By Joe Quillen
Thursday 6/13 – Santa Anita Race 9
We head out west to Santa Anita for the beginning of the final weekend of their Spring/Hollywood meet. Today’s race is the final race of a nine race card as we have three year olds going one mile on the turf. Post time for this race is for 8:12 pm Eastern time.
Favored is the 8 Badda Bing (3/1 morning line) who is making his first start in North America after winning a race at Dundalk in Ireland in February on the synthetic. I found the video of this race and he was tucked in behind horses and had a powerful kick to win his debut impressively. Also, Badda Bing will have a handicapping angle that I used to use at Woodbine. He is first time running in North America and dropping double-digit pounds (12 for today’s race compared to last). Maybe we will see if that angle holds in Southern California as well.
The 2 El Rey Rey (5/1 ML) closed well going nine furlongs last month at Santa Anita and should be flying at the end. His worst races have been going six furlongs on the turf but when he went two turns, he will be very tough.
The 3 All That Glory (7/2 ML) and the 1 Charge for Gold (20/1 ML) will probably be on the lead here. The question is how fast they will go and if they will be there in the end. The 3 might be, the 1 probably won’t.
The 10 Moonlit Sonata (4/1 ML) was briefly on the Kentucky Derby trail before trying the turf two races back. He outdueled El Rey Rey at the finish. It is possible that he could close well again here today and have a future on the turf.
I think what we will see here is the 1 and 3 going for the lead that will leave it to Badda Bing, El Rey Rey and Moonlit Sonata. I think Moonlit Sonata reverses the last two results versus El Rey Rey and hold off Bada Bing at the wire. I’ll call this 10-8-2-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 10. Good luck everyone!
Check out my show “Also Eligible” on Saturday mornings at 10 am Eastern/7 am Pacific as AJ Johnson and I discuss the big races, the latest news in horse racing and much more!