Finding Profits in Santa Anita’s Stakes Triple Header
- Who: Thoroughbreds – Clubhouse Ride, Star Presence, Thiskyhasnolimit
- What: Horse Racing Betting Tips – The Sham, The Santa Ynez, The San Fernando
- Where: Santa Anita
- When: Saturday, January 15th
There’s an interesting mix of graded stakes races at Santa Anita this Saturday. The only sure thing appeared to be the fast and classy Sidney’s Candy in the Grade 2 San Fernando (Race 8)…until he was scratched on Friday. That race is now wide open. The Grade 3 Sham (Race 3) and the Grade 2 Santa Ynez (Race 6) also present us with stiff handicapping challenges. Let’s get to it.
The Sham: Clubhouse Ride won’t scare his rivals with high Beyers…he’s typically in the mid 80’s. He does own several advantages, however. He towers over the field in earnings ($297,550) and experience (10 starts, including five in stakes, with a stakes win on dirt). He appears to like Santa Anita’s dirt oval, judging from his blistering 4-furlong work (:45 3/5) on New Year’s Eve. At equal weights, and with a relatively uneventful trip, I’m expecting him to mow down this field of maiden winners at odds of 6-5 or better.
The Santa Ynez: Star Presence finally got over the hump, breaking her maiden with something left in her sixth start (and first on dirt). She’s bred to be a good one, and may just be getting things figured out. The surface switch seems to have done the trick. Her stablemate, Plum Pretty, won her debut in front-running fashion, so I’m expecting stalk-and-pounce tactics from Star Presence. Mike Smith takes over the mount, with Bejarano switching to Plum Pretty. The cutback to seven furlongs shouldn’t be a problem…’Star will make her presence felt when it counts.
The San Fernando: With the defection of Sydney’s Candy, I’m expecting Thiskyhasnolimit to emerge from the pack. The multiple stakes winner ran perhaps his best race when second to likely sophomore champ Lookin At Lucky in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby. He’s banked more than a half-a-million, and retains the services of Garrett Gomez, who got a feel for his mount last out in the Grade 1 Malibu. Even without the favorite, there’s still plenty of speed signed on, which should set up this guy’s run from mid-pack. The pick at odds of 2-1 or better.
Those are my horse racing betting tips for the weekend. Best of luck and happy gambling!
