Santa Anita Recap – Jan 30th

Carnival Queen ($11.60) went last to first at six furlongs to kick off Sunshine Millions day for Gomez/Carava.

Flat mile on the turf for the 2nd race, and Tamarack Smarty ($4.60) rallied for the win under Joe Talamo. Winning conditioner was Mike Puype. Close-up show finisher Norvsky had a troubled journey and was probably best.

Laser Point ($10.80) dueled and kicked clear for a smart win in the 3rd for Gomez/Mullins.

Gato Go Win ($16.80) stalked, pounced, and held on by a head in the 4th under Bejarano. Robert Troeger was the winning conditioner.

Down the dip in the 5th, and Kuro ($10.20) was the winner for Michael Baze/Mike Machowsky.

Finally made it to the pick six, and Quisisana ($15) got her nose down on the line in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint. Bejarano booted home the Mike Puype trainee. No dice for my three players as the best I could muster was a close-up 3rd with 9-1 Dotsy Jean.

Budget Ticket single Tight Precision ($4.40) took a ton of action and ran to her odds with a smart win in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf. Joel Rosario rode the Tom Proctor trainee.

Value top Jeranimo was hardly disgraced in a troubled, close-up 4th in the Sunshine Millions Classic. Eventual winner Bold Chieftain ($12.20) also overcame trouble and rallied for a neck victory over Palladio. The Usual Q. T. weakened to finish last. Russell Baze rode the winner for William Morey Jr.

This every other race pattern is not working for pick six purposes. Red Sun ($3.40) was much the best down the hill for Bejarano/Gaines. My value top Hidden Blessing rallied to finish a close-up 5th, and he could have easily landed the place with a better trip.

My contender Bullfighter kicked clear in the lane but couldn’t quite hang on in a thrilling 4-horse photo. Scofield Barracks ($18.60) got up as Bejarano pulled off a four-bagger. Doug O’Neill was the winning trainer.

Let’s see. I am clicking every other race, and Bejarano rides my Big Ticket single in the finale. Looks like a slam dunk for High Tide Rising ($6.40). It was not easy, but the firster got up by a neck for trainer Doug O’Neill. Five wins on the day for Rafael Bejarano!

I ended with 3 of 6 overall and two singles getting the job done.