Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Michael Hammersly handicaps the Monday, May 25 racing card at Santa Anita. Michael shares his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 1.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Yacowlef (1st race)
First Race
1. Yacowlef
2. Septembersixtyfour
3. Mubtadaa
YACOWLEF was a good 2nd in a race like this here March 28 and was claimed, but next found tougher a bit too much to handle. Still, he didn’t run badly to be 4th, and the return to this level might be just what the Dr. ordered. SEPTEMBERSIXTYFOUR flashed potential last year, and off a long layoff was a solid 2nd down the hill here last month. That should set him up nicely for this. MUBTADAA was gone 15 months, but his two return efforts show there’s still plenty of gas in the tank. His tactical speed can have him in it from the start.
Here are Michael’s thoughts on the other nine races on Monday’s Santa Anita card.
Second Race
1. Ya’ll Come
2. Novinophobia
3. Cupid’s Crusader
YA’LL COME just missed by a nostril when 2nd in a race like this here April 26, so that shows him a good fit. He was claimed by an outfit that has super numbers off the claim, and that has had a super year. NOVINOPHOBIA continues his fine form. He just won for this price here May 2, so he’s sharp and fits with these. He has some tactical speed and versatility. CUPID’S CRUSADER has been knocking on the door of late and returning to a sprint might help his cause.
Third Race
1. Olivia
2. Manhattan Beauty
3. Salty Siss
OLIVIA has shown talent, and while that came on turf, she’s bred for dirt. After all, daddy won the G1 Preakness. She hasn’t run in almost four months but has worked well for this return. Her two sibs are both winners, including Zoom Erin (30-6-5-5, $110K). MANHATTAN BEAUTY flashed some ability vs. tougher here in the winter. After a layoff, though, she wasn’t too sharp in her comeback here April 26, but in her defense, she had trouble that day, not to mention might well have needed the race. Well, she’s had that run and gets blinkers for a barn having a super meet. Her lone sib is a winner. SALTY SISS did some good work at TUP in recent months, and while these might be tougher, at least those outings show talent. A bullet work at LA May 13 encourages, too. Four of her five sibs are winners, including Jezebel’s Kitten (19-2-3-3, $427K, 1 SW).
Fourth Race
1. Resolve
2. Going Deep
3. Atia
RESOLVE looks awfully tough. Not only does she come here sharp, that form was established vs. tougher, so it looks like they’re dropping her to get that elusive next win. You do have to go back a long ways to find her lone win, and she’s 0 for 11 here (5 2nds) but there remains plenty on the asset side of the ledger, though the expected very short price is not part of that. GOING DEEP gamely beat state-breds here March 27, and while these are tougher, that was a nice step forward. Glatt saw fit to claim her, is solid off the claim and most encouragingly more than doubles here in value. ATIA set a pressured pace before tiring going a mile here last fall, but she’s been freshened since and worked well for this return. She’s run decently off the bench before, too.
Fifth Race
1. Subsanador
2. Malarchuk
3. Forged Steel
SUBSANADOR was gone 18 months before a decent sprint return in a G3 here, a race to set him up to then ship to OP for a route stakes. However, he went to his nose after the start, losing all chance. He made a decent midrace move, but his race was already done. He shipped back home and a super work May 18 says there are no ill effects from that OP debacle. MALARCHUK flashed ability early in his career and posted two big efforts at SAR last summer. Then came a long layoff before a decent stakes try at SUN April 5 for new trainer McCarthy and he might be primed for a top try. FORGED STEEL has speed and comes off a game wire-to-wire win at OP. He’s worked sharply since, and it’s most encouraging they feel good enough about him to ship across the country for this. BRITISH ISLES won the G1 SA Handicap here March 7 but was then dull in a G3 at KEE. He’s back to his sandbox, which helps, but it’s no bargain to ship across the country, run so-so, and then ship back to take on some decent foes.
