Saturday's Best Bet: Roadster ready to rumble in San Pasqual Stakes

Saturday’s 8th race from Santa Anita Park is the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes for 4-year-olds and up traveling a mile and an eighth on the main track (Post Time - 7:02 p.m. ET).

Click here for Santa Anita Park Entries, Results

#1 ROADSTER (7-2) has been a bit of an underachiever since capturing the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at this course/distance last spring. He is 0-for-5 with three runner-up finishes since that victory. He showed a nice late spark in a clear place finish in the Malibu (G1), and Joel Rosario got to know him that day. I am not sure if he is better sprinting or routing. This could be a very big day for Bob Baffert.

#5 Midcourt (3-1) broke slow, raced wide, and was best of the rest in a better than appears 3rd in the San Antonio (G2) Dec. 28 (speed dominated). That ended a 4-race win streak, and the versatile gelding could easily bounce back with a victory in this spot.

#4 King Abner (4-1) took advantage of a slow pace and ended up a clear 2nd in the San Antonio. The California-bred gelding fired trifecta shots in eight of his last ten starts and should be forwardly placed. The combination of a faster pace at a longer distance might lead to his undoing.

#3 Restrainedvengence (4-1) exits a nice stakes score at a mile and an eighth in New Mexico. He should be forwardly placed under Abel Cedillo and is a decent performer on turf and dirt. 

Wagers:

#1 to win 

Exacta Box 1-5

Trifecta 1-5/1-3-4-5/1-3-4-5

January 2020 Best Bet Winners

Jan. 1 - TEXAS WEDGE ($6.20)

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

Jan. 4 - DESERT STONE ($16.20), Exacta ($22.10), Trifecta ($31.65)

Jan. 8 - Codrington/Tootsie Exacta ($15.00)

Jan. 9 - STUNNING SKY ($6.00)

Jan. 13 - LUVINMEISEASY ($7.60), Exacta ($21.20), Trifecta ($16.80)

Jan. 22 - ROSEBUD'S HOPE ($9.40)

Jan. 25 - Pioneer Spirit/Bankit Exacta ($43.60)

Jan. 26 - Lady Apple/Serengeti Empress Exacta ($55.40)

Jan. 29 - COMMENCE ($5.40), Exacta ($16.00), Trifecta ($18.30)

Jan. 30 - BLAME IT ON KITTY ($5.80)

Jan. 31 - LITTLE BIRD ($6.20)

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