Silentio was full of himself after winning the final race of the 2012 Del Mar meet.
Perfect through a pair of starts spanning an 11-month period to start his career, Silentio is the 4-to-1 third choice in Friday’s featured second-level $62,500 allowance optional claiming event that stays over 1 1/8-miles on the turf despite the two other races carded for the lawn being moved to the main track. That decimates what would have been an attractive pair of races with lots of scratches making the card lose much of its appeal.
Silentio has tracked in both wins with Garrett Gomez aboard and should be in similar position stretching out an additional furlong with two other runners intent on the lead. The 3-year-old Silent Name colt can use another solid effort today to spring board himself into the $250,000 Hollywood Derby (Grade I) at Hollywood Park on November 25.
Also in tracking mode will be 5-to-2 favorite Causeithertz, who has taken his game to the next level since moving to Bob Baffert’s barn this year. After following up his long overdue maiden score with a first-level allowance win, the regally bred 5-year-old gelded son of Giant’s Causeway missed twice by less than a length at this level over the summer at Del Mar.
Maybe Tuesday’s rapid ascent up the class ladder has earned him a return to the big leagues with a perfect record in four tries on turf at Golden Gate Fields. The 4-year-old gelded son of Tizbud began his career with a trio of defeats in bottom-level maiden claiming company over Santa Anita’s main track before breaking his maiden for $8,000 up north and is listed at 6-to-1.
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 5 (3,6) – From an attractive betting race down the hill, to a short field on the main track where No. 3 Drift King and No. 6 Classic Bobby can be forwardly placed as the best runners in the group.
Leg 2 – Race 6 (1,2,5,9) – One of the few times we don’t like the Baffert’s and the morning line seems off to us in this heat so we’ll look to play this race individually as well using No. 1 Plenny of Henny, No. 2 Bling Cha Bling, No. 5 Yes It’s Snowing and No. 9 Valentine Boy.
Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,2,3,9) – No. 2 Causeithertz and No. 3 Silentio are the likeliest winners, but we’ll add No. 1 Gab Power and No. 9 Maybe Tuesday since we’ve gone real light in other heats.
Leg 4 – Race 8 (6) – The same owners drop both here with No. 6 Generations and in race two as a liquidation strategy appears to be the case due to their divorce.
Recap – (3,6) w (1,2,5,9) w (1,2,3,9) w (6) – Total cost of ticket = $16
Yesterday’s Result – (+$509.15)
Total for current Santa Anita meet – (-$311.70)
Total from 12/26/10 – 9/5/12 – (-$2,966.60)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – The only runner entering off a win is No. 1 Zees Chris and she’ll likely be the longest shot in the field so we’ll punch the all button.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (4) – We’ve had success recently narrowing in on short prices, so we’ll try again with No. 4 Sacred Ovation making his second career start after battling on the lead before being defeated by less than a length at Del Mar. The winner of that race came back to win a stakes impressively and this is a rather modest field in for the big $100,000 claiming tag.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (4) – With all the scratches, No. 4 Tornado Allie should inherit an easy early lead and wire this bunch in similar fashion as a pair of races were won yesterday on the main track.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (2,4,8,9) – A bad bunch of maidens travelling an abbreviated distance where anything can happen, but we settle with No. 2 Green Team, No. 4 Turn On the Brites, No. 8 Chicsdigtheshark and No. 9 Dr. Nip.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (3,6) – Same pair as in the late Pick-4.
Recap – (ALL) w (2) w (4) w (2,4,8,9) w (3,6) – Total cost of ticket = $20
Yesterday’s Result – (+$694.25)
Total for current Santa Anita meet – (+$693.75)
Total from 7/20/11 – 9/5/12 – (+$17,380.65)
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Good luck!
