Breeders’ Cup 2019

Santa Anita 

Friday, November 1st

This posting is for Friday’s races only.  My friend “Harry” and I will be seated  in “the nose bleed section”, mid-stretch for both days.  Let’s hope the smoke from the fires do not impede the action.  

  

Friday Santa Anita Race No. 1. Post time 10:45 A.M. Pacific.  The Marathon.  Purse $200K.   A 14 furlong dirt stake race.   

Last year’s winner: “Rocketry”, owned by Centennial Farms and trained by James Jerkens.  Won as the lukewarm favorite at odds of 2.30 to 1.

Let’s see:  #1 “Itsinthepost” (5-2) has ten victories but not one of them was on dirt while Todd’s #2 “American Tattoo” (4-1) likes tiring race tracks.  Then there is #5 “Campaign” (4-5) who never gets tired.  Since there is no value in this race, the wager will be a mere $2 Double #5 with #4, then $0.50 Pick 5:  5 w 4 w 2 w 7/10 w 7/10, then try to find a donut and coffee at a walk-up.  

Total = $4. 

Friday Santa Anita Race No. 2. Post time 11:20 A.M.  Pacific.   An 8 furlong turf race for allowance-type fillies and mares.

Johnny V. could have easily declined to ride in this race.  He didn’t.  Instead he is named to ride #4 “Opus Won” (8-1) who will be more like 4-1 by post time.  Her most recent race at Del Mar puts her nose near the line against this bunch.  The wager:  $2 Win and Place #4, then $1 Pick 3:  4 w 2 w 7/10.  Total = $6.    

Friday Santa Anita Race No. 3.  The Golden State Juvenile Fillies.   Purse $200K.  Post time 11:55 A.M. Pacific.  A 7 furlong dirt stake race restricted to two year-old Cal Breds. 

Taking “a flyer” on Carla Gaines’ #2 “Almost a Factor” (15-1) who has had some nice a.m. drills over this surface.  With state breds in SoCal it is always a challenge.  The wagers:  $3 Place #2, then $1 Double 2 w 7/10.  Total = $5 and go for another a cup of coffee.  

    

Friday Santa Anita Race No. 4. The Golden State Juvenile.  A seven furlong stake for state breds.  Purse = $200K.    Post time 12:32 P.M. Pacific. 

Trainer Doug O’Neill’s #10 “Rookie Mistake” (12-1) failed as the favorite in his debut after some nice workouts.  The breeding is there for those willing to give him another chance.  Next, trainer Mark Glatt’s #7 “Chipper” (8-1) drew the rail in his only start.  He looks like a runner.  The wagers:  $2 Win #7, then $2 Double #7 w #10, then $1 Pick 3:  7 w 10 w 4/13.  Total = $6.  

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Friday Santa Anita Race No. 5.  Post time: 1:12 P.M. Pacific. The Juvenile Turf Sprint.  A 5 furlong turf race for two year olds.  Purse:  $1 Million. 

Last year’s winner: “Bulletin”, owned by WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club and SF Racing LLC, and trained by Todd Pletcher.   This colt won as the second wagering choice at odds of 4.30 to 1.

Trainer Wesley Ward’s filly #7 “Kimari” (7-2) will not be overlooked in this field.  We can expect a good effort.  The pick here is Simon Crisford’s #10 “A’Ali” (6-1) who has three wins in five starts.  He is out of the ill-fated broodmare “Motion Lass” who was regally bred. 

Top Choice:  #10 “A’Ali”.

For Second:  #7 “Kimari”. 

For underneath consideration:  #3 “Another Miracle”.

The wagers:  $5 Win and Place #10, then $1 Exacta Box 7/10, then $0.50 Trifecta #10 with 3/7 w 3/7, then $2 Double #10 with 4/13, and finally $1 Pick 5:  10 w 13 w 1/7 w 9 w 1.  Total = $19.  

Friday Santa Anita Race No. 6.  Post time:  1:52 P.M. Pacific. The Juvenile Turf.  An 8 furlong turf race for two year olds.  Purse:  $1 Million.  

Last year’s winner: “Line of Duty”, owned by Godolphin, LLC., trained by Charles Appleby, and won as second choice at 3.50 to 1. 

Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s #13 “Fort Myers” (12-1) is out of the dam “Marvellous” who is regally bred.  He will be an absolute handful.  Next, Christophe’s #4 “Decorated Invader” (4-1) won first at the Spa, then travelled to Toronto to win the Summer Stakes.  This colt’s races were not blistering quick but he did get the job done. 

Top Choice:  #13 “Fort Myers”.

For Second:  #4 “Decorated Invader”. 

For underneath consideration:  #12“Arizona”.

The wagers:  $5 Win and Place #13, then $2 Double #13 with #1, then $1 Pick 3:  13 w 1 w 9.  Total = $13.  

