Sunday's Best Bet: Planetario runs long in San Juan Capistrano
Sunday’s fifth race at Santa Anita Park is the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes for 3-year-olds and up traveling 1 3/4 miles on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 5:00 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.
No. 5 Planetario (3-1) showed nice late interest in a runner-up finish in the San Luis Rey (G3) on May 13, and that was his first start since June 2022. This was the target all along and Hector Berrios knows him now, and he might be able to turn the tables on No. 1 Offlee Naughty (4-5). The latter is a logical win contender after winning the San Luis Rey and going last-to-first in his 11-1 upset in the Charles Whittingham (G2). He is on top of his game and deserves the utmost respect under Umberto Rispoli.
No. 4 Opry (3-1) was my top choice in the San Luis Rey, and he opened up a large lead under Mike Smith and weakened to finish fourth. He removes blinkers and Edwin Maldonado hops aboard, and he figures to set the pace in this marathon event. The former claimer fired trifecta shots in seven straight prior to his last. He completed the trifecta in the San Marcos and Charles Whittingham, and he was in the hunt throughout in those similar races. He needs to relax on the lead if he expects to handle the 1 3/4 miles trip.
No. 2 Duvet Day (5-1) is a filly taking on the boys. She started 2023 with a stakes win in the Astra Stakes and followed that up with a third in the Santa Ana (G3) and a runner-up finish in the Santa Barbara (G3).
Get Jarrod’s closing day Santa Anita analysis.
Wagers
No. 5 to win
Exacta 2-4-5/1
Superfecta 1-5/1-5/2-4/2-4
Recent Best Bet winners
June 3 - Kalik ($7.90), trifecta ($41.80)
June 6 - Uncle Ernie ($4.60), exacta ($12.60), trifecta ($46.60)
Monday - Cabra Chica ($6.80), exacta ($13.60)
Friday - Clearly Unhinged/Pleasant exacta ($19.20), trifecta ($65.60)