Check out my Sunday (5-19-24) Santa Anita Park Race 7 analysis below.
SA 7 (OC-50k/1x, 3&up, 1 1/4 miles turf) – Post Time: 7:11pm EDT
Primary – #5 BIG HAT WILLIE, #2 Moody Jim
Secondary – #1 Calm Sea, #6 Kerry Gold
Horse Comments:
#5 Big Hat Willie (2-1) is the one to beat if he handles the added ground of this race. In two flat mile turf tries last year, he rallied to miss by a neck in October, and stalked, scored, and had his number taken down in November. He blew the break and raced wide from post 11 in his needed dirt route return at Oaklawn on Feb. 24, and pressed outside and edged away to tally by two lengths in a flat mile turf race on April 27. He figures to chase inside speed Calm Sea and his late kick might allow him to wear down that runner.
#2 Moody Jim (3-1) is a likable 8-year-old gelding, and he is still a spring chicken with just 22 starts (5 wins). Ed Moger Jr. claimed him for $32k last June and he stumbled and dumped the rider in his Feb. 10 return in an all-weather sprint. He returned to a preferred turf route and rallied for the show on April 5, and missed by a nose on May 3. Look for the 3-time local winner in the late going in his third start after a layoff.
#1 Calm Sea (5-2) has been competitive without winning in his last three starts at this course and distance (2 runner-up finishes), and his strategy is hardly a secret. He is going to the lead from the inside post under Umberto Rispoli. He is just 1-for-11 and might have to settle for a minor award again.
#6 Kerry Gold (8-1) is 4-for-7 on turf. He won twice in two routes at Golden Gate last year, and moved to the Peter Miller barn and captured a turf route at Del Mar in December. He tailed off after that and got back on track in a nose victory in a flat mile turf race at Turf Paradise on April 16. He is entered for the $50k tag and can come running in the stretch.
Wagers:
#5 to win
Exacta box 2-5
Trifecta 2-5/1-2-5-6/1-2-5-6
Superfecta 5/1-2/1-2-3-6/1-2-3-4-6
Recent Bettor Bet$ 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
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