By Joe Quillen
Sunday 1/7/24 – Santa Anita – Santa Ynez Stakes
Happy Sunday everyone! Let’s head out to Santa Anita for their feature race of the day, the Grace 3 Santa Ynez Stakes going 7 furlongs on the main track. This race is for three-year-old fillies and is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series. Winner of this race will get 10 points towards the standings to get into the field of potentially 14 fillies on Oaks Day on Friday, May 3.
The 1 horse Kopion (3/5 morning line favorite) was very impressive in her debut at Del Mar as she was wide on the turn and ended up winning very easily and could have won by a lot more. There isn’t much here in this race, but there are other options if you do not want to play 1/5 or 2/5 odds.
The 2 Tambo (2/1 ML) got nailed on the wire, meaning she lost in the final strides of the race to Nothing Like Youwho won a $200k race at Los Alamitos last month. Tambo blew by a heavily favored front runner in the Desi Arnez at Del Mar in November. She did come out a bit in the stretch, but I wouldn’t be worried about that.
Bossy Bruin Girl (#3, 15/1 ML) defeated maiden claimers at Del Mar and then 32k claimers at Los Alamitos in her first attempt against winners, but I think she needs to prove to me that she belongs wit this class of horses.
The 4 Petit Felit shortens up after running last month at Los Alamitos, and she was bounced around in the stretch by two horses that passed her in the stretch. I think that this filly may like longer distances as the road to Churchill continues, but there isn’t that much information on her sire (or father) Pavel as it appears only 16 horses have run in the races from his first crop that reached the races in 2023.
The 5 Don’t Bring Crazy (6/1 ML) did not do much in the Desi Arnaz at Del Mar, and has only won a maiden optional claimer two back at six and a half furlongs. I would need to see this race to see if she is worth playing in these types of races in the near future.
My play is a bit chalky, but I am trying to beat the 1 here. I’m going to do a “Dave Weaver Ice Cold” exacta here. Dave would go 1 over another horse. I’m going ice cold 2 over the 1 for $20. Good luck everyone and catch you on Monday!
Updates
- Drum Roll Please had a perfect trip at Aqueduct to win the 154th Jerome Stakes.
- Muth outclassed a field of dix in the Grade 2 San Vicente at Santa Amita, winning in 1:23.01 for seven furlongs.
- Joe’s pick for Saturday’s Quills Picks Winners Sir Flash in the 10th race at Gulfstream Park was a late scratch. Those things happen from time to time and we will be ready to fire on Sunday!
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