By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_Keelerman
On a quiet race weekend in America, the most important event is Saturday $200,000 Santa Ynez S. (G2) at Santa Anita, an early stepping stone on the Road to the Kentucky Reptiles.
Half a dozen second-year fillings are expected to compete with the seven-hair sprint, so let’s take a look at the field in a horse-by-horse fashion and plan our picks:
#1 Under the Stars (8-5): The runner-up to beat was the beautiful bred Under the Stars, daughter of Pioneerof the Nile (daughter of 2015 American Triple Crown winner Pharoah) in Untouched Talent (2012 Bodemeister Kentucky Derby runner-up winner) .
Under the Stars did not miss the trio in three starts for hot coach Bob Baffert, who hit 9-21 (43%) to start the Santa Anita meet. Lasting third in her debut at Santa Anita, Under the Stars then finished third ahead of Desi Arnaz S.
Below Star’s first score is a six-feather sprint, but she was bred to thrive on long runs, so extending over seven feathers for Santa Ynez shouldn’t be an issue. . Throw in hot soccer Flavien Prat (a 53% winner in partnership with Baffert over the past 60 days), and Under the Stars comes out as a reasonable game favorite.
#2 Big Shamrock (20-1): After finishing his first match in a match against a California special-breed girl special weight company, Big Shamrock landed on the first list to claim $50,000 for the house’s crossbreeds. water and use tracking tactics to win in the long run. Daughter of Mr. Big showed improved tactical speed in her first score and could certainly be a speed player, but the competition is much deeper in Santa Ynez, and the speed numbers of Beyer and Brisnet Big Shamrock looks a bit pale.
#3 Big switch (9-5): One of the main threats facing Under the Stars is the Big Switch, an undefeated California hybrid created by John Sadler. A winner of the first match of the six-stroke rally rally at Del Mar, Big Switch kept its undefeated record in Del Mar’s seven-stroke Golden State Juvenile S. seven-stroke period, counting from a few years. length back to beat her pursuers by 2 3/4 length.
In terms of Beyer and Brisnet speed metrics, the Big Switch ran faster or faster than Under the Stars, so a tight match could be in the early hours. Hot racer John Velazquez (44% winner at Santa Anita) was named to ride, and the Big Switch started sharp workouts. But will the Big Switch have enough speed to chase the small field on Saturday? And can she stay undefeated as she steps outside the California-bred ranks for the first time?
#4 Mimajoon (10-1): Speed is the forte of Mimajoon, who has made consecutive victories at Golden Gate Fields. A tenacious victory in a five-track grass-court sprint against a quarter-length win at the six-track Golden Gate Debutante S. on Tapeta. But Mimajoon never challenged in her dirt debut at Emerald Downs, and her Beyer and Brisnet speed stats look light, so facing a Rank 2 competition on the Santa Anita dirt road has can be a difficult thing.
#5 Awakening in Midnyte (3-1): If you want to take on the Santa Ynez favorites, Awake At Midnyte deserves your attention. The daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby winners Nyquist actually beat Under the Stars in their joint debut at Santa Anita, using speed-squeezing tactics to win the special six-feathered teenager’s special weight by neck.
Awake At Midnyte then showed some versatility in the Jimmy Durante S. (G3) one-mile race across the Del Mar lawn, tracking the pace before rallying late to finish second by nose. Returning to the dirt only helps Awake At Midnyte, and she has outstanding tactical speed early on in Santa Ynez. Get rid of this promising practitioner Doug O’Neill yourself.
#6 Miss Mattie GET (5-1): From a visual perspective, Ms. Mattie B is strong in the first special weight class on November 27 on Del Mar grass. After tackling nearly 10 lengths from her original pace, Miss Mattie B launched a sweeping outside rally to overtake her rivals and dominate with 3 3/4 lengths. .
Mattie B finished quickly with her first score, sprinting the last quarter of a mile with an approximate score of 23 2/5, but will she be able to repeat the feat when she switches to the road land? Her first two stages of sprinting on the main tracks at the Indiana Grand and Del Mar received double-digit margin defeats, so surface conversion and distance cuts for Santa Ynez were two. meaningful question mark for Miss Mattie B to pass.
Option
1: Under the stars
Monday: Awakening in Midnyte
Third: Big switch
Wednesday: Miss Mattie BOOST
Now it’s your turn! Who do you like in Santa Ynez?
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J. Keeler Johnson (also known as “Keelerman”) is a writer, cinematographer, voice actor, amputee, and horse racing enthusiast. A huge fan of racing history, he considers Dr Fager the greatest racehorse ever made in America, but considers the Zenyatta his all-time favorite.
