Travesura is the fourth choice on the morning line in today's $75,000 Blue Norther despite her win in the Miesque Stakes (G3).
After a blogging break on New Year’s Eve to cover the debacle that is USC football, we’re back looking to roll the hot start to the meet into 2013. Newly turned three-year-old fillies hit the turf over a mile in the featured $75,000 Bluer Norther and the late double at Golden Gate is of particular interest personally with both Egyptian Femme and Victoriously Jewel entered.
Looking for her third straight win since moving to the turf, Travesura is the 9-to-2 fourth choice on the morning line despite being the only stakes winner in the field. The Limehouse filly led every step of the way in the Miesque Stakes (Grade 3) at Hollywood Park on November 24 and breaking from the outside post will have to utilize that early speed again to avoid being hung wide into the clubhouse turn.
Off clear wins at Woodbine and Churchill Downs, Sky High Gal ships west to the barn of John Sadler for her stakes debut as the 7-to-2 co-third choice. The daughter of turf kingpin Leroidesanimaux has been able to track just off the leaders before decimating her rivals with ease in both wins by a combined 5 ¼-lengths.
The third and final multiple winner of the group is Heir Kitty, who stretches out for the first time after five sprints. Also listed at 7-to-2, the Wildcat Heir filly returns to the turf for the first time since breaking her maiden at Hollywood Park in July.
Making her turf debut, Scarlet Strike is the 3-to-1 second choice off a pair of third-place finishes over the main track at Hollywood Park including a three-length defeat in the Hollywood Starlet (G1). Never off the board in six starts, the Smart Strike filly adds blinkers for the first time and shows a pair of sizzling four furlong a.m. spins since her last.
We’re off to the races!
Late Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 6 (1,2,4,5,6,11) – With a trio of speeds scratching, No. 2 Chasing the Heat could find herself alone on the lead stretching out, but no works since last raced for a low-percentage trainer means we spread with No. 1 Lite That Baby Up, No. 4 Warren’s Rail Bird, No. 5 Ride Along, No. 6 Winds of Dubai and No. 11 Pride of Silver.
Leg 2 – Race 7 (1,2,5) – Use the pair of debuters from Jerry Hollendrofer with No. 1 Wild Excess and No. 5 Hidethegoodstuff, along with No. 2 Sophie’s Secret having by far the best form of those raced and looking to make amends for being beaten chalk in her last three.
Leg 3 – Race 8 (1,2,7,10,11) – Along with No. 1 Heir Kitty, No. 2 Scarlet Strike, No. 10 Sky High Gal and No. 11 Travesura discussed above, use stretch out speed with No. 7 Escape Act.
Leg 4 – Race 9 (4,6,12,13,14) – Close the extended holiday racing schedule with five more bottom-level maiden claimers using No. 4 She’s Actceptional, No. 6 Warren’s Gussies, No. 12 Holiday Rose, No. 13 Sugar Spice and No. 14 Racy Rosa.
Recap – (1,2,4,5,6,11) w (1,2,5) w (1,2,7,10,11) w (4,6,12,13,14) – Total cost of ticket = $225
Sunday’s Result – (+$149.95)
Total for current Santa Anita meet – (+$596.05)
Total from 12/26/10 – 12/16/12 – (-$2,090.45)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (2,3,4,5,8) – Five no longer juveniles in this maiden claimer to start the day with No. 2 I Don’t Care Who, No. 3 Shackbamalama, No. 4 Run Away With Me, No. 5 Star Destiny and No. 8 Tenango.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (1,5,6) – No. 1 Joe Carl looks to have the perfect set up with plenty of speed to set him up to roll late, but his work tab is a tad sketchy so we’ll use No. 5 Unexpected Gift and No. 6 Anabaa Premium as well.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,4,9) – Seems chalky here with Cal-bred maiden claimers using No. 2 Alydidit, No. 4 Through My Eyes and No. 9 Judge Carr.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (3,4,5,9) – If No. 9 Van Brit is on her game the supreme win machine gets the money again, but she was scratched out of a race nearly two months ago and could get hung wide breaking from the outside so we’ll try to beat her with No. 3 Bonita Star, No. 4 Elegant and No. 5 Cosset.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,8,9) – No. 8 Warren’s Samantha has run best on dirt throughout her career, but was able to win on synthetic in her last. Now back on dirt, she can make it two straight over the surface she broke her maiden on a year ago.
Add likely favorite No. 9 Rossi Reserve finally landing at the bottom of the claiming ranks and No. 2 Memo to Kathy from the sharp barn of Bill Spawr.
Recap – (2,3,4,5,8) w (1,5,6) w (2,4,9) w (3,4,5,9) w (2,8,9) – Total cost of ticket = $270
Sunday’s Result – (-$192)
Total for current Santa Anita meet – (+$4,513.35)
Total from 7/20/11 – 12/16/12 – (+$13,891.70)
Best Bet of the Day – Can now be found in the Pros Picks section at www.santaanita.com.
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Good luck!