Pussycat Lips came up half a length short while in between horses in the Miesque Stakes (G3).
With the rails out at 30 feet, the turf course can only accommodate eight runners, which had Pussycat Lips on the outside looking in from the also eligible list as the ninth entrant into Friday’s featured first-level allowance for three-year-old fillies at a mile on turf. However, the late scratch of no shot Sultry Season allows the 6-to-5 morning line favorite to get in and she should be packing a late punch with Garret Gomez aboard once again.
It’s a bit of a quick turn around for Pussycat Lips having finished third less than two weeks ago as the 7-to-5 favorite coming down the hillside turf course. The Irish-bred daughter of Holy Roman Emperor began her U.S. campaign with a runner-up finish in the Miesque Stakes (Grade 3) at Hollywood Park in November after breaking the maiden last July in her second start in Ireland by over three lengths before shipping west.
Birdlover is the 5-to-2 second choice exiting the same two races as Pussycat Lips and also making her third start in the U.S. after breaking her maiden in Great Britain last October. The British-bred daughter of Byron got her nose in front of Pussycat Lips to earn the place in their last after finishing fourth in the Miesque and should be on the engine early in a heat without much early pace.
Half the field is listed at 6-to-1 and Secret Motive rates a big shot in her second off a brief layoff and with a month off since disappointing in the Blue Norther Stakes. The daughter of Macho Uno should be sitting closer early than she was in her last with new pilot Martin Garcia, who has won 8-of-18 when riding for Julio Canani over the past year.
We’re off to the races!
Late Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 5 (1,2,5,7,8) – No. 2 Belonging is sitting on a win after missing by just a head over this layout in her last.
No. 1 Special Charm and No. 5 Chestnut Moon have had plenty of chances, but are on par with the top choice and could benefit for slow early fractions.
No. 7 Farayya and No. 8 Charming Chandra are intriguing debut runners that could upset.
Leg 2 – Race 6 (3,8) – No. 3 Master Chef continues to knock hard at this level and No. 8 Macho Dorado drops out of much tougher.
Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,2,5,9) – Use the trio above of No. 2 Birdlover, No. 5 Secret Motive and No. 9 Pussycat Lips, along with No. 1 Sarach, who enters as the only runner coming off a win.
Leg 4 – Race 8 (2,5,6,9,11) – Five deep to close the card with No. 2 She’s Actceptional, No. 5 Lady Comic, No. 6 Night Teller, No. 9 Secret of Success and No. 11 Raisin’ Cain.
Recap – (1,2,5,7,8) w (3,8) w (1,2,5,9) w (2,5,6,9,11) – Total cost of ticket = $100
Yesterday’s Result – (-$120)
Total for current Santa Anita meet – (-$366.10)
Total from 12/26/10 – 12/16/12 – (-$2,090.45)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (1,3,5,6) – Four of the six three-year-olds at a mile on turf in the opener with No. 1 Dice Flavor, No. 3 Parisian Prince, No. 5 Miceli and No. 6 One Firm Cat.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (1,2,3,4) – Four more here using half of the non-winners of three lifetime, a condition we haven’t seen around her for a while, with No. 1 Twirlybird, No. 2 R Doubleday, No. 3 Hout Bay and No. 4 Shezabigbroad.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (5,6) – No. 6 Sun’s Out drops in class after having no luck last time when he was too far back and never got racing room. Garrett Gomez sticks around to make amends and a repeat of either try over this main track from last year puts him right there.
Double up with short-priced favorite and suspect class dropper No. 5 Patriot’s Voyage, who could have things his way on the front.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (6,7,10) – No. 10 Max Cooper is the fastest of this group, but this is his third race in as many weeks and the short price will be no bargain.
No. 7 Vaundell is likely the one to class landing at the bottom after finishing off the board in all three tries on dirt and No. 6 Secret Jackpot is the sentimental choice from off the pace for my partners.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,2,5) – Trim down to the experienced runners with No. 1 Special Charm, No. 2 Belonging and No. 5 Chestnut Moon.
Recap – (1,3,5,6) w (1,2,3,4) w (5,6) w (6,7,10) w (1,2,5) – Total cost of ticket = $144
Yesterday’s Result – (-$180)
Total for current Santa Anita meet – (+$2,901.45)
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.
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!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Great hit today. 8 for 8. Appears your getting into a zone! Keep up the great work.
Steve
Thanks Steve! Good luck today.
Marc I follow your picks daily. Not always playing your tickets, but read into your selections and apply a lot of confidence to your selections. You have a talent in a great sport. Your late pick 4 this day ended with Rasin Cain. 4 yo owned by a good friend of mine. I spoke with my friend and he also thought Rasin Cain was in a good spot to win. At 10-1 a great hit to end the pk4. Keep up the good work and I’ll keep watching your selections. Steve
Appreciate the kind words and congrats to your friend on making it to the winner’s circle at Santa Anita.