Monday's Best Bet: Going To Vegas elevates her game in Gamely
Monday’s 9th race from Santa Anita Park is the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares traveling a mile and an eighth on the turf course (Post Time 8:24 p.m. ET).
#4 GOING TO VEGAS (6-1) stole the Santa Ana (G3) at a mile and a quarter as my top choice March 27. Umberto Rispoli gave her a great ride last time but with Charmaine’s Mia in the lineup, look for the Richard Baltas trainee to revert to stalking tactics. The honest filly needs a lifetime best to topple these, and this is a good distance and she projects a decent trip at playable odds.
#2 Charmaine’s Mia (8-5) won three graded turf races since moving to the Phil D’Amato barn. Flavien Prat was aboard for her last two flat mile wins and she tries to stretch her speed another furlong. Her lead was dwindling in her last pair at one mile and things might get interesting in the late stages.
#6 Keeper Ofthe Stars (5-2) is back in form for Jonathan Wong and can keep things going in her third start after a layoff. The early-pressing type won this race last year but this edition is probably tougher.
#1 La Signare (6-1) exits a solid 3rd over yielding ground in the Jenny Wiley (G1). Juliet Foxtrot was my top choice that day and she controlled the pace and kept on finding. The fresh Keeneland shipper should save all the ground behind the speed under Mike Smith, and she is not out of this.
Wagers:
#4 to win
Exacta Box 2-4
Trifecta 2-4/1-2-4-6/1-2-4-6
Recent Best Bet Winners
May 3 - LEADER OF THE BAND ($3.60), Exacta ($23.80)
May 5 - WENTZ ($6.20), Exacta ($17.80)
May 7 - ULTIMATE HY ($4.40), Exacta ($13.60)
May 9 - BEREN ($8.60), Exacta ($28.20)
May 11 - Did I Stutter/Capital Q/Sense a Million Trifecta ($109.00)
May 15 - Chub Wagon/Casual/Club Car Trifecta ($42.20)
May 17 - Geebert/Prince of Rain Exacta ($19.80)
May 18 - CALL FITZROY ($12.00)
May 19 - MUNCEY ($9.60)
May 22 - Going Global/Golden Exacta ($15.40)
May 23 - None Above the Law/Seattle Bold Exacta ($26.80)
May 28 - Lalic/Smiling Annie Exacta ($36.80)