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SANTA ANITA -- Race #7 -- ROYAL PLACE (#2)
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The 7th race is the Santana Mile Handicap at a mile on the dirt. Par is 109 and this race is basically a classified allowance race. ROYAL PLACE is a guy with a touch of class and is in good form right now. He meets a field that is either questionable on class or questionable on current form and if he fires one of his better efforts he should be tough to beat. Last April on the main track at Santa Anita ROYAL PLACE battled with Buddy Gil all the way to the wire in a classified allowance that was very fast for the 109 level and had figures of 120-123-111+. He followed that with a Grade 3 stakes victory up at Hastings Park on the dirt a couple starts later. He has been in and out of form and threw in some average races on grass along the way. Even though he owns a couple of wins and several placings on turf, I've always thought that a horse with his running style is better suited to dirt. We get our chance at a mile on dirt today. Last time out ROYAL PLACE sprinted a strong 110+ figure on the dirt in a small stakes race on a wet fast track and that effort may have been the perfect tuneup for a strong try on the stretchout.
SKIPASLEW was a nice 3 year old last year and didn't embarrass himself while 3rd in the Grade 2 San Fernando in January with figures of 111-112-108+. He shipped to Fair Grounds last time in a Grade 3 stakes and was 5 wide much of the trip. Obviously if the trip didn't hurt him he might be good for a better effort.
OCEANUS is a 15-1 longshot that seems like he's improving with every start in this country. He was very close to winning an slower than average allowance N2X race with figures of 97-100-104+ but then fired a 109+ sprint effort in the 7 furlong San Carlos a few weeks ago. Maybe he's due for a good exacta/trifecta finish at good odds.
ROYAL PLACE is the spot play win bet today. I'm focusing on the win slot with him but will try some smaller exotics keying him with some horses that are in good form or look like they will appreciate closing into a fast early pace. I'll use SKIPASLEW, SKUKUZA and OCEANUS underneath our spot play. Good luck.
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The 7th race is the Santana Mile Handicap at a mile on the dirt. Par is 109 and this race is basically a classified allowance race. ROYAL PLACE is a guy with a touch of class and is in good form right now. He meets a field that is either questionable on class or questionable on current form and if he fires one of his better efforts he should be tough to beat. Last April on the main track at Santa Anita ROYAL PLACE battled with Buddy Gil all the way to the wire in a classified allowance that was very fast for the 109 level and had figures of 120-123-111+. He followed that with a Grade 3 stakes victory up at Hastings Park on the dirt a couple starts later. He has been in and out of form and threw in some average races on grass along the way. Even though he owns a couple of wins and several placings on turf, I've always thought that a horse with his running style is better suited to dirt. We get our chance at a mile on dirt today. Last time out ROYAL PLACE sprinted a strong 110+ figure on the dirt in a small stakes race on a wet fast track and that effort may have been the perfect tuneup for a strong try on the stretchout.
SKIPASLEW was a nice 3 year old last year and didn't embarrass himself while 3rd in the Grade 2 San Fernando in January with figures of 111-112-108+. He shipped to Fair Grounds last time in a Grade 3 stakes and was 5 wide much of the trip. Obviously if the trip didn't hurt him he might be good for a better effort.
OCEANUS is a 15-1 longshot that seems like he's improving with every start in this country. He was very close to winning an slower than average allowance N2X race with figures of 97-100-104+ but then fired a 109+ sprint effort in the 7 furlong San Carlos a few weeks ago. Maybe he's due for a good exacta/trifecta finish at good odds.
ROYAL PLACE is the spot play win bet today. I'm focusing on the win slot with him but will try some smaller exotics keying him with some horses that are in good form or look like they will appreciate closing into a fast early pace. I'll use SKIPASLEW, SKUKUZA and OCEANUS underneath our spot play. Good luck.
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