Check out my Saturday (10-19-24) Santa Anita Park Race 8 analysis below.
SA 8 (Lure, 8T) – Post Time 7:34 PM ET
Primary – #5 EXAULTED, #9 Seal Team
Secondary – #4 Sumter, #2 Man O Rose
Horse Comments:
#5 Exaulted (4-1) won two flat mile graded races last year. He ended his 2023 campaign with a runner-up finish in the Del Mar Mile (G2), and he misfired in all three starts this year. He is 4-for-4 at SA and 4-for-7 at 8T. He sports back-to-back local bullets for this and reconnects with his winning rider Juan Hernandez. A stalking trip is expected and he might bounce back at playable odds.
#9 Seal Team (7-2) makes his first start in 11+ months and Richard Mandella shows a profit with this type of layoff runner. He rallied for the place in his 5T bow (August 2022), and easily graduated at 9T second time out (August 2023). He was third in his first start vs. winners at 8T, and stalked and scored in his next start in an optional-claiming event at 9T. He was last seen in the Twilight Derby (G2) at 9T (November 2023), and he rallied to win by a half-length at 7-1 odds. He beat Silver Knott and Webslinger in the Twilight Derby. Silver Knott captured a trio of Grade 2 races in 2024 and Webslinger won the listed Chorleywood at CD in June. This one is 2-for-2 at SA and his winning rider Umberto Rispoli strings along, and he is training well for this engagement.
#4 Sumter (5-1) has not won in quite some time but managed to hit the board in half of his last eight starts. Richard Mandella’s fresh gelding drilled a local 5f bullet for this Oct. 13 and he enjoys this course and distance.
#2 Man O Rose (5-2) won 7 of his last 9 starts. He has won sprinting on turf and sprinting and routing on dirt. The CA-bred gelding stretched out and dusted state bred stakes foes in the E.B. Johnston at LRC Sept. 14, and he returns to turf and should be all over the pace along with #7 El Potente (12-1).
Wagers:
#5 to win
Exacta 5-9/4-5-9
Trifecta 2-5-9/2-5-9/4
October 2024 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Oct. 1 – Beads ($10.20), Exacta ($28.00)
Oct. 3 – Donegal Momentum/Royal Majesty Exacta ($61.00)
Oct. 4 – Sea Runner ($3.60), Exacta ($9.40), Trifecta ($77.80)
Oct. 4 – SA (races 8-9) – $5 Late Daily Double ($47.00)
Oct. 6 – Iron Man Cal ($4.60)
Oct. 9 – Green Light ($3.42)
Oct. 10 – Major Dude ($6.74)
Oct. 13 – On the Whim ($8.00)
Oct. 17 – Peignoir ($6.02), Exacta ($16.34)
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