It's been a long time between drinks for Slammer Time, who last crossed the wire first in the 2010 Cal Cup Juvenile at Hollywood Park.
Ahead of a massive day of racing tomorrow with the Santa Anita Derby (Grade I) serving as the center piece, eight races on a Friday get us warmed up under impeccable conditions with turf milers featured in a first-level allowance with a purse of $58,000.
Although the race is for open company, six of the nine entrants are Cal-breds, one of which being 8-to-1 shot Slammer Time, who rates a big look in his second off the layoff with loads of early speed to set up his late run. The four-year-old son of Grand Slam is winless in four starts since scoring in the Cal Cup Juvenile in October of 2010, but has moved forward in the a.m. since being defeated by just over two lengths over this layout on March 3.
Circle the Moon is the 5-to-2 favorite after showing a new dimension while defeating Cal-breds at a mile on turf in his last when he tracked from third place after just getting run down on the lead in his previous two routes. That gives the four-year-old son of Cyclotron the advantage over the trio of speed types that break inside of him.
Those three pace pressers include 3-to-1 second choice Twin Six, who’s gone too fast early twice at the meet when giving up leads, and co-third choices at 7-to-2 Cat Talk, who didn’t get to the lead in his comeback race after winging early in his final four races of 2011, and Don Perico, who stretches out after blazing early in three spins down the hill.
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 5 (2,4) – Along with Best Bet No. 2 He’s a Dance Star, use No. 4 El Vino shooting to make it a perfect 3-for-3 down the hill.
Leg 2 – Race 6 (ALL) – No three-year-olds entered make this a true non-winners of two lifetime event where anything can happen.
Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,2,8) – Along with No. 2 Slammer Time and No. 8 Circle the Moon, use No. 1 Accelerant, who returns as a first-time gelding, without blinkers and with a weight break.
Leg 4 – Race 8 (3,5,6,7,9) – Spread with three-year-old Cal-bred maiden-claiming fillies using No. 3 Always a Chance, No. 5 Daze, No. 6 Natalie’s Academy, No. 7 Warren’s Mo Money and No. 9 Red Intrigue.
Recap – (2,4) w (ALL) w (1,2,8) w (3,5,6,7,9) – Total cost of ticket = $135
Yesterday’s Result – (-$96)
Total for current Santa Anita winter/spring meet – (-$2,244)
Total from 12/26/10-12/18/11 – (+$3,512.05)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (1,2,5) – No. 1 All On The Table drops in class and could be lone speed, but she can’t be completely trusted as her wins have come at Fairplex and Turf Paradise, so we add No. 2 Mayakoba Mesa and No. 5 Moonstruck Maya.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (2,6,7) – No. 6 She’s Very Rare drops in her second off the layoff for a barn that does well first off the claim and retains Rafael Bejarano coming from off the pace.
No. 2 Lisa Lulu could sit a good trip just off the speed and No. 7 Winter Blossom is the x-factor returning from a long layoff with a nice record for smoking hot Josh Litt.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,6,7) – The top pick is a bit of a price with No. 7 Bellini Bliss, who always runs well fresh and could be tough on the front end.
No. 2 Last Sting won her only try at the distance and No. 6 Charm the Crowd looks for her third straight win.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,3,5,7) – Older bottom-level maiden-claiming females routing always means a horrible race and this is no different as we use the four top choices in No. 1 Dani’s Sis, No. 3 Missie Ky I You, No. 5 Swiss Charm and No. 7 Random Luck.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,4) – Same pair as the late Pick-4.
Recap – (1,2,5) w (2,6,7) w (2,6,7) w (1,3,5,7) w (2,4) – Total cost of ticket = $108
Yesterday’s Result – (-$126)
Total for current Santa Anita winter/spring meet – (-$2,439.65)
Total from 7/20/10-12/18/11 (+$1,513.90)
Best Bet of the Day (ROI based off $2 WPS bet)
Race 5 – #2 He’s a Dance Star (6/1 ML) – He’s finished in the money in 9-of-10 career starts, including all three times down the hill, and with the scratch of No. 1 Mr. Bossy Pants should get things all his own way on the front end with Garrett Gomez back aboard. We won’t get 6-to-1 after scratches, but half of that still offers good value.
Yesterday’s Result – Off the board with Triveni (-$6.00)
Total for current Santa Anita winter/spring meet – (-$130.80)
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Good luck!
