Santa Anita plays: Awesome Again tops a blockbuster card

Breeders’ Cup prep season rolls on at Santa Anita Park with five graded stakes races on Saturday. This post will focus on three of those races, including the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, Grade 1, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes and Grade 1, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes with Medina Spirit.

                    Click here for Santa Anita Entries, Results.

Why focus on just three of the five races? Some races do not look appealing to bet, even if they are graded stakes races.

Here are thoughts and selections for the three races listed above.

Santa Anita Race 8: Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2)

On paper, there is no other speed in this race besides Vertical Threat.

The question is whether bettors can trust Vertical Threat. In the Russel Road Stakes at Charles Town, he led the field the entire way and drew clear to win by 3 ½ lengths while earning a 119 TimeformUS Speed Figure in the process. If he repeats that same speed figure, he will probably win against this field assuming he secures the lead.

To add some caution though, Charles Town form does not always translate to other tracks because of its bullring configuration. Yet, Vertical Threat does show wins from last year at Los Alamitos, Del Mar and Mountaineer. He does not need a bullring to win. 

As for Vertical Threat’s clunker in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) in July, perhaps he needed the race off the 250-day layoff. He ran eighth and last while losing by 21 lengths to Dr. Schivel, whose last two TimeformUS Speed Figures are 111 and 113. Vertical Threat is not as bad as that effort shows. 

If the price remains reasonable, Vertical Threat is the choice.

For those playing an exacta, think about putting Flagstaff in the second slot. This year alone, the 7-year-old gelding shows a 6-2-1-2 record.

In his most recent start, Flagstaff made a mild move for third in the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2). Two starts ago, he ran second in the True North Stakes (G2) at Belmont. Three starts ago, Flagstaff also won the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1). He is not fast, but he is always in the mix.

Top selection: No. 2 Vertical Threat

Use in second: No. 5 Flagstaff

Suggested plays

Win: 2

Exacta: 2 / 5

Pick 3: 2 / 4,7,8 / 3,4,7

Santa Anita Race 9: Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1)

Turf fillies and mares are not that strong in California for the most part.

With that in mind, Magic Attitude ships in from the east for trainer Arnaud Delacour. While her last two efforts resulted in off-the-board finishes in the Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and New York Stakes (G2) at Belmont, she might rebound.

Three starts ago, Magic Attitude won the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G3) at Belmont by three lengths. If she repeats that effort, she can win.

Out of the local runners, Going to Vegas looks best.

In her most recent start, Going to Vegas won the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita by 2 ¼ lengths. Two starts back, she also won an optional claiming race at the same course by 3 ½ lengths. Those are significant margins on turf.

The 1 ¼-mile distance is no problem either. In March, Going to Vegas took the Santa Ana Stakes (G2) by 3 ¾ lengths.

Also consider Luck, who won her North America debut at Del Mar by 2 ½ lengths in an optional claiming race. Her 108 TimeformUS Speed Figure looks kind of slow, but turf speed figures are hard to use as a reliable handicapping tool in general.  

Jockey Flavien Prat takes the call on Luck for trainer Richard Baltas. Prat’s presence alone might be enough reason to include this filly in multi-race wagers.

Top selection: No. 7 Magic Attitude (5-1)

Contender: No. 4 Going to Vegas (5/2), No. 8 Luck (3-1)

Santa Anita Race 10: Awesome Again Stakes (G1)

Tripoli has found new life on dirt with two wins in three starts.

In his two most recent starts, he ran second by half a length in the San Diego Handicap (G2) to Express Train and won the Pacific Classic (G1) by 1 ¼ lengths. The Pacific Classic win resulted in a 122 TimeformUS Speed Figure.

Value-wise, the attractive part about Tripoli is that his odds will stay around 3-1 because of Medina Spirit eating most of the money. Tripoli’s slight drop in odds from 6-1 in the Pacific Classic to 3-1 on the morning line is fair considering he won, but he will not fall below Medina Spirit.

Tripoli is capable of showing tactical speed too. Although Medina Spirit is a threat to wire the field, there are other horses that might directly pressure the expected pacesetter such as Tizamagician and Midcourt. If Midcourt runs, it is notable he has the same trainer and owner as Express Train, which gives the impression that Midcourt is a rabbit.

Expect another top effort from Tripoli from just off the pace. He owns the right ability, as shown by his Pacific Classic win, while the betting crowd only respects him mildly at this point.

Also consider Express Train, who should appreciate the cutback.

Even though Express Train’s pedigree indicates he is supposed to enjoy 1 ¼ miles, three of his four losses this year came at the 1 ¼-mile distance. In fairness to his sixth-place finish in the Pacific Classic though, running behind horses in midpack possibly discouraged him from running his best. He could rebound with a clear trip.

For a longshot, Stilleto Boy is another good option.

In the one-mile Shared Belief Stakes, he only lost by 3 ½ lengths to Medina Spirit. On the stretchout to nine furlongs, there is a chance Stilleto Boy moves forward. Notice that his two wins came at one mile and one-sixteenth, the longest distance he has tried.

Stilleto Boy is also a better horse when his early speed is utilized.

Top selection: No. 7 Tripoli (3-1)

Contender: No. 3 Express Train (4-1)

Live longshot: No. 4 Stilleto Boy (20-1)