Santa Anita Pick 6 – Sept 30th

Wednesday’s opening day Pick 6 from Oak Tree @ Santa Anita features the Grade 3 Morvich Handicap for three-year-olds and up dashing six and one-half furlongs down the hill. ’08 Breeders’ Cup Turf sprint winner Desert Code tries to rediscover his sharp form.

It is a whole new ballgame now that Fairplex Park is finished. Favs clicked at a 40% rate at that venue, and Pedroza dominated the bullring. Tickets were structured  considering those factors, and things should be much more wide open at Oak Tree. Expect more carryovers, and turf racing is back…yes!

Pick 6 blog has been growing in popularity on a daily basis, and I would like to thank everyone for making this site a success. I will continue to feature the Southern California Pick 6, along with select carryovers from across the country.

Degree of Difficulty: Competitive. On a scale of 1 to 10, the Wednesday Pick 6 from Santa Anita rates a 7.

Possible Singles: Dixie Passion (5th race), Tamar (7th race), California Flag (8th race)

Jarrod Horak’s Oak Tree @ Santa Anita Pick 6 analysis – Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Santa Anita Race 4 (OC-40/1x, 3up, 10T) Off the pace types fared best in the five turf races run at this distance during last year’s Oak Tree stand. #6 Palladian General (6-1) has to desperately need his last and should move forward for profitable 24% 2nd off shelf trainer Carla Gaines. A pair of local bullets for this. #7 Blazing Spirit (8-1) handled turf just fine last time and can go better 3rd off the shelf. #2 Dynamic Range (5-2) has run well in his last 4 turf starts. Place finisher from last came back to score, and the winner (Massone) landed the show in the Grade 2 Super Derby on Sept 19th.

Santa Anita Race 5 (Clm-25/2L, 3up, 6f) Stalkers from middle posts best at this distance last year. #4 Dixie Passion (7-2) drops, turns back, switches surfaces, and fits the winning profile. #2 Charlie And Chris (5-2) drops and attracts Bejarano. Ran well both starts at this distance.

Santa Anita Race 6 (MSW, 2yo, 8T) Rail post 0-23 in flat mile turf races last year. #5 Rapid Heat (5-1) finished a solid 3rd in 2-1 Polytrack bow. He’s out of 15% first grass sire Unusual Heat, and dam has tossed a pair of turf winners. #7 Erbeia (7-2) improved 2nd time out, and dam has thrown three turf winners. #9 Recap (4-1) is out of 20% 1st grass sire Storm Cat, and dam has thrown three turf winners. Pair of bullets for debut. #10 Ironmann (9-2) landed place in a productive turf race at Lone Star to begin career. No threat in a Tapeta stakes event last time. #13 Take A Hard Look (5-1) merits consideration if able to draw in from AE list. Dam has tossed four turf winners, and he came up short in synthetic route bow at 7-2.

Santa Anita Race 7 (OC-40/1x, f&m 3up, 7f) Stalkers and late runners preferred at this extended sprint distance. #3 Tamar (7-2) looked good in Del Mar score off a layoff last time, and Mitchell is 24% with recent graduates trying winners for 1st time. #4 Dish The Dirt (6-1) broke maiden here and can move up following show finish from post 12 off a layoff at Del Mar.

Santa Anita Race 8 (Grade 3 Morvich Hcp, 3up, 6.5T) Downhill races played fair last year with an edge to horses breaking from middle to outer posts. #3 California Flag (8-5) was a gritty winner of the Green Flash off a layoff, and he went all the way in this event last year. #6 Desert Code (3-1) is a 5-time winner here, and he won the BC Turf Sprint last year. Reunites with BC pilot Migliore and can fire a fresh shot. #10 Get Funky (8-1) likes the hillside course and landed the place in this event last year. He has yet to find his best stride in ‘09, but he has earned quality speed ratings and should go better on route to sprint move.

Santa Anita Race 9 (Mcl-25k, 3up, 7f) I liked #2 Panda (12-1) last time, but she never got involved in that route. Turns back and attracts Santiago Reyes. He handles this distance and earned a quality speed rating on Aug 5th. #3 Red Door Drive (7-2) is tagged for the first time following a layoff of more than a year. Baffert has this one now, and he’s 20% with this type of returnee. #13 Boo Too (4-1) owns an ascending speed fig pattern, and #8 Good Newsman (5-2) might appreciate extra furlong in 3rd race off the shelf.

Wednesday (Day 1) Pick 6 Tickets

Budget Play:  $2 Pick Six  2-6-7/4/5-7-9/3/3-6-10/2-8 ($108)

The Big Ticket:  $2 Pick Six  2-6-7/2-4/5-7-9-10-13/3-4/3/2-3-8-13 ($480)

Image: Eclipse Sportswire