BY Joe Quillen
Santa Anita Race 7 – Clocker’s Corner Stakes
It’s Sunday, so that means we will head out to the west coast to Santa Anita for their seventh race of their Sunday nine-race card. This is the Clocker’s Corner Stakes, which is a six and a half furlong turf race down the hill. Eight horses are entered for this race with an estimated post time of 6:41 pm Eastern time.
The morning line favorite in the race is the 4 Daniel’s Magic (3/1 odds) and he’s 2 for 2 going six and a half furlongs from down the hill here. He ran this distance last out, but the race was the newer turf chute that they built in the last couple of years. Going from a Grade 2 race and from the new turf chute to the downhill chute will help him today.
Also getting class relief in this race is the 5 Hamwood Flier (4/1 morning line) who shortens from the mile distance in this race. She’s taking on the boys here, but she’s done that in the past over in Ireland, where it is more common to see the girls against the boys on the track. She will be stalking and ready to pounce.
Hamwood Flier could be challenged on the front end by the 1 Mucho Del Oro (7/2 ML) and Sumter (4/1 ML) who got the ultimate equipment change with being gelded since his last start. You get the feeling this could set up for a closer here.
The 7 I’m A Gambler (5/1 ML) does have late kick, and is second start off of a short layoff going back onto the hill here. He is also getting class relief here and would love to see some horses go way too fast up front.
My pick, who is another horse for course and would love to see a speed duel up front is Johnny Podres (#2, 12/1). Those that remember the 1993 Phillies remember the Phillies pitching coach, and those who really know baseball know him from his days with the Dodgers. But he likes this course, likes the distance, and will pick up the pieces at what I hope is a large price on the tote board.
My selections are 2-7-4-5, and my play for Sunday is $20 to win on the 2 Johnny Podres. Good luck everyone, and I will catch you on Monday from a place that has risen from the ashes, at least for this spring. If you know the reference and can put two and two together, you know the track. See ya then!
QPW Update Desk
I was 0 for 4 in yesterday’s picks. Here is a quick summary of the four featured races:
- Didia went basically gate to wire as she was near the front all the way around and withstood the challenge of longshot Surprisingly in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
- Hejazi got the lead on the turn and opened up at the top of the stretch but could not hold off Tumbarumba and Castle Chaos. Tumbarumba won by a nose and survived a jockey’s objection to claim the victory in the Fred W. Hooper.
- Warm Heart tracked the leaders down the backstretch and flew through the hole on the rail to win the Pegasus World Cup Turf. My choice Master Piece did not fire and finished last.
- National Treasure could not keep up early with front runner Hoist the Gold in the Pegasus World Cup but made a move to take the lead on the final turn and finally did while wide. My choice Senor Buscador got the pace he wanted and targets to catch in the stretch, but National Treasure held on to win.
- We did not hit any of the 4 races on Saturday, and the pick 4, which was actually for $16 after the scratch of Full Count Felicia in race 10.
Follow Joe on Twitter/Instagram/Threads @JoeQuills. Check out the Bleacher Brothers Show from 8 to 10 pm Eastern Time on the Tony Bruno Sports Network app! Also check Joe’s sports stream podcast on Twitch every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 pm ET, and his YouTube channel where you can catch the show on demand.
