Santa Anita Park: Private Mission Returns, Santa Maria Analysis

Santa Anita Park will see the return of Private Mission on Saturday. The 4 year old filly will take on older horses in the main event on the card.

Big Fields

Many horseplayers have criticized west coast racing of late because of their inability to fill races. It is not uncommon to see races go off with just four or five entries. Saturday's card is robust with runners by comparison.

Three races do contain only 6 runners, but the remaining 9 offer fields of at least 7 which makes for more interesting wagering propositions.

Full Card Analysis

Santa Anita Race Track Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM PT; Purse: $67,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 1/8 Miles on Turf; Entries: 8

• #4 FLINTMORE (2-1) looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including top connections & class.
• #5 KAWAZAKI (5-2) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #7 BALDORO (8-1) is a major player based on speed figures.
• #1 LIL BRO COOP (12-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today.

Selections: 4-5-7-1

Santa Anita Race Track Race 2

Post: 1:30 PM PT; Purse: $67,000 Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 6

• #1 SPOOKY LADY (2-1) has to be respected based on the connections.
• #4 REAL FIRE (5-2) has a great shot in the race given the speed & class.
• #5 TOO BOSSY (6-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today.
• #3 CHARLOTTE HARBOR (10-1) is worth a look here given edges in stamina & pedigree.

Selections: 1-4-5-3

Santa Anita Race Track Race 3

Post: 2:00 PM PT; Purse: $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante S., 5 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #5 TOM'S REGRET (6-5) looks formidable here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class.
• #2 STONE SILENT (6-1) has to be respected based on the connections.
• #3 ROUSING JEWEL (9-5) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #1 E Z PHARIS (3-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pedigree.

Selections: 5-2-3-1

Santa Anita Race Track Race 4

Post: 2:33 PM PT; Purse: $58,000 Claiming, 6 1/2 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 6

• #4 ANNIE'S SONG (8-5) looks formidable here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & pace numbers.
• #5 VIRULENTE (3-1) has class figures that would make this one worth a look here.
• #3 FLUENT (5-2) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & race flow.
• #6 TRAVEL SMART (4-1) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts.

Selections: 4-5-3-6

Santa Anita Race Track Race 5

Post: 3:06 PM PT; Purse: $24,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #1 SO SOFTLY (8-5) looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & pace numbers.
• #7 MISS MENSA (5-1) has to be respected based on the connections.
• #3 CATALON (15-1) should have the foundation to get the mile distance. This one looks good to outrun the odds here.
• #6 BEIGNET (2-1) is worth a look here given edges in class & pedigree.

Selections: 1-7-3-6

Santa Anita Race Track Race 6

Post: 3:38 PM PT; Purse: $72,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, About 6 1/2 Furlongs on Downhill turf; Entries: 7

• #4 SENSIBLE CAT (4-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's class & power rating.
• #3 AMY C (3-1) is worth a look here given edges in class & connections.
• #6 BIG SWEEP (5-2) is worth a look here given edges in class & record at the distance.
• #1 ELLIE ARROWAY (10-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & form.

Selections: 4-3-6-1

Santa Anita Race Track Race 7

Post: 4:08 PM PT; Purse: $200,000 Santa Maria S., 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 PRIVATE MISSION (9-5) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & race flow. The big question is how she will fair against older horses but my money says she can.
• #3 BLUE STRIPE (5-2) has to be respected in this field given the edge in a number of key categories including form & class.
• #2 BYE BYE BERTIE (5-1) has been productive at the mile and 1/16 distance.
• #6 VARDA (5-1) has speed figures in the area of the top selection.

Selections: 4-3-2-6

Santa Anita Race Track Race 8

Post: 4:38 PM PT; Purse: $72,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 1/8 Miles on Turf; Entries: 7

• #3 GOLD PHOENIX (5-2) looks formidable here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class.
• #4 CATHKIN PEAK (3-1) is worth a look here given edges in connections & race flow.
• #1 TIZ PLUS (6-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today.
• #6 SEVEN CHARMS (5-1) has done little wrong in the previous starts and is a reasonable fringe play.

Selections: 3-4-1-6

Santa Anita Race Track Race 9

Post: 5:08 PM PT; Purse: $26,000 Claiming, 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 PYEONG CHANG (5-2) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & power rating.
• #2 TOM BOMBADIL (3-1) goes out for a jockey and trainer that make this one a major factor.
• #4 PRINCE MAGICIAN (5-1) comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.
• #3 FUNKENSTEIN (4-1) has to be respected based on the connections.

Selections: 8-2-4-3

Santa Anita Race Track Race 10

Post: 5:38 PM PT; Purse: $47,000 Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 9

• #1 MOODY JIM (3-1) is worth a look here given edges in pace & power rating.
• #3 BORDER TOWN (5-1) is a major player based on speed figures.
• #5 LIBERAL (7-2) merits consideration in this spot given edges in stamina & record at the distance.
• #9 ENCODER (10-1) is double the price of the 2nd pick and speed figures say this one has the ability to be just as good.

Selections: 1-3-5-9

Santa Anita Race Track Race 11

Post: 6:13 PM PT; Purse: $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity, 5 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #9 TAHOMA (5-2) has to be respected today edging the field in several key handicapping factors including class & form.
• #3 ABSOLUTELY ZERO (8-5) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #6 MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING (5-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & pace.
• #2 PURE FIRE (10-1) will look to win on debut. That will be no easy task but if one of the firsters is going to do it, it feels like this one.

Selections: 9-3-6-2

Santa Anita Race Track Race 12

Post: 6:43 PM PT; Purse: $69,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 10

• #6 SQUARE CAT (6-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's race flow & form.
• #9 MINISTER SHANE (4-1) seems to love this turf mile distance and could be a threat in this spot..
• #1 IF ID TOLD YOU (4-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & power rating.
• #3 BANG FOR YOUR BUCK (7-2) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts.

Selections: 6-9-1-3

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