Monday’s Best Bet: Salimah is flawless in American Oaks

Photo: Eclipse Sportswire

Monday’s 11th race at Santa Anita Park is the Grade 1 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies traveling 1 1/4 miles on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 7:11 p.m. EST. 

Click here for Santa Anita Park entries and results.  

No. 9 Salimah (7-2) captured three of her four turf routes for Chad Brown. She stepped up and scored in the Winter Memories on Nov. 13, and Flavien Prat was aboard in her entry level allowance win on Sept. 30. This race has been her target for several weeks.

No. 2 Sparkle Blue (8-1) is a dangerous shipper for Graham Motion. She has really turned the corner with the addition of blinkers in her last three starts. She won a minor stakes at Delaware Park on July 2, landed the place in the Virginia Oaks, and scored in the Valley View at Keeneland last time. Joel Rosario got to know her last time and she projects a decent tactical trip.

No. 6 Mise En Scene (4-1) raced evenly and split a 12-horse field in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 5, and this is a better spot. She missed by a nose at this distance in Great Britain on Sept. 14.

No. 1 Rhea Moon (8-1) always fires trifecta shots. She exits a local turf route stakes victory in Autumn Miss, and she should be rolling late for the productive Juan Hernandez and Phil D’Amato team.

No. 5 Bellstreet Bridie (4-1) chased the pace and smartly kicked away in her stateside bow in the Red Carpet at 1 3/8 miles on turf. Flavien Prat abandons and she must avoid a bounce. Mike Smith wins races with Mark Glatt. 

Get Jarrod's Santa Anita analysis

Wagers

No. 9 to win
Exacta 9/2-6
Exacta 2-6/9
Trifecta key 9/1-2-5-6

Recent Best Bet winners

Dec. 1 – Tap the Faith ($6.30), exacta ($18.20)
Dec. 3 – Dr B/Bank Sting/Betsy Blue trifecta ($84.48)
Dec. 7 – Candidate ($5.80), exacta ($20.80)
Dec. 11 – 
Tiz an Edventure/Natural Colour exacta ($20), trifecta ($142.20)
Dec. 17 
 Bal Harbour ($13.60)
Last Monday – Titled Lady ($9.20), exacta ($59.40)
Friday – Black Belt ($14.80), exacta ($44.00), trifecta ($138.00)

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