Saturday November 23, 2019
Race 7 (Starter allowance going one-mile and a sixteenth, 12 entries): #4 SITH LORD (7-2 morning line) looks like the speed of the speed and makes his second start off a five-month layoff. He probably needed his last race, a fourth-place finish behind two runners who enter back in this spot, and could clear off on the front end. We give him the nod over #5 ELECTORAL (5-1), who comes off a better than looked third-place effort at this level for leading trainer Jonathan Wong. This colt is new to routing but has 2-turn pedigree all over: by VERRAZANO out of a multiple route winning mare that has produced two other winning foals, both whom were routers. #3 FRIDAY’S AT SHADY (10-1) gets back to routing after a dominant sprint win as a first-time gelding. He broke his maiden at a 2-turn distance, so we don’t feel the stretch out in ground will be an issue. Also using the second Wong entrant #6 PIONEEROFTHESTORM (4-1), impressive maiden winner #10 AMERICAN CAMP (10-1) and consistent gelding #12 RUSTIC CANYON (9-2) in a wide-open affair.
Race 8 (Maiden Special Weight going one mile on turf, 11 entries): We’ll be singling #5 A. P. PHAROAH (7-5) on our ticket. This son of Triple Crown hero AMERICAN PHAROAH was purchased for $300,000 as a yearling and has been working quickly (and reportedly very well) in preparation for this race. His second dam was a Grade I winner and his half-brother, MORENO, was a Grade I winning router himself. Trainer Blaine Wright is 2 for 3 with his trainees who debut at a mile or longer, so I imagine this colt will be fit enough to run a good race. The question is simply whether he is good enough to win…I think he will be!
Race 9 (Allowance optional claimer going one mile, 11 entries): #6 GETTIN SIDEWAYS (6-1) makes her second start off a 5-month vacation and gets back to routing, which is what she does best. Her first race off the break, a fourth-place finish at this level sprinting, was decent given she was racing at a distance that is too short for her. Now she has a race in the current form cycle and should be ready for a big effort. #5 LITTLE DANCER (10-1) made her career debut on Tapeta at this condition earlier in the month and put up a respectable showing, finishing second behind a Southern California shipper. The Emerald Downs stakes winner merits respect. #10 PLEASE DO (3-1) must overcome a poor post position but figures to sit off a fast pace. Her best races come when she has speed to chase. In her most recent afternoon appearance, she finished second against tougher company while sitting close to a slow pace. Two others make the Pick 4 ticket: #2 BLUE DIVA (7-2), who finished right behind the third pick/morning line favorite last month, and Southern California shipper #8 NOBLE CONTESSA (4-1), a filly who broke her maiden over this track impressively in 2018. If #11 MUSIC BABE (7-2) draws into the race from the also eligible list, we will use her on the ticket as well.
Race 10 ($12,500 claimer going five and one-half furlongs, 10 entries): #7 MOMMY ROSE (5-2) lost by a neck at this level in her most recent start. That said, she failed to get out of the gates quickly that day and was forced to sit farther off the pace than she prefers. She gave herself too much to do. If she gets a more suitable trip, there is reason to believe she can win this time. #9 ROLINGA (3-1) takes a suspicious class drop: after winning a starter allowance over this track on October 24, she enters for a mid-level claiming tag. If she can duplicate last month’s victory, she probably beats this field, so it’s hard to leave her off the ticket. #1 SOCIAL ETIQUETTE (5-1) won at this level three races ago but has finished off the board in her last two starts against tougher company. The class relief back to this condition will help her, and note that jockey Juan Hernandez rode our top two picks in their most recent races but opts to hop aboard this gal. That’s interesting.
THE TICKET
50 Cent Late Pick 4 ($45)
R7: 3,4,5,6,10,12 R8: 5 R9: 2,5,6,8,10 R10: 1,7,9