At the Gate - Saturday
By Mike Dempsey
It’s January and things are usually quiet this month in horse racing, but we have a pretty exciting day on tap on Saturday that includes the return of 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome.
The Art Sherman trainee has been on the sidelines since running second in the Dubai World Cup (G1) last March. Minor injuries knocked him out of a race at Royal Ascot, then the Arlington Million (G1) and then he missed out on the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) which would have been quite a showdown with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
The “Chromies” have not has much to get excited about as the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner took a backseat to American Pharoah. However, with the Triple Crown winner headed to the breeding shed, California Chrome has the chance of regaining the spotlight in the handicap division.
It starts in today’s $200,000 San Pasqual (G2) at Santa Anita. The race will be his first since last march and will serve as a prep for a return to Dubai. The ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The colt has been working sharply in the mornings and looks like it is all systems go. However, he is 4-5 on the morning line and looks like an underlay.
He faces a couple of Grade 1 winners in Hoppertunity and Hard Aces, and either look capable of beating the champ with their best.
Hoppertunity tends to land for minor shares, having not won since taking last year’s San Pasqual. But he seldom runs a bad race and was a solid second in the Clark Handicap (G1) in his last start, a race he won in 2014.
Hard Aces won the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) in June, but has lost three in a row, checking in sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in his last outing.
In addition to the San Pasqual a field of nine go to the post with Derby points on the line in the $100,000 Sham (G3). Three of the nine are coming off turf, making it a tricky race.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) runner up La Verdad is in action today, the even money favorite in the $100,000 Interborough at Aqueduct.
We have a trio of good stakes at Gulfstream Park as well. The $150,00 Marshua’s River (G3) gets things kicked off. Also on the card are the $150,000 Hal’s Hope (G3) which serves as a prep for the Donn Handicap (G1) later in the meeting, and a field of 11 go in the $200,000 Ft. Lauderdale (G2) on turf.
Here is today’s opener from Gulfstream Park to get the day off to a good start:
GP Race 1 Clm $16,000 (12:05 ET)
#1 Scoria 10-1
#5 Concert Stage 5-1
#4 Forall the Marbles 4-1
#3 Powerful Instinct 3-1
Analysis: Scoria was outrun in the early going and made a mild late run to finish sixth last out at this level, beaten 2 1/2 lengths for the top spot. The winner was Lighthouse Sound, who came back to beat $16,000 foes at Tampa Bay Downs in his next start on Dec. 30. He makes his third start of his current form cycle for the Cibelli barn that got off to a slow start at the meeting but picked up another win on yesterday's card.
Concert Stage faded to finish seventh last out against $16,000 starter optional claimers going a mile here. He owns back numbers good enough to win here and last October was beaten just a neck here versus Alw-1 foes. He is an 11-time winner on turf and looks like a good fit at this level.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,3,4,5
TRI: 1,5 / 1,3,4,5 / 1,3,4,5,12
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
GP Race 10 The Ft. Lauderdale G2 (4:35 ET)
#1 Lochte 3-1
#8 Takeover Target 5-1
#11 Heart to Heart 6-1
#7 War Correspondent 4-1
Analysis: Lochte coming in here having won his last three starts, taking the Tropical Turf 'Cap (G3) last out at Gulfstream Park West. The gelding has won five of his nine trips over the turf here Three straight triple digit Beyers and Castellano takes the call for the Vitali barn. He looks very imposing in this spot.
Takeover Target won the Hill Prince (G3) last out over soft footing and won the Hall of Fame (G2) two back at the Spa. The Chad Brown trainee has won four of his seven career starts and now returns off a three-month break. The barn is 29% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a +90-day layoff.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,8 / 1,7,8,11
TRI: 1,8 / 1,7,8,11 / 1,6,7,8,11
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Santa Anita:
SA Race 8 The San Pasqual G2 (4:00 PT)
#5 Hoppertunity 5-2
#4 California Chrome 4-5
#6 Hard Aces 8-1
#8 Imperative 6-1
Analysis: Hoppertunity has lost eight in a row since taking this race last year, but seldom runs bad and is coming off a solid runner up finish in the Clark 'Cap (G1) at Churchill Downs in his last outing behind Effinex, who showed his runner up finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) may not have been a fluke. The Baffert trainee has the recency edge over California Chrome who is coming back off some minor injuries and a long layoff. The five-year-old has landed in the exacta in 6 of 8 trips over the main track here.
California Chrome makes his much anticipated return, his first start since a runner up finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1), which is his next target this year. His works have been solid and he runs well here, taking the Santa Anita Derby (G1) last year. Just tough to take less than even money facing some pretty tough runners in here.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 4,5,6,8
TRI: 4,5 / 4,5,6,8 / 3,4,5,6,8
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Aqueduct
R2: #1 Mello Groove 12-1
R3: #3 Willet 12-1
R4: #8 Madame Maybry 12-1
R4: #7 Chasin Outlaws 10-1
R6: #11 Caelifera 15-1
R7: #2 Midnight Trace 12-1
R8: #10 Altar Boy 8-1
R9: #5 Lotsa Heat 15-1
Good luck today!
By Mike Dempsey
It’s January and things are usually quiet this month in horse racing, but we have a pretty exciting day on tap on Saturday that includes the return of 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome.
The Art Sherman trainee has been on the sidelines since running second in the Dubai World Cup (G1) last March. Minor injuries knocked him out of a race at Royal Ascot, then the Arlington Million (G1) and then he missed out on the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) which would have been quite a showdown with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
The “Chromies” have not has much to get excited about as the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner took a backseat to American Pharoah. However, with the Triple Crown winner headed to the breeding shed, California Chrome has the chance of regaining the spotlight in the handicap division.
It starts in today’s $200,000 San Pasqual (G2) at Santa Anita. The race will be his first since last march and will serve as a prep for a return to Dubai. The ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The colt has been working sharply in the mornings and looks like it is all systems go. However, he is 4-5 on the morning line and looks like an underlay.
He faces a couple of Grade 1 winners in Hoppertunity and Hard Aces, and either look capable of beating the champ with their best.
Hoppertunity tends to land for minor shares, having not won since taking last year’s San Pasqual. But he seldom runs a bad race and was a solid second in the Clark Handicap (G1) in his last start, a race he won in 2014.
Hard Aces won the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) in June, but has lost three in a row, checking in sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in his last outing.
In addition to the San Pasqual a field of nine go to the post with Derby points on the line in the $100,000 Sham (G3). Three of the nine are coming off turf, making it a tricky race.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) runner up La Verdad is in action today, the even money favorite in the $100,000 Interborough at Aqueduct.
We have a trio of good stakes at Gulfstream Park as well. The $150,00 Marshua’s River (G3) gets things kicked off. Also on the card are the $150,000 Hal’s Hope (G3) which serves as a prep for the Donn Handicap (G1) later in the meeting, and a field of 11 go in the $200,000 Ft. Lauderdale (G2) on turf.
Here is today’s opener from Gulfstream Park to get the day off to a good start:
GP Race 1 Clm $16,000 (12:05 ET)
#1 Scoria 10-1
#5 Concert Stage 5-1
#4 Forall the Marbles 4-1
#3 Powerful Instinct 3-1
Analysis: Scoria was outrun in the early going and made a mild late run to finish sixth last out at this level, beaten 2 1/2 lengths for the top spot. The winner was Lighthouse Sound, who came back to beat $16,000 foes at Tampa Bay Downs in his next start on Dec. 30. He makes his third start of his current form cycle for the Cibelli barn that got off to a slow start at the meeting but picked up another win on yesterday's card.
Concert Stage faded to finish seventh last out against $16,000 starter optional claimers going a mile here. He owns back numbers good enough to win here and last October was beaten just a neck here versus Alw-1 foes. He is an 11-time winner on turf and looks like a good fit at this level.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,3,4,5
TRI: 1,5 / 1,3,4,5 / 1,3,4,5,12
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
GP Race 10 The Ft. Lauderdale G2 (4:35 ET)
#1 Lochte 3-1
#8 Takeover Target 5-1
#11 Heart to Heart 6-1
#7 War Correspondent 4-1
Analysis: Lochte coming in here having won his last three starts, taking the Tropical Turf 'Cap (G3) last out at Gulfstream Park West. The gelding has won five of his nine trips over the turf here Three straight triple digit Beyers and Castellano takes the call for the Vitali barn. He looks very imposing in this spot.
Takeover Target won the Hill Prince (G3) last out over soft footing and won the Hall of Fame (G2) two back at the Spa. The Chad Brown trainee has won four of his seven career starts and now returns off a three-month break. The barn is 29% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a +90-day layoff.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,8 / 1,7,8,11
TRI: 1,8 / 1,7,8,11 / 1,6,7,8,11
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Santa Anita:
SA Race 8 The San Pasqual G2 (4:00 PT)
#5 Hoppertunity 5-2
#4 California Chrome 4-5
#6 Hard Aces 8-1
#8 Imperative 6-1
Analysis: Hoppertunity has lost eight in a row since taking this race last year, but seldom runs bad and is coming off a solid runner up finish in the Clark 'Cap (G1) at Churchill Downs in his last outing behind Effinex, who showed his runner up finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) may not have been a fluke. The Baffert trainee has the recency edge over California Chrome who is coming back off some minor injuries and a long layoff. The five-year-old has landed in the exacta in 6 of 8 trips over the main track here.
California Chrome makes his much anticipated return, his first start since a runner up finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1), which is his next target this year. His works have been solid and he runs well here, taking the Santa Anita Derby (G1) last year. Just tough to take less than even money facing some pretty tough runners in here.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 4,5,6,8
TRI: 4,5 / 4,5,6,8 / 3,4,5,6,8
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Aqueduct
R2: #1 Mello Groove 12-1
R3: #3 Willet 12-1
R4: #8 Madame Maybry 12-1
R4: #7 Chasin Outlaws 10-1
R6: #11 Caelifera 15-1
R7: #2 Midnight Trace 12-1
R8: #10 Altar Boy 8-1
R9: #5 Lotsa Heat 15-1
Good luck today!
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