Check out my Friday (1-24-25) Santa Anita Park Race 5 analysis below.
SA 5 (OC-20k/1x, CA-bred, 9T) – Post time 5:34 PM ET
Primary – #9 INVESTALOT, #7 Brazenly
Secondary – #5 Andtheomofthebrave, #3 Big George
Horse Comments:
#9 Investalot (4-1) had early trouble from the inside post, fought restraint inside, and ended up 4th of 9 in the common Dec. 27 turf route (beaten 1 1/4 lengths), and he galloped out in front. He got clear early and graduated by 4 lengths at 8T in September and set the pace and held the place in a $25k/2L affair at 8T Nov. 3. His regular rider Adrian Escobedo stays put and he is 7-for-20 with Ryan Hanson. He drilled a 5f bullet for this Jan. 13 and figures to be more aggressively handled from the outside post this time.
#7 Brazenly (3-1) was part of the trifecta in 6 of his last 9 starts. He sat in midpack from post 10, got to the front, and missed by a nose Nov. 9. Last time, he rallied to finish a close third (beaten 1 length) as the favorite Dec. 27.
#5 Andtheomofthebrave (5-2) overcame a troubled start to rally for the show in his local Mcl-50k turf sprint bow Oct. 19. The winner clicked right back, and this gelding dueled and edged away to break his maiden in a 5T affair vs. state breds Nov. 16 (runner-up next-out winner). He stretched out, set the pace, and missed by a head at 5T Dec. 27. Steve Knapp shows a profit with his second route starters and barn $$ rider Tiago Pereira strings along.
#3 Big George (6-1) rallied to hit the board in 2 of his last 4 turf routes vs. this kind. He reconnects with Hector Berrios and should come running in the lane.
Wagers:
#9 to win
Exacta 9/5-7
Exacta 5-7/9
Trifecta 5-7-9/5-7-9/3
Recent Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Jan. 3 – Roll On Big Joe/For All Mankind/Slider Trifecta ($75.20)
Jan. 10 – Lush Lips ($6.20), Trifecta ($60.60)
Jan. 17 – Sharp Ride ($4.20), Exacta ($12.20), Trifecta ($37.40)
Jan. 18 – Old Pal/Coalinga Road/On the Whim Trifecta ($272.00)
Jan. 20 – Firenze Flavor ($5.40)
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