Sixth Race
1. Rashmi
2. Take A Breath
3. May Day Ready
Nice race. RASHMI looked super blasting foes in a G3 here March 28 after over a year on the bench so she’s obviously fine after such a long layoff. That run makes her scary, but today’s 9fs is a new wrinkle. TAKE A BREATH comes here in peak form, having won back-to-back G3s on this course. MAY DAY READY gave ‘BREATH fits when 2nd to her in the G3 Royal Heroine here April 25, so there’s not much between them. That was also her first start in six months, so she’s eligible to improve. THOUGHT PROCESS did good work as a 3yo and came back this year smartly, easily winning a mile G3 here Feb. 28. She’s been given time since and looms a danger as she’s apparently come back bigger and badder as a 4yo. Her speed can have her in it from the bell.
Seventh Race
1. One Smokin Dude
2. Dirty Words
3. Atomic Drop
ONE SMOKIN DUDE was claimed off a dull outing here March 20 but perked up considerably to be 2nd in a sprint here last month. That came vs. tougher, too, so he appears back on track, and the drop may prove key. DIRTY WORDS rallied gamely to be a sharp 2nd in a race like this here May 3 so he’s a proven commodity and good fit. ATOMIC DROP was sharp earlier this year before a dull stakes try at SRP in New Mexico last month. In his defense, he had to ship for that, and maybe he didn’t relish shipping or the new surroundings. He’s back in his sandbox with a drop, and that combo might well get him back on track.
Eighth Race
1. Formidable Man
2. El Potente
3. Almendares
A real nice renewal. FORMIDABLE MAN is true to his name as his super 2nd in last fall’s G1 BC Mile to world-class Godolphin miler Notable Speech (who just won another G1 in Europe last week) attests. He’s worked smartly for this return, has run big before off the bench and has the handiness to give his rider options. EL POTENTE continues his strong form and loves this place (6 for 10). His speed with the rail draw should have him prominent from the start but that last win also shows he’s no need-the-lead type. ALMENDARES fires every time and just won a G3 over this course. A bullet work since says he holds his edge. He’s been competitive with these a few years now so he’s a proven fit. GENIUS JIMMY, from the same barn as the top pick, hasn’t won in a while but he looks better than ever and two near-misses in G3s in his last pair show his current sharpness. He might be ready for these deeper waters. KING OF GOSFORD won this last year after a good run in a G3 after a layoff. Well, this time there was another layoff and again he ran decently in the same G3 comeback spot, so could be it’s deja vu all over again.
Ninth Race
1. Refocus
2. Scene by Me
3. Cody Boy
REFOCUS just won on turf at this level but is as good and maybe better on dirt. That win shows that returning to sprinting was the right call after a couple not-so-hot routes. He’s shown speed and versatility in those sprints, too. SCENE BY ME was no factor late in his first try vs. winners but not only was that his first try vs. winners and just his third overall, he took heavy pressure from the start. He has speed and while daddy did his work on turf he’s proving a sharp dirt sire. CODY BOY was freshened and has come back nicely finishing 2nd vs. open foes. With a couple races under his belt he moves back in vs. state-bred company and the outside draw should help with his stalking/midpack style.
Tenth Race
1. Big Bill
2. Going Nowhere
3. Town Idol
BIG BILL has been knocking on the door and burned some money but it might finally be his turn as he handles this course and game. He figures to bide his time stalking or sitting midpack before making his run. It’s no surprise he likes turf as he’s kin to three turf winners, including Camino Del Paraiso (48-9-14-5, $650K, 30-4-9-3 on turf, 4 SWs on turf, 13 SPs including 7 G3s on turf). GOING NOWHERE comes off some good work going longer and showed prior he can handle this shorter game. He’s kin to three turf winners, including Lucky Christiana (also SP on turf). TOWN IDOL has lots of works to indicate a foundation for this first start, including some fast moves. ROYAL RUMOR and THROWIN HEAT were just 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in a race like this here last month while STILL BULLETPROOF was claimed and returns to turf, which he handled in his GP debut last year, no surprise as he’s kin to three turf winners including full-sis Bulletproof One (2 turf wins on turf, including 1 SW, also 4 SPs on turf).
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