Santa Anita Saturday Preview: Cal Cup Derby Analysis

The Saturday card from Santa Anita Park features the California Cup Sprint. Giver Not a Taker was installed as the morning line favorite.

Santa Anita Park- Race 1

Post: 12:00 PM PT; $150k Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #2 BIG CITY LIGHTS (8-5) gets the top selection. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #5 TIGRE DI SLUGO (6-1) has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #4 THE CHOSEN VRON (4-5) projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #6 RESILIENT (15-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 4 – 6

Santa Anita Park- Race 2

Post: 12:30 PM PT; $67k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 11

• #6 REGULATION DAZED (4-1) is the top pick. He looks to be the class of the field. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #11 CHROME TO RICHES (5-1) debuts here and has to be respected going out for the combination of Gaines and Hernandez.
• #9 BRONKO NAGURSKI (12-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #8 MOON ICE (3-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 6 – 11- 9 – 8

Santa Anita Park- Race 3

Post: 1:00 PM PT; $67k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #5 BAJAN BASHERT (8-5) should improve off the first start and looks best here. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #6 SASSY NATURE (5-2) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end and should have gained foundation from the debut.
• #3 KIND OF BLUE (15-1) is a price horse who could outrun the odds here.
• #1 ELUSIVE CLASS (15-1) gets the 1 post which could lead to a ground saving trip.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 3 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 4

Post: 1:30 PM PT; $72k Allowance going about 6 1/2 furlongs on downhill turf; Entries: 10

• #3 THORNE HOUSE (5-2) gets the top selection. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1 QUEEN'S CODE (8-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #7 LARRY'S LEGEND (30-1) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #5 FORE FLAG (5-1) should be a part of the early pace.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 7 – 5

Santa Anita Park- Race 5

Post: 2:00 PM PT; $39k Maiden Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #2 SOUL OF MIDNIGHT (5-1) debuts here and is the top pick. He is well bred for this spot.
• #4 STAY IN THE GAME (5-2) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #6 KING ZOG (9-5) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #7 CHARBONNEAU (12-1) makes sense on speed figures. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 6 – 7

Santa Anita Park- Race 6

Post: 2:30 PM PT; $150k Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint S. Presented by John Deere going about 6 1/2 furlongs on downhill turf; Entries: 9

• #1 BIG SUMMER (4-1) looks best here. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #3 ALICE MARBLE (5-2) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #5 EDDIE'S NEW DREAM (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #2 LA DEUXIEME ETOILE (6-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 5 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 7

Post: 3:00 PM PT; $200k California Cup Derby going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 GIVER NOT A TAKER (9-5) gets the top selection. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 PASSARANDO (2-1) has to be respected going out for the combination of Specht and Rispoli. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #7 GEEZER (5-1) makes sense on speed figures. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #1 THIRSTY JOHN (4-1) should improve off the first start and runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 7 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 8

Post: 3:30 PM PT; $200k Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 9

• #7 QUICKLY PARK IT (8-1) is the top pick. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #8 SELL THE DREAM (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She looks to be the class of the field. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #9 CAST MEMBER (5-2) makes sense on speed figures. This one has been in really solid form.
• #3 GRAZED MY HEART (4-1) will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 7 – 8 – 9 – 3

Santa Anita Park- Race 9

Post: 4:00 PM PT; $72k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 LEYAS CANDY (9-5) looks best here. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Glatt and Hernandez. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #6 BIG TALKER (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures.
• #1 I KNOW CASH FLOW (4-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #7 HOLIDAY AROUSAL (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. He will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 1 – 7

Santa Anita Park- Race 10

Post: 4:30 PM PT; $200k Unusual Heat Turf Classic S. Presented by City National Bank going 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 9

• #8 CARMELITA'S MAN (2-1) gets the top selection. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #1 ALIGATO (5-2) will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #4 COALINGA ROAD (5-1) has to be respected going out for the combination of Gaines and Velazquez. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #6 BANG FOR YOUR BUCK (15-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. He will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.

Selections: 8 – 1 – 4 – 6

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