Small Fields, Big Action Highlight Santa Anita Saturday

Over the past several years there has been a concerning trend of small fields at Santa Anita. Opening weekend suggest the problem persists.

Santa Anita Park- Race 1

Post: 12:30 PM PT; $61k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 8

• #4 DANCING RINCA (5-1) makes sense on speed figures and has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #3 ONE MORE BID (7-2) looks to be the class of the field. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #1 QUINTECENTS (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He seems to fit well enough here. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.
• #7 CHICAGO SOLDIER (5-1) comes into the race in solid form.

Selections: 4 – 3 – 1 – 7

Santa Anita Park- Race 2

Post: 1:03 PM PT; $31k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 ANNIE GRAHAM (6-5) is the top pick. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #2 SATURDAY HEIST (6-1) runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #5 LITTLE RACHEL (3-1) feels like one that should be a factor in this race.
• #1 EQUILOVE (12-1) is a price horse and will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 5 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 3

Post: 1:34 PM PT; $200k John Henry Turf Championship S. going 1 1/4 miles on downhill turf; Entries: 6

• #1 GOLD PHOENIX (2-1) looks best here. He gets JJ Hernandez in the irons who is one of the top turf riders anywhere in the country.
• #4 MASTEROFFOXHOUNDS (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #3 DICEY MO CHARA (3-1) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #5 TROPICAL TERROR (20-1) is a price horse and projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 3 – 5

Santa Anita Park- Race 4

Post: 2:06 PM PT; $63k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 FUN TO DREAM (6-5) gets the top selection. She shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #2 SMOOTHLIKEBUTTAH (4-1) will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #6 KRISTI'S TIGER (6-1) seems to fit well enough here. She’ll want things moving on the front end.
• #5 ANACAPA (4-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 6 – 5

Santa Anita Park- Race 5

Post: 2:38 PM PT; $200k City of Hope Mile S. going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 6

• #3 BEYOND BRILLIANT (6-5) is the top pick. He looks to be the class of the field. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #1 CATHKIN PEAK (5-2) makes sense on speed figures. This one goes out for the D'Amato barn and gets Rispoli in the irons.
• #2 IRIDEO (5-2) should be competitive in this spot. He comes into the race in really good form. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #5 PRINCE ABAMA (6-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 2 – 5

Santa Anita Park- Race 6

Post: 3:08 PM PT; $200k Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 HOWBEIT (8-1) looks best here. He has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #1 C Z ROCKET (7-2) goes out for the Miller barn and gets Vazquez in the irons. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #7 TODO FINO (4-1) will likely be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire.
• #2 FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (9-5) has kept really good company. At one point this one was a Derby contender and should enjoy returning to sprints.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 7 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 7

Post: 3:38 PM PT; $200k Eddie D S. going about 6 1/2 furlongs on downhill turf; Entries: 9

• #4 GREGORIAN CHANT (5-2) gets the top selection. He makes sense on speed figures.
• #7 WHATMAKESSAMMYRUN (8-1) really seems to relish the extended turf sprint.
• #6 BARRISTAN THE BOLD (30-1) is a bomb but the speed figures aren’t that far off.
• #1 LANE WAY (4-1) has the top overall power rating in the group. This one goes out for the Mandella barn and gets Smith in the irons.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 6 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 8

Post: 4:08 PM PT; $300k Awesome Again S. going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 8

• #4 COUNTRY GRAMMER (8-5) is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Baffert and Hernandez.
• #2 ROYAL SHIP (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He makes sense on speed figures. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #7 EXPRESS TRAIN (7-2) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/8 mile distance.
• #5 TRIPOLI (8-1) seems to fit well enough here and always seems to run solid in big races.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 7 – 5

Santa Anita Park- Race 9

Post: 4:38 PM PT; $85k Unzip Me S. going about 6 1/2 furlongs on downhill turf; Entries: 11

• #5 CONNIE SWINGLE (3-1) looks best here. She has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #8 TEZZARAY (12-1) is a price horse and runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #2 DELMONA (6-1) should be competitive in this spot. She will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #9 ISLAND OF LOVE (5-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 2 – 9

Santa Anita Park- Race 10

Post: 5:08 PM PT; $61k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 13

• #9 CANDY CARAMEL (7-2) gets the top selection. She has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #7 THE DANCE BETWEEN (6-1) should improve off the first start and should be competitive in this spot.
• #6 CAHUILLA (8-1) could be in with a shot in this race. She goes out for the O'Neill barn and gets Baze in the irons. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #13 KANTHARA (10-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She comes into the race in really good form. She’s hit the board in these races before.

Selections: 9 – 7 – 6 – 13

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