Santa Anita Park Picks: Bob Lewis Featured in the Late Pick 4 on February 6
Santa Anita Park Picks - Sunday, February 6, 2022
-
Race 1: 3-5-2-4
-
Race 2: 5-4-6-2
-
Race 3: 3-5-4-1
-
Race 4: 3-2-7-8
-
Race 5: 5-4-7-2
-
Race 6: 5-6-2-7
-
Race 7: 1-7-5-6
-
Race 8: 4-5-1-2
-
Race 9: 4-3-7-1
-
**Most Likely Winner: Taming The Tigress #1 (Race 7)**
-
**Best Value: I'm Corfu #4 (Race 9)**
Weather is always an issue this time of year ... But while the East Coast and Upper South are being hit by a cold blast, it is sunny in SoCal for some Thoroughbred action at Santa Anita Park! Once again, we have a Late Pick 4 ticket ready for your enjoyment ...
The Sunday "feature" is a Kentucky Derby Points race with 10-4-2-1 on the line--Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes! Also, included earlier in the card, is the Grade 3 Las Virgenes. That race for fillies is a KYOaks Points contest ... like the Lewis, it has 10-4-2-1, that are up for grabs.
At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including the 9-race card from what is known as "The Great Race Place." It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned!
If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Sunday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Do not forget to follow us on Twitter ... @Horseracing_USA ...
---------------------------------------------
LATE PICK 4…
LEG 1: (Race 6: Dirt, 6F, MSW67k, 3 Cal Breds)
The California breds will be out in force on this Sunday, and we are starting this Late Pick 4 with a bunch of 3-yr-old sprinters. There are 5 … yes, 5 … 1st time starters in this spot. That is going to make things a bit tricky, especially with no form to go on. I wonder if we should play against all 5, or toss out Magnifcient Ride #2 and Heaven’s Music #6? Hmm … Well, I rather like the bloodlines and background of Mark Glatt’s Quick Buck #5 (every horseplayer’s dream …), so including this one seems appropriate. By Mohaymen (Tapit), he gets Flavien Prat, and possesses a steady work tab. Paddy Gallagher also has a colt that is promising by Stay Thirsty … The Sandy Surprise #7 is from Snobby Princess, and you have to consider her background too (6 winners from 8 starters). Let’s go with these 4, since it gives us a nice mix of runners with varied experience. The #2 and the #6, for Hector Palma and Ed Alvarez, respectively, are both looking for their maiden victory. Maybe today … is the day!
Selections: 2/5/6/7 (4-Deep)
LEG 2: (Race 7: Turf, 6½, AOC20k, F&M 4+ Cal Breds)
Heading to the grass, we will be sprinting down the backstretch, and turning for home … An AOC contest, I am sure that the Alvarado Barn thinks they are sitting on the winner with Taming the Tigress #1. I tend to agree … wholeheartedly … This 4-yr-old by turf sprint sire Smiling Tiger comes in with a stellar record. Since a September score at Los Al, she is 4/0-3-1. Expect Flavien Prat to “deal” with the rail post position, and get her into position to score. It is hard to go against this “fave,” and I am not going to try and beat her. This one is a “Single” for me … nothing wrong with backing this leading rider on his preferred surface, either.
Selections: 1 (Single)
LEG 3: (Race 8: Dirt, 1 1/16th, Robert B. Lewis S. (G3), $200k, 3)
The “feature” race on Sunday afternoon that should garner a good bit of action is this year’s edition of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. A Grade 3 affair, this contest is pretty much the dominion of Bob Baffert. Who could forget a year ago when Medina Spirit really announced his presence with such authority? The HOF trainer, who has continued to take up major airtime, is hoping to notch 3 in-a-row (Mucho Gusto, Thousand Words, MS …). Of course, with his customary pair of uncoupled entries, it is certain that Messier #1 and Wharton #4 will take quite a bit of money. Interestingly enough, these colts are backed by the same ownership conglomerate … SF, Starlight, and Madaket … The #1 is by Empire Maker, and he was a pretty penny, $470k. We last saw him as a 2-yr-old in the Los Al Futurity (G2) back in early December. He was beaten by Doug O’Neill’s Slow Down Andy that afternoon in the waning sunlight, and now as he adds “blinkers,” one has to wonder if that defeat had any affect on him? I am not sure it did, and let’s face it, Baffert will have him ready to fire in this spot. His stablemate, a colt by Candy Ride (ARG, was equally as costly—$475k—so, one has to think that his rise should be watched with interest. JJ Hernandez gets the call, and going back and watching this one’s debut might be in order. He took over the race with Johnny V (who now rides the #1) in the irons, and before you knew it, he was gone by 5+ lengths. His speed fig was solid, and he should be considered a “rising star.” Opposing this Baffert pair are 3 others, which includes an O’Neill entry. Like Baffert’s untested #4, a Calumet homebred called Happy Jack #5 is in the same boat. A son of Oxbow, this 3-yr-old ran-on nicely last month at Santa Anita in a MSWk. He bested Bletchley Park, and now returns on short rest to oppose this lot. Abel Cedillo is back aboard, and will be trying to outrun the odds of 6/1. I am sure those will come down a bit, as horseplayers look for some value. One other that deserves consideration is from Simon Callaghan’s midst. Do not leave out Sir London #2 … wow … the son of Malibu Moon broke his maiden in his 3rd career start, winning by 10-lengths! Talk about being ridden out … If this frontrunning engine can take a step forward in here, then his condition could be looking at a legit Derby Trail threat. Nothing wins like early speed on a track that favors such an attribute! Let’s use all 4 of these runners, as one of them is bound to get home, crossing the wire first!
Selections: 1/2/4/5 (4-Deep)
LEG 4: (Race 9: Dirt, 6½F, St.ALLW25k, 4+ Cal Breds)
The Cal bred extravaganza continues, as we wind up this LP4 ticket! This “Starter” is going to be turning and burning on the MT, and I particularly like the look of an import from Beth Vanden Berg’s establishment. If you are not familiar with her, then it is time to sit-up and take notice. She has shifted her focus to the West Coast, after the final closing of Arlington International Racecourse outside of Chicago. Her rise there as a conditioner was quite impressive, and in this spot, she once again pairs with regular rider Chris Emigh. I’m Corfu #4 has some nice class lines, and at 7-yrs-old, he has the experience to take on a crowd like this one. A note: Non-Cal breds are outsiders that can compete, based on the terms laid out by the Racing Office. At odds of 6/1, I would not overlook this one. I have 3 more slots on my LP4, so let’s also consider the M/L favorite, Principe Carlo #7 from the Barocio Barn because this horse is dropping out of a “Non-G” at Santa Anita back on 15 Jan. He was just off the board that day, but should be able to rebound here. Let’s not forget that this son of Coil won the Cary Grant S. $100k back at Del Mar in November. Surprised … is more like it … at odds of 19/1! A pair of others that seem likely are George Papaprodromou’s Admirably #1, and Mark Glatt’s Rookie Mistake #3. They both have AOC Co. in their pasts, and that bodes well in a race like this one. Nothing like solid form … Let’s get this ticket home!
Selections: 1/3/4/7 (4-Deep)
-------------------------------------------------------
Ticket: 2-5-6-7 / 1 / 1-2-4-5 / 1-3-4-7
.50 LP4 TICKET COST: $32.00
Enjoy another fab Sunday trackside at “The Great Race Place!” Best of luck on another run at Santa Anita Park! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter … Horseracing_USA !!!