Friday’s Best Bet: Virat can get brave at Santa Anita
Friday’s ninth race at Santa Anita is a starter allowance event for 4-year-olds and up dashing six furlongs on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 7:14 p.m. EST.
Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.
No. 6 Virat (4-1) moved to the Dan Blacker barn on Nov. 2, and he set the pace and wired the field at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf. Frankie Dettori takes the call and he should be forwardly placed.
No. 2 Lemon Sushi (5-2) stretched out, set the pace, and finished a close fourth at one mile on Nov. 19, and runner-up Beef Winslow returned to win an entry level allowance turf sprint by 3 1/4 lengths on Dec. 26. This gelding landed the place in his last two turf sprint attempts. Juan Hernandez got to know him last time and an inner stalking trip is expected. Val Brinkerhoff does not have great stats with his turf runners.
No. 7 Kid Azteca (4-1) turns back and attracts Flavien Prat. He has struck twice on turf and both of those wins were in local sprints. He should make his presence felt in the lane.
No. 4 Paulliac (3-1) was part of the trifecta in all five turf starts in this country. He turned back and beat starter allowance foes in a five panel turf race on Nov. 25.
Wagers
No. 6 to win
Exacta 4-6-7/2
Trifecta 2-6/2-4-6-7/2-4-6-7
Recent Best Bet Winners
Dec. 13 – Flipping Fish/Henry's World/He’s In Charge trifecta ($202.60)
Dec. 16 – War Campaign ($14.60), exacta ($54.80)
Dec. 18 – Young Squire ($8.40), exacta ($23.40), trifecta ($81.20)
Dec. 24 – F Five ($5.40)
Dec. 26 – Watsonville ($11), exacta ($22)
Last Friday – Medoro ($6.80)
Monday – Otello ($5.40), trifecta ($100)
Thursday – Dr. Ray D. ($7), exacta ($15.40), trifecta ($28.60)