Ryehill Dreamer gets his nose down in front of Sidney's Candy to win last year's American Handicap (G2).
It’s fitting that on the eve of Breeders’ Cup week turf milers go in the $65,000 Lure, named after the two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile (Grade I) champion from the early 1990’s.
Ryehill Dreamer returns as the 6-to-5 favorite after last being seen nearly a year and a half ago reeling off three straight triple-digit Beyer performances culminating with a win in the American Handicap (GII) at Hollywood Park. When he made his first start for Julio Canani in 2010, the now 6-year-old Irish-bred son of Catcher In The Rye crushed to a 3 ¼-length win off an even longer layoff than he returns from today.
Making his third start off a year-long layoff, Red Sun is the 8-to-5 second choice looking to rebound from the first off the board finish of his career after running ninth in the Eddie D Stakes (GIII) a month ago. The six-year-old son of Redattore had previously never been beaten by more than 1 ½-lengths before his apparent no excuse five-length defeat in the Eddie D, but did return with a pair of typical solid a.m. drills since.
The scratch of Polytechnicien leaves us with just a field of five and Temple’s Door inherits the role as third choice off a seventh-place finish in the John Henry Turf Championship (GII) on September 30. The four-year-old Leroidesanimaux colt cuts back to a mile for the first time in 2012 hoping his fourth try in a stakes results in his first stakes win.
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 6 (2,3,6,8,10) – After yesterday’s sequence was loaded with full, competitive fields we get a much lighter group of races today, but not in the opening leg where Cal-bred maiden allowance runners go a mile on turf and we spread with No. 2 Ashley’s Bambino, No. 3 Jules Journey, No. 6 Jolly Joseph, No. 8 Troy Story and No. 10 Mavenofwinterset.
Leg 2 – Race 7 (1,5,6) – We’re extremely fond of No. 6 Maker Or Breaker after her debut maiden win at Del mar this summer brought us a nice pay day and she’s the one to beat in this short field of six after just missing in her first against winners.
No. 1 Golden Production stretches out off a clear maiden win over this track and No. 5 Bwana Babe wheels back in a week off the worst race of her career with the potential to be lone speed.
Leg 3 – Race 8 (1,2,5) – Use the trio discussed above with No. 1 Red Sun, No. 2 Ryehill Dreamer and No. 5 Temple’s Door.
Leg 4 – Race 9 (2,3,5,7,8,10,12) – No. 2 Generally Ours makes his third start of the form cycle after a solid third-place finish in his first try over this track on October 7. He’s improved with each start and further improvement today gets the money.
Spread with No. 3Alsace, No. 5 Bay Gambler, No. 7 Flew Flicker, No. 8 Taylor’s Journey, No. 10 Harlington Night and No. 12 Majestic Patron.
Recap – (2,3,6,8,10) w (1,5,6) w (1,2,5) w (2,3,5,7,8,10,12) – Total cost of ticket = $157.50
Yesterday’s Result – (-$150)
Total for current Santa Anita meet – (+$865.50)
Total from 12/26/10 – 9/5/12 – (-$2,966.60)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (2,3,4) – It’s probably as easy as using both Bob Baffert runners with No. 2 Fiftyshadesofhay and No. 4 Blonde Fog, but we’ll add No. 3 Bas, who could make the lead with the addition of blinkers.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (1,3,4) – Our single of No. 2 Don Tito is a late scratch, so we’ll use both Bruce Headley’s with No. 1 Octane and No. 4 Cyclometer, along with No. 3 So Brilliant for Baffert.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (3,5,6) – The third trio to begin the sequence with logical contenders No. 3 Achak, No. 5 Coluda and No. 6 Tiz Liberty.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,2,4,5,6) – The most competitive race of the sequence and we spread with No. 1 Michael the Man, No. 2 Hurricane Lake, No. 4 Why Not Be Perfect, No. 5 Maybe Tuesday and No. 6 So Elite.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (4,5) – No. 5 Miss Sweet Afleet towers on paper and with the drop in class, but it’s curious to see the ice-cold Victor Espinoza get the call from Doug O’Neill as the pair don’t do a lot of business together. Maybe O’Neill is throwing him a bone with a big favorite to help get him going.
No. 4 Big Variety is the only maiden special weight dropper.
Recap – (2,3,4) w (1,3,4) w (3,5,6) w (1,2,4,5,6) w (4,5) – Total cost of ticket = $135
Yesterday’s Result – (-$216)
Total for current Santa Anita meet – (+$397.10)
Total from 7/20/11 – 9/5/12 – (+$17,380.65)
Best Bet of the Day – Can now be found in the free analysis section at www.theracingedition.com along with an early Pick-4 ticket and a consensus box for the entire card.
Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches and much more!
Check out my blogs for America’s Best Racing on www.followhorseracing.com!
Listen to my weekly HD Los Angeles sports podcast!
To view my horse racing channel on YouTube click here!
For more Santa Anita action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.
Good luck!
