Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Michael Hammersly handicaps the Monday, June 15 racing card at Santa Anita, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 5.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Bee Eye Gee (5th race)
Fifth Race
1. Bee Eye Gee
2. Day At the Track
3. Stagger Lee
BEE EYE GEE has been knocking heads with some toughies, so the drop might prove key. Obviously, the trip is no bother. DAY AT THE TRACK was no factor in his only 2 turf tries, but those were also the first 2 starts of his career. He’s surely a better horse now than he was then, and the pedigree says turf should be no bother. STAGGER LEE was a sharp 2nd in his dirt comeback here May 2. That was his first start in 10 months, so he can improve, not only off that run but with the move to turf (best work came on turf), addition of blinkers and an encouraging price hike.
Here are Michael’s thoughts on the other seven races on Monday’s Santa Anita card.
First Race
1. Promissio
2. Empire’s Classic
3. Dealers Special
PROMISSIO comes off a solid 3rd in a race like this here April 24. That was just his 2nd start of a layoff, so he’s eligible to do even better. EMPIRE’S CLASSIC beat the top pick when 4th here March 13. He figures to lag back and make a run, and his best work has come on this course at this trip. DEALERS SPECIAL was no factor here April 24, but that was his first start in almost eight months. He can improve off that.
Second Race
1. She’s Back
2. Howmanymoretimes
3. Susie’s Loaded
SHE’S BACK stalked before tiring here May 16, but that was her first start in a couple months, so she can improve. Toss that route here March 13 and things look even better. HOWMANYMORETIMES didn’t do much in her debut here May 17, but not only was that her debut, it came on turf vs. tougher straight maidens. With that run behind her, she drops and moves to dirt and might well vault forward. SUSIE’S LOADED was a good 2nd vs. similar here May 16 so she’s a solid fit.
Third Race
1. No Joke Antares
2. Gaines
3. Throwthefirstpunch
NO JOKE ANTARES was a good 2nd in a race like this at DMR last summer. Then came a long layoff before a dull return here May 25, but there’s not another layoff, she’s back to a distance she’s handled, and it’s nice to see no drop. GAINES dueled and kept on well for 2nd in her sprint debut here April 4. She was then no factor in a turf route here May 30 but is back in vs. state-breds, has tactical speed and a feel for this trip. THROWTHEFIRSTPUNCH stalked and kept on decently in a race like this here May 23, so he seems a solid fit.
Fourth Race
1. Shady Gem
2. Kiki Ride
3. Chapter One
SHADY GEM showed talent when a sharp 2nd vs. tougher here March 20. He then dueled and fizzled, but today’s drop may prove key. KIKI RIDE has been knocking on the door and might finally be ready to break through. He has speed to be forward. CHAPTER ONE has been facing tougher the entire time so today’s drop might prove key.
Sixth Race
1. Decisive Win
2. Secured Freedom
3. Constitution Andi
DECISIVE WIN looked super blasting maidens here May 22. Not only did he win clear, it was his first route, so he likely handles this trip. He cost a bundle ($600K), so there are likely still expectations. SECURED FREEDOM comes off 3 decent graded stakes tries and the class drop might prove key. A bullet work June 5 says he comes here doing well. CONSTITUTION ANDI is a maiden vs. winners, but there’s obviously talent here so he’s not one to take lightly, particularly with some good works in tow.
Seventh Race
1. Nikolina
2. Miss Mandalay
3. Hey Lil Lady
NIKOLINA is a proven commodity sprinting on this course, and her tactical speed should again lead to a real nice trip stalking/pressing the pace. MISS MANDALAY has speed to be forward, and while she hasn’t run in a long time, she’s fired off the bench before. HEY LIL LADY gamely won on this course at this trip Feb. 8, and while she hasn’t been seen since, she’s proven off the bench and on this course.
Eighth Race
1. Frank Bullitt
2. Warm Sun and Brew
3. Chromeflash
FRANK BULLITT has been knocking on the door off late and might be ready to break through and get that elusive first win over winners. He’s handled this course and trip just fine. WARM SUN AND BREW has been freshened since a string of good races on this course at this level. While he’s been primarily routing he has the speed to be forward at this shorter trip. CHROMEFLASH perked up considerably here last time out April 17 so could be he’s getting things figured out. See you all at LRC.
Daily Racing Form is the most trusted source for horse racing news and information. Get an edge when you play the races with DRF.com.
Get more Daily Racing Form horse racing picks on a daily basis on our VSiN Horse Racing page.
