Check out my Friday (5-24-24) Santa Anita Park Race 5 analysis below.
SA 5 (Clm-35k/3L, 8T)
Primary – #6 SMART KITTEN, #5 Highlands
Secondary – #4 Dendera
Horse Comments:
#6 Smart Kitten (5-2) was part of the trifecta in her last four outings for Doug O’Neill, and Steve Knapp claimed her out of her last start for $30k. Antonio Fresu stays put and this recently hot barn saddled three winners last Friday and three more on Sunday.
#5 Highlands (2-1) won her first two turf races last year. She disappointed in her next two starts and bounced back with a good runner-up finish at Turf Paradise on April 24. She reconnects with her winning rider Juan Hernandez and figures to stalk and pounce.
#4 Dendera (4-1) was back in a turf sprint on May 10 and was third by a length in a solid effort. She saved ground behind the speed and rallied to miss by a half-length in a $30k/3L affair in her Feb. 16 return, and finished an even fourth as a 35-1 longshot in a turf route on March 29. She won twice in 2021 and has not won since, so I am not too keen on her win chances, but she can hit the board.
Wagers:
#6 to win
Exacta box 5-6
Trifecta 5-6/4-5-6/4-5-6
May 2024 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
May 4 – Vahva ($5.44), Exacta ($13.20)
May 9 – Mosler Time ($10.20), Trifecta ($20.50)
May 9 – Mosler Time/I Can Do It Double ($65.80)
May 10 – Dontim ($11.20), Trifecta ($168.80)
May 11 – Musical Rhapsody/Duvet Day Exacta (SA Best Bet, $9.20)
May 11 – Party With Paddy ($4.20)
May 11 – $5 Golden Hour Double (SA 9, GG 8) – $35.00
May 12 – Special Club ($5.20)
May 12 – $5 Golden Hour Double (SA 9, GG 8) – $59.00
May 20 – Luv to Win ($7.40)
May 21 – Tony Small ($9.80)
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