.

9 March to the Arch 6-1 has top LP and as a midpack runner will be in great position.

8 Raging Bull 7-2 is 2^nd in Power and LP and should be fresh off a 7 month layoff

5 War of Will 4-1 is 3^rd in Power thanks to the Preakness win and as a War Front colt should like turf

11 River Boyne 4-1 is 5^th in Power and also a good midpack runner, last out winning the Kilroe Mile G1 here.

3 Next Shares 12-1 is tied for top LP and finished ½ length from victory in the Kilroe last out.

2 True Valor 20-1 was 4^th just 1 length behind the winner in the Kilroe, only being passed by Next Shares

Predicted finish:  1 9 8 5 11 3 2    LSS  3 2 (and maybe 9 if odds go up)

.

R11 8:39ET 9f T Gamely-G1 3 UP FM

1 Etoile 5-2 is a G3 turf winner in Europe, which is equivalent to a G1 turf winner in the US

11 Keeper Of the Stars 8-1 is one of two early runners in a field with no front runners.  3 EP and 3 Speed, 2^nd best PF in the field.  Odds of 8-1 will go down with the scratch of Ollie’s Candy.  

5 Mucho Unusual 8-1 is another of only 3 in the field that has ever led at 1c.  2EP, 3 Power, 3^rd best PF

7 Beautiful Lover 5-1 is #1 in Power, Stamina and LP and a good pace pressurizer

3 Lady Prancelot 6-1 2^nd in Power/Stam/LP and as a late pack runner will have to giddy up earlier

4 Giza Goddess 20-1 is the last of the 3 that ever led at 1C and as such could hold on for a piece

Predicted:  1 11 5 7 3 4                    LSS 11 5 4

.

Other assorted picks

R1: Wide open                  LSS 1 2 4 9 11

R7:  Wide open                 LSS 1 4 7 10

R8:  9 8 3 4 5 10                  LSS 3 4 5

R10:  2 7 4 6 8 5 LSS 7 5

.

For the rest of them, make your own picks.  You have the Grid after all.  To get the Grid for all the big tracks and races, every race day, check out the options here.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS