March 2008 Archives

Well, the best-laid plans of mice and men. Our three best long shots of the day Saturday -- Hot Grip, America's Starlett and I'll Prey for You -- all ran out, but I'll Prey for You was right there for second at 18-1 before having to settle for a close fourth. The thing is, when you play long shots, all you must do is hit a very low percentage and you make money. Imagine how long a horse like Peace Pledge (81-1) can keep you going.

Heading out to The Great Race Place today, on what appears to be a gorgeous day? Well, I happen to believe Santa Anita is offering a better deal today than any savings rate you're gonna get at Bank of America ... yeah, a little more risky, but hey ... why not take a few risks in this lifetime? And a word to the wise -- never wager what you can't afford to lose because no matter what you hear from anyone who gives you a tip, there are four or five other people giving out tips on different horses in the same race.

It seems like we just started this winter-spring meet at Santa Anita, but with the start of the race week today, there are only seven more weeks to go. It's not the greatest of cards today, but one that offers a few plays that could turn out handsomely. Take the fifth race, with Ymustichasethecat, who is going up a notch in class but comes in off a third-place effort in which he closed ground in the stretch. The 4-year-old gelding, trained by Peter Eurton, retains the services of Chantal Sutherland, who got to know him in his last start. Ymustichasethecat is 10-1 on the morning line and is worth an across-the-board wager at those odds. I like a horse that just ran well and is being stepped up in class. It's a sign that the connections think the horse is sharp and ready to win.

It seems like we just started this winter-spring meet at Santa Anita, but with the start of the race week today, there are only seven more weeks to go. It's not the greatest of cards today, but one that offers a few plays that could turn out handsomely. Take the fifth race, with Ymustichasethecat, who is going up a notch in class but comes in off a third-place effort in which he closed ground in the stretch. The 4-year-old gelding, trained by Peter Eurton, retains the services of Chantal Sutherland, who got to know him in his last start. Ymustichasethecat is 10-1 on the morning line and is worth an across-the-board wager at those odds. I like a horse that just ran well and is being stepped up in class. It's a sign that the connections think the horse is sharp and ready to win.

Track management has not done a good job of getting the word out about whether they're racing Wednesdays or not. I mean, you're going to get small turnouts on days when people aren't sure if you're racing.

Heatseeker was a deserving winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, sitting fourth much of the way and then holding off a late-charging Go Between in the final eighth of a mile. And what a perfect ride by Rafael Bejarano, who I believe is going to become a fixture on this circuit for many years to come.
A few other observations about the 71st running of the Big 'Cap:

You could do a lot worse than to play 2007 Santa Anita Derby winner Tiago in today's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap. The half-brother to 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo is coming up to the race perfectly for trainer John Shirreffs, who didn't have the 4-year-old Pleasant Tap colt fully cranked for the San Fernando or San Antonio but has a horse today who is sitting on a win.