Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Michael Hammersly handicaps the Friday, May 22 racing card at Santa Anita,which includes a Pick 6 Carryover pool that may exceed $400,000. The pick six covers the fourth through ninth races on a nine-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. Michael shares his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 9.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: She’s No Quant (9th race)
Ninth Race
1. She’s No Quant
2. Taking a Joy Ride
3. Marla Hooch
SHE’S NO QUANT comes off two sharp 3rds in races like this here and might be ready to break through and get her diploma. TAKING A JOY RIDE was a good 2nd going a mile on this course April 26. She shortens up, but her debut dirt sprint showed she can handle this game, and she was right on top of things after 6fs in that April 26 turf try. MARLA HOOCH is in a ‘league of her own’ here who knows what it’s like to finish first in a race as she ‘won’ a race like this here April 18, only to get DQ’d. She’s worked well since and figures tough again.
Here are Michael’s thoughts on the other eight races on Friday’s Santa Anita card.
First Race
1. Rehearsal
2. Channel Place
3. Lanilla
REHEARSAL rattled off a string of good races from last summer into this winter. Then came a dull run in a sprint at this level here March 14, but moved back to this distance here April 24. She bounced back to be a good 2nd. This is apparently the trip she wants and obviously the level suits. CHANNEL PLACE looked good beating maidens here March 28. It’s first time vs. winners, so it’s a tougher task but could be the light has gone on. She cuts back in distance but note she had a clear lead after a mile March 28. LANILLA kept to her task gamely to be 3rd not far behind the top pick. That was just her fourth start, so she’s eligible to improve.
Second Race
1. Otto’s Magic
2. Van Gogh Style
3. Delaneys Dreamer
OTTO’S MAGIC showed talent in first 3 starts, all dirt sprints. He next tried turf here Feb. 26, but that didn’t go so well. He’s been freshened and is back to dirt which might be just what the Dr. ordered. His lone sib to race is full-sis Wishes to Riches (8-2-1-1, $60K). VAN GOGH STYLE broke slowly in his debut on turf here April 26 and unable to make a dent. Of course, you can always forgive a first run, he can benefit from that outing and moves to dirt, which pedigree-wise might play better for him. All 4 sibs are winners, including I’m Dr. O. (18-2-5-4, $83K). DELANEYS DREAMER debuts with lots of works, including some brisk ones, for a trainer who is capable first time out. One of his 2 sibs is winning full-bro Got Your Six (12-1-2-1, $13K).
Third Race
1. Cosmo Friday
2. Eva Lea
3. Stars Hollow
COSMO FRIDAY looked good beating maidens on this course at this trip with this jock March 13. She next found winners too much to handle here April 19, though a slow start and traffic into the lane didn’t help. She’s down in class and reunited with Jaramillo, who handled her so well in that March 13 maiden win. EVA LEA was no factor here April 19 but that came vs. tougher and was her first start in 3 months. There’s a drop and no subsequent layoff so she’s eligible to do much better with Rosario taking the wheel and a couple good works since. STARS HOLLOW comes here in peak form from LA, and while that came on dirt, note a good turf sprint effort in her debut at DMR last fall, so the footing might not be a deal breaker.
Fourth Race
1. Decisive Win
2. One More Time
3. Sabino Canyon
DECISIVE WIN showed good speed before finishing 4th in his sprint debut here March 7 but wasn’t disgraced by a winner who came back to win a G2 at CD and is one of the top half-dozen 3yos in the land, so there was no shame in that. Given time since, has worked well and remember he cost a bundle ($600K) so there are surely expectations. ONE MORE TIME hinted at ability earlier this year and off the freshening and good works could perk up with the move to this trip while returning to dirt. It’s nice to see Rosario take the call. SABINO CANYON cost a fortune ($575K) but didn’t do much in his debut here March 20. In his defense, not only was it his debut, it came routing and on turf. He’s been given time since and moves to dirt, which pedigree-wise might play better for him. ESSOS didn’t do much in his last 2 but both came on turf. He cost a pretty penny ($475K), and maybe the freshening and return to dirt can get him back on track and justify the price tag. Glatt continues his super meet.
Fifth Race
1. Liam Smith
2. Money Makes Money
3. Burning Rubber
LIAM SMITH, an AE, was smashing earlier this meet. Yes, that came on dirt, but he’s bred to handle turf and those outings certainly show his sprint ability. He’s worked well since, and if able to get into the race and take that form to the sod could prove dangerous. If he doesn’t get to play, MONEY MAKES MONEY might be the one to beat coming off a smart win on this course at this trip April 30. That was his first start in 10 months, too, so he’s certainly eligible to move forward. BURNING RUBBER has speed, and while he tired some last time out here April 26 that came routing off a layoff. There’s no layoff this time, and he’s back to his best game, sprinting.
Sixth Race
1. Outrageous
2. Sensational Z Z
3. Ro Town
OUTRAGEOUS always had ability, but she’s really blossomed since before Christmas, winning three of four. She’s been given time since her last win but has shown she can fire fresh and has worked well for this return. SENSATIONAL Z Z gave the top pick fits when 2nd to her here Feb. 13, and like the top pick has held strong form for some time. The bulk of that good work has come at LA, yes, but that aforementioned sharp 2nd to the top pick came on this track at this trip, so she handles this place and distance just fine. RO TOWN found more expensive on turf too much to handle last time, but she’s back to dirt and down in class, and that makes her a decent fit.
Seventh Race
1. Poor Connection
2. Crazy Cavalier
3. Oubabe
The main issue here might be the 10fs, and while POOR CONNECTION has never gone this far, he’s run some races that indicate he’ll enjoy today’s added ground. He has enough speed to be forward from the start, so he might be poised for an upset. CRAZY CAVALIER won a mile at this level here March 15, but then found tougher too much to handle here May 1. HE’s back down in class and moves to a longer trip, one he’s handled in the past. OUBABE hasn’t won in over two years, but his best races since came on this course at this trip at this level last fall, so maybe these circumstances can get him back on track.
Eighth Race
1. Makenarita
2. A Fleet Ride
3. Molly Jensen
It took a while, but MAKENARITA may well have turned the corner as after some non-descript form she’s perked up with three straight good outings, including a nice 2nd on this track at this trip at this level last time out April 25. A FLEET RIDE set a pressured pace before ending up 3rd behind the top pick in that aforementioned April 25 race but wasn’t THAT far behind her. Her speed can again have her in it from the start and those last two improved efforts hint the addition of blinkers have helped a bunch. MOLLY JENSEN was troubled early sprinting at this level here April 30 and never able to get untracked. She routes for the first time and it’s not only a game for which she’s bred, but her sprint speed can have her in it from the bell.
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