Check out my Saturday (3-1-25) Santa Anita Park Race 9 analysis below.
SA 9 (G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, 8T) – Post Time 7:15 PM ET
Primary – #3 EL POTENTE, #1 Mi Hermano Ramon
Secondary – #7 Almendares, #5 Neat, #4 Formidable Man
Horse Comments:
#3 El Potente (2-1) is 5-for-7 at SA and 3-for-5 at 8T. He was part of the trifecta in his last ten starts and won six of those races. He stalked the pace and finished a half-length behind Mi Hermano Ramon in the Lure Stakes at 8T in October and exits a fast win in the G3 Thunder Road at this course and distance. His winning rider Hector Berrios stays put and he is 5-for-5 with Dan Blacker.
#1 Mi Hermano Ramon (8-5) shipped to GP and finished an even 4th of 12 in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Jan. 25. He was 2nd by a neck in the Lure, 1st in the G2 Seabiscuit, and 2nd in the G2 San Gabriel. Flavien Prat takes the call and he should save ground behind the speed.
#7 Almendares (12-1) hit the board in 5 of his last 8 stakes attempts. Phil D’Amato has good stats with this type of layoff runner and he reunites with Antonio Fresu. He is 0-for-4 with three underneath finishes at SA and 1-for-5 with a trio of runner-up finishes at 8T.
#5 Neat (8-1) is 6-for-10 on turf. Last year, he won the Texas Turf Mile, G3 Transylvania, G3 Manila, and the G2 Hall of Fame. This is his first start since October 2024 and he is 3-for-5 at 8T. Jose Ortiz is his new rider and he will try to get involved from off the pace.
#4 Formidable Man (6-1) was part of the exacta in his last five turf routes in SoCal. He rattled off wins in the restricted Oceanside, G2 Del Mar Derby, and G1 Hollywood Derby last year, and shipped to GP, dueled through fast splits, and faded to last of 12 in the G1 Pegasus Turf Jan. 25. He removes blinkers and his winning rider Umberto Rispoli stays put.
Wagers:
#3 to win
Exacta 1-3/1-3-7
Trifecta 1-3-4-5/1-3-4-5/7
Recent Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Feb. 1 – El Potente ($5.00), Exacta ($14.80)
Feb. 3 – Bedard ($3.60)
Feb. 5 – Native Shaman/Capture the Flag/Fuerteventura Trifecta ($33.40)
Feb. 15 – Hall of Fame ($5.40)
Feb. 16 – Scipio ($3.80)
Feb. 17 – Prime and Ready ($3.60), Exacta ($8.00), Trifecta ($43.60)
Feb. 19 – Avant Glory ($7.40), Exacta ($39.00)
Feb. 24 – G W’s Girl/Miss Martini/You’ll Be Back Trifecta ($18.60)
Feb. 26 – Soulmate ($18.80)
Feb. 28 – I’m a Bad Boy ($4.00), Exacta ($6.20)
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