1/2/2021, Santa Anita, Race 7, The Grade 2 San Gabriel, 1 Mile and 1/8, Turf
This is the first in a series of graded turf stakes at the Great Race Place. At 9 Furlongs, this race has attracted some milers that are looking to stretch out and some others that are looking to establish themselves as players in this division.
- Cleopatra’s Strike: This eight year old gelding lost a photo in this race in the last two runnings. He returned from of four month layoff last out as was claimed for $62,500 that day. He’s been flat in his last three starts and looks like his better days may be behind him. Perhaps the claim with reenergize him, but I’m looking in other directions.
- Next Shares: He won this race two years ago, and has only visited the Winner’s Circle one time since, last winning the Seabiscuit at Del Mar in 2019. While he’s capable at this distance, his late kick is usually more potent at 1 Mile. He, too, is an admirable 8 eight year old gelding, who fought a lot of battles, but I think he’s overmatched here.
- Bob and Jackie: He has shown that he is a very capable miler, and he’ll be glad to avoid facing the powerful Mo Forza, who looks like the best turf miler in California in a while. He’s been very good in restricted and listed stakes company, but he’s come up short every time he’s been in a graded stakes thus far. He is improving, but he’s also stretching out to 9 Furlongs for the first time, doing so off a three month layoff. I’ll try to beat him today.
- Multiplier: This seven year old gelding has been on the East Coast for his last four starts, none of which were great. However, he seemed to really flourish at Santa Anita last year, running four quality races, including losing a photo in the Big Cap at 33-1. He can run on turf or dirt, as he was beaten by less than two lengths by United two times last year. I think he’s a sneaky play underneath in this spot.
- Count Again: He closed like a rocket to win the Seabiscuit at 8-1 in his first Southern California start, following the Sam-Son Farms dispersal. He’s a lightly raced six year old gelding, making only his 9th career start today. He’s never really run a bad race, and he looks to be the one to beat. My concern is that it’s unlikely that he’ll get the great pace set up that he got last time out. I still think he’ll be in the mix again today.
- Anothertwistafate: In 2019, he was the most exciting three year old to come out of Northern California in a while, as he decimated the El Camino Real Derby field by 7 lengths. He put forth game efforts in the Sunland Park Derby and the Lexington, before throwing in a clunker in the Preakness. He didn’t run again until September 2020, when he won the Longacres Mile off 16 month layoff. He moved into the Peter Miller barn, and tried turf for the first time, running well, but coming up a bit short in the Seabiscuit. I think he’s the lone speed here, and should face less pace pressure in this smaller field. I think he turns the tables on Count Again and gets the job done here today.
- Bowie’s Hero: This Grade 1 winning seven year old, looks to rebound after a disappointing 2020, where he only hit the board one time. He won the Eddie Read in 2019 at this distance, but he’s 0-7 in his other seven tries at 9 Furlongs. His career record at races shorter than 9 Furlongs is 7 wins in 19 starts. I like others more in this race.
My Picks 6-5-4
1/2/2021, Santa Anita, Race 8, The Grade 3 Sham, 3yo, 1 Mile
This is the first official Derby Points race for newly turned three year olds in Southern California, and to no one’s surprise, Bob Baffert has the favorite, who is coming off a smashing debut at Del Mar.
- Medina Spirit: This is the other horse sent out by Baffert in this spot. This modestly bred son of Protonico won on debut at Los Alamitos, drawing off to win a 5 and ½ Furlong sprint by three lengths. This is a big step up in class and a big stretch out as well. Baffert does well going sprint to route, and very well when he takes the blinkers off, which he’s doing here today. There seems to be a decent amount speed signed on, so his ability to rate will determine what level of success he’ll have today. Even in the small field, I’m not loving the rail draw for him.
- Waspirant: He was ten lengths behind Get Her Number in his last start in September in the Grade 1 American Pharoah. Shirreffs has given him some time off and brings him back to see if his well-bred three year old is meant to dance on the Derby Trail. He was wide throughout in his last race, and moved early before fading late. I think if he can sit off the speed and make one run, he could be an exotics threat as the longest shot on the board.
- Parnelli: This will be the shorter price of the two horses Shirreffs sends out. He ran second in his first three starts, before putting it all together last time out, breaking his maiden by over five lengths. He’s been a part of some quick early fractions in his last two races at this distance, and he may have to do the same again today. This will be a good test for him today.
- Uncle Boogie: He was a distant second behind Red Flag in the Bob Hope last time out, finishing in front of Los Alamitos Futurity winner Spielberg that day. He’s been working well since, but he’ll have to take a big step forward to be a factor here.
- Life Is Good: He was bet like a good thing in his debut at Del Mar, and he did not disappoint, beating a next out maiden winner by over 9 lengths. He’s been working well, drilling at 6 Furlongs in his last three works in preparation for his first start at two turns. He sure looks like the real deal to me, and this will be his first real test to see if he should advance on the Derby Trail. Stranger things have happened, but it’s hard to envision him losing in this spot.
My Picks: 5-2-3