Saturday's Best Bet: Desert Stone rock solid in San Gabriel Stakes

Saturday’s 8th race from Santa Anita Park is the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes for 4-year-olds and up traveling a mile and an eighth on the turf course (Post time 6:07 p.m. ET).

Click here for Santa Anita Park Entries & Results

#1 DESERT STONE (3-1) returns for Richard Baltas and I have always liked this one. He does some of his best work at Santa Anita and Geovanni Franco rides him well. He has talent but frequently breaks slow and gets into trouble at times.

#4 Overdue (6-1) was in the hunt from the outset but failed to stay the trip in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) Dec. 1. He won at this distance Oct. 5 and might bounce back.

#3 Cleopatra’s Strike (2-1) failed to kick in it at a marathon distance Dec. 1, and this shorter trip helps. He reconnects with winning rider Abel Cedillo and figures to stalk the pace.

#6 Majestic Eagle (3-1) enjoys this turf course and two of his three wins were at this distance. He won the American Stakes (G3) last year.  

Wagers:

#1 to win

Exacta 1/3-4-6

Exacta 3-4-6/1

Trifecta 1-4/1-3-4-6/1-3-4-6

January 2020 Best Bet Winners

Jan. 1 - TEXAS WEDGE ($6.20)

Jan. 3 - BELLAZANO ($6.80), Exacta ($8.00)