The stakes slate on today’s national simulcasting calendar is light, but that’s OK: we’ve found plays in three races this afternoon, one in Arkansas and a pair out West. It’s an all-dirt lineup today, and we expect a fast main track for all of them. Let’s go.
Santa Anita Park, Race 4, 4:59 pm ET
$100,000 Spring Fever Stakes, 6 furlongs, Dirt, California-bred Fillies & Mares 4 & Up
We generally avoid races with short fields, but we are making an exception for the Spring Fever Stakes from Santa Anita, as it is a pretty good race to handicap, even with just five going to the gate. We like a straight-down-the-line speed play, in the form of 3-Chancery Way, a 4-year-old filly who has had the lead at the first call in all five of her career starts. We see her using that speed to get the lead again today, and winning this race in wire-to-wire fashion. We will bet her to win at 5-1. The bet: Santa Anita, Race 4, $40 to win on 3-Chancery Way.
Oaklawn Park, Race 8, 5:10 pm ET
Allowance/Optional Claiming, 1 mile, Dirt, 3-Year-Olds
Today’s featured race at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas is this first-level allowance, which drew a field of seven 3-year-olds. The pick is 1-Two Eagles River, who has been amazingly consistent in his four-race career, earning virtually identical speed figures at distances from 5 to 8 furlongs. He could win if he repeats his last start, when he finished third in a similar spot, a mile allowance race, on Jan. 13, but we think he will run better, perhaps a good bit better, as that was his first start around two turns, and he should show marked improvement doing it for the second time. Two Eagles River has speed, and we think he is going to go right to the front from his inside post position, and stay there all the way around the racetrack. We will bet him to win at 5/2. The bet: Oaklawn Park, Race 8, $40 to win on 1-Two Eagles River.
Santa Anita Park, Race 8, 7:06 pm ET
Allowance/Optional Claiming, 6 furlongs, Dirt, 3-Year-Old Fillies
Seven go in this first-level allowance at the Great Race Place. We’re all in on 5-Getthemoney, who was very impressive winning her last start, blowing away a very good maiden field at Del Mar back in September. The early fractions she set that day were fast enough that we would have expected her to falter at the end of the race, so the fact that she did not stagger home, but rather drew off to win by 5 ½ lengths, is a powerful sign that she is a talented filly. She’s coming off a layoff here, having not run in almost five months, and while that is a bit of a concern, her recent morning workouts suggest she will be ready to fire off the bench. We will look to get the money by betting Getthemoney to win at 5/2. The bet: Santa Anita, Race 8, $40 to win on 5-Getthemoney.
That’s all for today. Until the next time, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.