Blingo gets back to what's likely his preferred surface in today's $75,000 La Puente Stakes over 1 1/8-miles on turf.
It’s a mix between Clipper play-by-play voice Ralph Lawler celebrating a three-point bucket and The Price is Right host Bob Barker introducing another game of Plinko as Blingo returns to the lawn as the 4-to-5 favorite in today’s $75,000 La Puente Stakes for three-year-olds at 1 1/8-miles.
After inhaling the real estate of the Hollywood Park turf course to win his debut last November by 2 ¼-lengths, Blingo disappointed in a pair of main track tries, finishing sixth both times against top local three-year-olds in graded stakes. With the hopes of repeating their Kentucky Derby glory with Giacomo now in the rear-view mirror, the connections can focus on a turf campaign for this son of Artie Schiller.
The one to catch is 5-to-2 second choice Tiz Point, who faded badly in the San Felipe (Grade II) in his try to get on the Triple Crown trail after holding on nicely to win a first-level allowance over this turf course on Feb. 18. By Tiznow, he’s bred to handle the additional distance and will no doubt be well clear of the other four runners early.
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 5 (1,2,3,4,5) – We’ll go with the four runners that have experience at this marathon distance using No. 1 Falcon Rock, No. 2 Erbeia, No. 3 Antidote and No. 5 Quaintly, along with No. 4 Lumberyard Jack, who draws better today and looks to win for the second time in his third start off a layoff.
Leg 2 – Race 6 (1,5,8,9) – With the scratch of No. 3 Cardiff Giant, we’re left with No. 1 Final Journey, No. 5 Clear to Canada, No. 8 Brady Blue Eyes and No. 9 Devoted Magic.
Leg 3 – Race 7 (2,3) – No. 3 Tiz Point gets every chance to wire the field with No. 2 Blingo the likeliest to run him down.
Leg 4 – Race 8 (4,5,6,7,8,9) – Six-deep in the finale with No. 4 Rich in Tradition, No. 5 Ramona’s Ride, No. 6 Warren’s Assassin, No. 7 Tornado Allie, No. 8 Demonsterous and No. 9 Heartless Honey.
Recap – (1,2,3,4,5) w (1,5,8,9) w (2,3) w (4,5,6,7,8,9) – Total cost of ticket = $120
Yesterday’s Result – (-$144)
Total for current Santa Anita winter/spring meet – (-$2,916.60)
Total from 12/26/10-12/18/11 – (+$3,512.05)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – Off his last, No. 1 World Renowned is a deserved favorite, but that was over the slop so we’ll dig for value on another bad card in this short field by using all four runners.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (ALL) – The double ALL button resulted in no prices yesterday, but we’ll try again today with five more runners here.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (4) – Single Best Bet No. 4 Reach a Decision looking for consecutive wire-to-wire scores facing weaker than he did last time.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,3,4) – Even with bad runners we only get a field of six and we’ll use half of them with No. 1 Game Charmer, No. 3 Miracle Merger and No. 4 Itsphun.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,2,3,4,5) – Same five as the late Pick4.
Recap – (ALL) w (ALL) w (4) w (1,3,4) w (1,2,3,4,5) – Total cost of ticket = $150
Yesterday’s Result – (-$70.20)
Total for current Santa Anita winter/spring meet – (-$1,432.25)
Total from 7/20/10-12/18/11 (+$1,513.90)
Best Bet of the Day (ROI based off $2 WPS bet)
Race 3 – #4 Reach a Decision (2/1 ML) – He should be able to clear again and set moderate fractions with only No. 5 Best Verse having the potential to ruin that scenario. Either way, he faces much weaker today than he did last time and has been given plenty of time to bounce back from that career best performance.
Yesterday’s Result – Off the board with Off the Wall (-$6.00)
Total for current Santa Anita winter/spring meet – (-$135.50)
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Good luck!
