Sunday's Best Bet: Island of Love dazzles in China Doll
Sunday's 9th race from Santa Anita Park is the $100,000 China Doll Stakes for three-year-old fillies traveling one mile on the turf course (Post Time 7:50 p.m. EST).
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No. 6 ISLAND OF LOVE (5-2) was 2nd as the strong favorite in her stateside bow in the Lady Shamrock Stakes at this course/distance Jan. 30. She did not have the best start or trip that day, and that was her first outing in more than four months. She easily won her first two turf starts in Italy and figures to move forward in her second start after a layoff.
No. 3 Sterling Crest (3-1) disappointed twice as the chalk last year, and the highly regarded filly put it all together with a solid special weight score as the favorite at this course/distance Feb. 12. Umberto Rispoli sticks with the tactical filly and she might go from recent maiden winner to stakes winner for Richard Baltas.
No. 5 Urban (4-1) exits back-to-back good efforts at six and one-half furlongs on turf, and she tries to navigate a flat mile around two turns this time. She just missed in the Sweet Life (G3) last out and her speed ratings jumped up in her last pair. Her winning pilot Flavien Prat chose Island of Love but Joh Velazquez is an ample sub.
No. 8 Lucky Girl (3-1) won the aforementioned Lady of Shamrock last time and she got a pretty good trip while out in the clear. She might be widest of all from the outside post this time, and she won’t be 6.80-1 this time.
Get my Expert Santa Anita Park picks for March 6
Wagers:
No. 6 to win
Exacta Box 3-6
Trifecta 3-6/3-5-6-8/3-5-6-8
Recent Best Bet Winners
Feb. 27 - STRAIGHT UP G ($4.00)
March 2 - Stormy Pattern/Clapton Exacta ($50.80)