Two on the Turf at Santa Anita
We all love turf racing especially when it is actually on the grass! Saturday at Santa Anita we have a turf sprint down the hill and a turf marathon to as well. Let’s see if we can hit them both.
The Possibly Perfect will go at a mile and a quarter on the grass. We have an odds-on favorite in Mrs. Astor to try and beat. It won’t be easy as she is a tough mare, likes the course and is in her best form ever. It is also a small field without a lot of options.
I land on the lightly raced Starry Heavens. Yes, she was handled by Mrs. Astor in both her US starts since coming from Ireland, but I always say they are not machines and this one is improving. She has had only two starts for Phil D’Amato and get a little better in each one. Pace wise she should again get the jump on the favorite and although she couldn’t close the deal in the past if she improves again pr Mrs. Astor doesn’t fire her best perhaps we can see a reversal in finished.
In The Daytona at six and a half down the hill we have another legitimate odds-on favorite to deal with. Motorious lays over this field on paper and figures to be a handful. If anyone can give him a tussle here maybe Stay Hot can. He won his only start sprinting down the hill and the cut back angle usually plays well on this course. Juan Hernandez is a strong finisher and that is what Stay Hot will need to be able to top Motorious. A fast and or contested pace will help the favorite as much as him but let’s hope we get that anyway for him to at the least have a chance.