Santa Anita Memorial Day Stakes Racing Analysis, Selections

It’s a tradition unlike any other. Santa Anita will once again feature a high profile Memorial Day card. The races will feature 3 different stakes events.

Full Card Selections

Santa Anita Park- Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM PT; $61k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 8

• #7 YELLOW BRICK (8-5) gets the top selection. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/8 mile distance.
• #1 MALTESE FALCON (5-1) should be competitive in this spot.
• #3 FAST CHAD (15-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. He seems to fit well enough here.
• #2 ADVENTURESOME (5-2) isn't without hope. He comes into the race in really good form. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 3 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 2

Post: 1:34 PM PT; $61k Maiden Special Weight going 4 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 5

• #5 MIDNIGHT LOVE (8-5) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. He should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders. A repeat of the debut effort would make this one very tough.
• #3 MR. CHIVAS (4-1) goes out for the Knapp barn and gets Alsagoor in the irons at second asking. This one should take a step forward.
• #2 HANDSOME HARRY (5-2) debuts here at a short price which means the backside has been liking what this one is showing in the mornings.
• #1 DAWSON (8-1) is a first time starter that seems unfancied, but there just isn’t much beyond the top 3 so a price might be nice here.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 3

Post: 2:07 PM PT; $24k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 5

• #5 THE REIGN SONG (9-5) looks best here. She shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #4 TOBY'S CANDY (5-2) should be competitive in this spot. She could get the right setup in this race.
• #1 QUEENIES WAY (2-1) isn't without hope. The pace should set up well for this filly.
• #2 ILA VEIW TOO (10-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Belvoir and Figueroa.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 1 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 4

Post: 2:39 PM PT; $42k Starter Optional Claiming going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 5

• #5 KRISTI'S TIGER (7-5) gets the top selection. She could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #4 YOUTEYOURHONOR (5-2) should be competitive in this spot. She will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one could be hurt drawing inside of the likely other speed.
• #3 KUORA (5-2) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. If the top 2 really go at it maybe this one can just get up late.
• #1 CLASSICAL ROMANCE (12-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 3 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 5

Post: 3:12 PM PT; $400k Gamely S. going 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 7

• #3 QUEEN GODDESS (9-5) is the top pick. She comes into the race in really good form. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #6 QUATTROELLE (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. She comes into the race in really good form. This one goes out for the Mullins barn and gets Berrios in the irons.
• #7 MACADAMIA (5-1) makes some sense in this spot at a decent price.. She goes out for the D'Amato barn and gets Pereira in the saddle for this contest.
• #1 SCHOOL DANCE (6-1) could be in with a shot in this race. She gets Flavian Prat on the turf and he is just one of the best there is.

Selections: 3 – 6 – 7 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 6

Post: 3:42 PM PT; $61k Maiden Special Weight going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #1 UNCLE REG (4-1) looks best here. He should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #5 EXTORTION (5-2) debuts here and should be competitive in this spot. He goes out for the Baffert barn and gets Kimura in the irons.
• #6 TRUEHOOD (8-5) is another Baffert first time starter. It is promising that Bob turns to JJ Hernandez for the ride.
• #2 REIQUIST (5-1) should improve off the first start and shouldn't have trouble with the 6 1/2 furlong distance. This one ran a decent number on debut and a step forward would put this one in the mix.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 6 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 7

Post: 4:13 PM PT; $500k Shoemaker Mile S. going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 11

• #2 HONG KONG HARRY (7-2) gets the top selection. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #1 GOLD PHOENIX (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has races that would win this one in the past performances. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #6 EXAULTED (5-1) runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Eurton and Hernandez.
• #7 BALNIKHOV (5-1) goes out for the D'Amato barn and gets Rispoli in the irons. This one will be coming with a late closing kick. I do get a little concerned that Rispoli has struggled the last couple of meets after being the most dominant turf rider in Cali.

Selections: 2 – 1 – 6 – 7

Santa Anita Park- Race 8

Post: 4:44 PM PT; $400k Hollywood Gold Cup S. going 1 1/4 miles on dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 DEFUNDED (4-5) is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Baffert and Hernandez. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 COUNTRY GRAMMER (8-5) should be competitive in this spot. He looks to be the class of the field. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #2 SENOR BUSCADOR (5-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He goes out for the Fincher barn and gets Saez in the irons. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #5 PIROLI (15-1) is a price horse and isn't without hope. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Mccarthy and Desormeaux.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 2 – 5

Santa Anita Park- Race 9

Post: 5:16 PM PT; $63k Allowance going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 14

• #2 ELEUTHERA (10-1) is a price horse and looks best here. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Cecil and Gutierrez. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #3 MYFAVORITEDAUGHTER (5-1) should be competitive in this spot. She has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #1 ULTIMATE HY (5-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #5 EMERALD LAKE (8-1) should be competitive in this spot. She runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here. This one seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 1 – 5

Santa Anita Park- Race 10

Post: 5:46 PM PT; $63k Allowance going about 6 1/2 furlongs on downhill turf; Entries: 12

• #5 KING APOLLO (7-2) gets the top selection. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #7 DOITFORANDREW (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has races that would be good enough to get the job done and seems to fit well enough here.
• #9 SUBSIDIZE (12-1) is a price horse and feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He shouldn't have trouble with the about 6 1/2 furlong distance.
• #11 DANCING RINCA (15-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 5 – 7 – 9 – 11