SANTA ANITA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: Cal-MSW, 3+, 6/5f-T (P5, P3, DD)

Tricky read group of Cal-bred MDN’s. Appears that those with experience will provide plenty of pace and can project a scenario where a couple of firsters may be motoring late at targets that have shown an inability to finish. With some opportunity to go narrow late in the P5, suggest spreading here..

Best Value: #5 Miracle March 10-1
Next Best: #6 Candy’s Martini 8-1
Exotics Use: #7 Mor Candy 4-1
Super Add: #4 Insubordination 4-1

2nd: MSW, 3+, 6.5f (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #5 Omega Moon 2-1: $500k Juddmonte/Baffert firster..
Next Best: #3 Pioneer Lad 5-2: 1st with Baltas; Chased STK-bound MDN’s..
Best Value: #6 Gold Shot 10-1: ‘Other’ Baltas can get a share late..
Exotics Use: #7 Captain Chaos 5-2: Miller firster looks route-inclined..

3rd: OC/ALW, 3+, 5.5f (P3, DD)

Nice to see Hess take patient approach with impressive (91 Beyer) first out winner American Pastime. Gave Tapizar colt plenty of time to recover from debut and has fired pair of bullets readying for today, including 58.1 best of 68 on 4/30 in which he spotted rival 9L lead..

Most Likely: #5 American Pastime 6-5
Best Value: #4 Blue Anchor 10-1
Next Best: #7 Stormy Roccit 3-1
Exotics Use: #3 Alley Boss 10-1

4th: 65th Desert Code, 3yo, 6.5f-T (P6, P3, DD)

Cistron, lone multiple winner in the field ~ and Northern Spur winner at that ~ returns to turf while cutting back; recipe for downhill course success. Rebel War has small turf hints and could get involved at a price. What’sontheagenda another that may take to the lawn being by Dialed In (17% first turf) and out of a mare that’s a half sister to Thundering Sky..

Most Likely: #7 Cistron 9-5
Best Value: #6 Rebel War 12-1
Next Best: #5 What’sontheagenda 10-1
Exotics Use: #1 City Storm 5-1

5th: 23rd Laz Barrera (G3), 3yo, 7f (P3, DD)

Santa Anita Derby turnbacks American Anthem & Kimbear merit edge here over the 1-2-5 runners exiting the San Pedro and first-out Miller MCLM winner Sutton Impact..

Most Likely: #1 American Anthem 2-1
Next Best: #2 Kimbear 3-1
Best Value: #4 Taxman’s Quest 12-1
Exotics Use: #3 Bobby Abu Dhabi 4-1

P5 Grid:

1: 4-5-6-7 (A), 1-2-9-10 (B), – (C)
2: 3-5 (A), – (B), 1-6-7 (C)
3: 5 (A), – (B), 4-7 (C)
4: 7 (A), 5-6 (B), 1-4 (C)
5: 1-2 (A), – (B), 4-5-6 (C)

Simple (A+B): 8x2x1x3x2 = 96 x .50 = $48
All A’s: 4x2x1x1x2 = 16 x .50 = $8

P4 Grid:

2: 3-5 (A), 6 (B), 7-8 (C)
3: 5 (A), 4-7 (B), 1-2-3-6 (C)
4: 1-4-5-6-7 (A), – (B), 2-3 (C)
5: 1-2 (A), – (B), 4-5-6 (C)

Simple (A+B): 3x3x5x2 = 90 x .50 = $45
All A’s: 2x1x5x2 = 20 x .50 = $10

Good luck!
Steve