RT’s Spot Plays
06.18.22
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Two Stakes Races Today From Santa Anita
Santa Anita R3|Sat Jun 18|Post Time: 5 pm ET
Dirt 5 Furlongs|2YO|Purse: $100K
5-Tom’s Regret (6/5) was the databases results where a winner last time of a 2yo stakes race returned to their next stakes. That, frankly, was tough to believe. Given the competition in this race, this Tom’s Tribute filly will likely break that streak. She beat the boys last time in an eleven horse field by taking them gate to wire, returned to SA and fired two 1:00 works. 3-Rousing Jewel (9/5) is hard to understand the low odds given her debut win, and only race, was on the tapeta at GG. The change in surface, facing much tougher, and she will be battling on the front end with others, makes her tough to back. 2-Stone Silent (6/1) is a first time starter for John Sadler who is 24% with 2yo fillies on debut. A Florida bred by Adios Charlie, she has worked well for this start, going :48 from the gate and 1:00.4 from the gate in her last two works. Again, I have not found an instance in our archives where a debut horse won a stakes race. That said, Holloway Boy just won The Chesham Stakes at Ascot on debut. I will bet 1-EZ Pharis (3/1), and it will be under the auspices of a pace meltdown and one of these challenging Tom’s Regret, because she has raced unchallenged in her two outings. If Kyle Frey keeps her near enough, he can take advantage of tiring horses.
Santa Anita R11|Sat Jun 18|Post Time: 9:13 pm ET
Dirt 5 Furlongs|2YO|Purse: $100K
5-Pop D’oro (8/1) will be interesting as leading first crop sire Bolt d’Oro has yet to have a stakes entrant. Her debut at Turf Paradise was impressive going gate to wire and she has worked well at SA with a recent :47.6 gate effort. 2-Pure Fire (10/1) is a first time starter by Practical Joke, a 21% sire with debuting 2yo’s. John Sadler 18% with first timers, yet interesting enough, Practical Joke progeny have yet to win their debut at Santa Anita, or for that matter, any race. I am going to take a swing and go with 8-Salta (10/1) to upset 9-Tahoma (5/2) and 3-Absolutely Zero (8/5). Her sire, Carpe Diem, is 18% with second starting 2yo fillies and her :46.8 work shows she is ready to race.
Happy Hunting!