Friday Santa Anita Race No. 7. Post time 2:32 P.M. Pacific.  The Juvenile Filly.  An 8 ½ furlong dirt race for two year-old fillies.  Purse:  $2 Million. 

Last year’s winner: “Jaywalk”, owned by D. J. Stable LLC and Cash is King LLC, trained by John Servis.  She won at odds of 5.50 to 1.

The most impressive prep race was probably won by trainer Steve Asmussen’s #7 “Wicked Whisper” (7-2), the Frizette winner at Belmont Park on October 6th.  Since that rather recent race, she has already had two a.m. timed workouts at Santa Anita.  In the Frizette, she had a high cruising speed and, when the jockey asked for more, she was able to give it.  Will she be the betting favorite?  Probably not - - because trainer Bob Baffert’s #6 “Bast” (7-2) is entered.  This filly will not be on any of my tickets.  Next, the mystery filly is Simon Callaghan’s #1 “Donna Veloce” (3-1) who “ran a hole in the wind” in her only race.  For those playing the trifecta, Tracy Farmer’s #3 “Perfect Alibi” (10-1) is not a bad choice.  She did not have the best of trips in the Alcibiades on October 4th.  She is just too good to leave off your ticket.  

Top Choice:  #1 “Donna Veloce”.

For Second:  #7 “Wicked Whisper”. 

For underneath consideration:  #3 “Perfect Alibi”.

The wagers:  $2 Double #1 with 9/12, then $1 Exacta #1 with 3/7, then $1 Trifecta #1 with 3/7 w 3/7, then $0.50 Pick 4:  1/3/7 w 9 w 1 w 7/11.  Total = $11.  

Friday Santa Anita Race No. 8.  Post time: 3:12 P.M. Pacific.  The Juvenile Fillies Turf.  An 8 furlong turf race for two year old fillies.  Purse:  $1 Million. 

Last year’s winner: “Newspaperofrecord”, owned by Klaravich Stables, LLC., trained by Chad Brown.  Won as the favorite at odds of .60 to 1.

On October 9th at Keeneland, Todd Pletcher’s #12 “Sweet Melania” (5-1) went to the front and drew off to beat 13 other fillies by five lengths.  If she gets a decent post position draw, she will be formidable.  The pick to win it all is #9 “Albigna” (9-2) who ran OK in England, then smoked ‘em at Longchamp on October 6th.  Trifecta bettors might want to include trainer John Kimmel’s #7 “Crystalle” (8-1) who has been working nicely on Belmont Park’s inner turf in the a.m.

Note:  the handicapping for this race was finished one week before post positions were drawn.  Todd’s “Sweet Melania” did not benefit from that draw.    

Top Choice:  #9 “Albigna”.

For Second:  #12 “Sweet Melania”. 

For underneath consideration:  #7 “Crystalle”.

The wagers:  $10 Win and Place #9, then $1 Exacta Box 9/12, then $1 Trifecta 9 w 7/12 w 7/12, $2 Double 9 w 1, and finally $1 Pick 3:  9 w 1 w 7/11.  Total = $28.  

Friday Santa Anita Race No. 9.  The Juvenile.  An 8 ½ furlong dirt race for two year olds.  Purse:  $2 Million.  Post time:  4:03 P.M. Pacific.

Last year’s winner: “Game Winner”, owned by Gary and Mary West, trained by Bob Baffert.  He won as the favorite at 1 to 1 odds. 

Trainer Dale Romans’ #1 “Dennis’ Moment” (8-5) could be slighted in the wagering in spite of being two for two.  Reason:  Because #6 “Eight Rings” (2-1) and #9 “Maxfield” (3-1) are in the race.  The owners paid $400K for “Dennis’ Moment”  and they are a smart outfit.  The winner should be one of the three listed above - - “Eight Rings” has a win over the track and “Maxfield” just smoked ‘em at Keeneland.

Top Choice:  #1 “Dennis’ Moment”.

For Second:  #6 “Eight Rings”. 

For underneath consideration:  #9 “Maxfield”.

The wagers:  $2 Double #1 with 7/11, then $1 Exacta #1 beating either #6 or #9, then $1 Trifecta 1 w 6/9 w 6/9.  Total = $8.    

Blogger’s Note:  It has been many years - - so many that I cannot remember - - since a winner has been picked for this race.  Readers of this blog should take note of this lack of success in The Juvenile. 

Friday Santa Anita Race No. 10. Post time 4:43 P.M. Pacific.  A 7 furlong dirt race.  Purse:  $80K.

Trainer Bob Baffert’s #11 “Justinian” (6-1) will be noticed by the wagering public.  This three year old still has time to show he is worth the $275K that he fetched in the sales ring.  Catching this blogger’s eye were the a.m. workouts of #7 “Secret Courier” (10-1), plus the fact that he has won two races, not one.  The wagers:  $3 Win and Place #7, then $1 Exacta Box 7/11.  Total = $8.    

Total for Friday, November 1st = $108. 

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