Twitter: @HorseAnalystWW
Top Choice Season Statistics:
101 selections – 32 wins (31.68%) $2.00 Win bet ROI $2.35 (+17.5%)
Race 1 – 12:45pm (PST) 4yr olds and up Clm 3200n2y 5-1/2 furlongs All Weather (Selections: 6-5)
Top Choice: (6) Pepper Sings has been freshened up and now crashes to the bottom price tag today. Recent workouts are steady and swift. He looks like the controlling speed and draws outside. Figures to be a nice price and we’ll take him in a tough race to figure.
Backup: (5) Union Wine has been close up in his last two at this trip and level. He showed the way last time out and should find another good position early. Another good odds chance in a wide open race.
Race 2 – 1:15pm (PST) 3yr olds Clm 6250 5-1/2 furlongs All Weather (Selections: 4-6)
Top Choice: (4) Wonder of Autism broke through last time out when scoring at the maiden $12500 level. He broke slow in that race and rallied strongly in the stretch. Gets off the rail, which should help him with his slow gate breaks. Tamayo/Hernandez rolling at 17/50 (34%) in 2020. Live.
Backup: (6) Vastly Deep is the obvious choice based on speed figures, but his one win from four tries as the favorite means he’s not trustworthy. Failed last time at odds on. Still should be included in all exotics.
Race 3 – 1:47pm (PST) 3yr olds AOC 50000 6 furlongs All Weather (Selections: 1-5)
Top Choice: (1) Foreign Protocol may have bounced a bit last out after the monster closing effort two back. He should be re-loaded now and finds a race with enough pace to set him up early. Live.
Backup: (5) Zimba Warrior was a vet scratch at the FG last weekend (3/20). Not sure if that meant he flew there and was scratched, but there are question marks here. He does drop down after facing Gr III competition his last three races. May not be feeling his best and/or tired from all the travelling. Question mark here.
Race 4 – 2:18pm (PST) 4yr olds and up Clm 12500n2L 5-1/2 furlongs All Weather (Selections: 2-1)
Top Choice: (2) Missed the Boat comes in fresh after a brief layoff. Horse has really taken a liking to the tapeta surface here at GG. Sharp increase in speed figures since the transfer from EmD. Should get a solid pace to chase and secure first run on Sayin Grace. Big chance.
Backup: (1) Sayin Grace has been a model of consistency, but only one win in his last 21 starts. Pace should be strong and he’ll save ground all the way inside. Will be coming late.
Race 5 – 2:50pm (PST) 4yr olds and up Clm 12500 6 furlongs All Weather (Selections: 3-1)
Top Choice: (3) Bullet Drill will appreciate the cut back in distance and gets reunited with Kevin Orozco who scored with him last year at EmD. Race two back would give him a good chance of winning here. Odds figure to be very generous and we like him as a big upset chance.
Backup: (1) Owning comes way down in class after facing allowance types and high end claimers. That last effort would win this heat no problem. Martinez jumps on board for Truijillo. This pair hitting 5/20 (25%) thus far in 2020.
Race 6 – 3:16pm (PST) 3yr old fillies Mcl 8000 1 mile All Weather (Selections: 7-4)
Top Choice: (7) Capo Vino figures to improve after that last route attempt. She is certainly bred to run long and figures to get another good pace to run at here. This race is wide open. Good chance at a giant price.
Backup: (4) Pulpit Singer ran a nice even effort in her second up start off the bench. Should improve with the second route and figures in all plays.
Race 7 – 3:42pm (PST) 3yr old fillies Clm 16000 1-1/16 miles All Weather (Selections: 6-3)
Top Choice: (6) Charlie’s Belle makes her second start after a vet scratch (2/13) where she weighed in at a mere 876 lbs. She figures to have put on more weight since that race and should be healthier. She has a strong late kick and likes the routing game. Strong chance.
Backup: (3) Just Classy changes barns, but has been on a roll. Race seems to have been written with her in view after the two scores at the normal $12500 level. Strong chance at low odds.
Race 8 – 4:16pm (PST) 3yr olds AOC 50000 1-1/16 miles All Weather (Selections: 4-3)
Top Choice: (4) Indian Peak figures strongly here after facing stakes company in 3 of his last 4. Looked like a winner mid-stretch in the El Camino Real Derby only to flatten out a bit late. Strong work-tab since. Hernandez sticks. Strong.
Backup: (3) Awesome Summer has been pounded at the windows in all three of his races, which means he has some big time talent. He just missed last out. Figures to get a nice trip and retains Desourmeaux. No workouts since last race is only negative I see. Player.
Race 9 – 4:47pm (PST) 4yr olds and up Clm 8000n2x 1 mile All Weather (Selections: 8-5)
Top Choice: (8) Shifty Dancer has been in sharp form since last October sporting 6 straight exacta placings. Drops down to a softer spot here and figures a dominant chance at short odds.
Backup: (5) Sooner Better likes this trip and has been firing his usual late stretch run. Didn’t have much pace last out, but gets a much better scenario here. Strong chance.