Results, Santa Anita Saturday Race 1 — won $1,270

see-full-size-imageTrainer Jerry Hollendorfer was also part owner of #6 The Major, who won this race as a first-time starter showing  decent work outs.

As expected, #8 Eddie the Hat went directly to the lead, but swerved to the right so severely at the break that he couldn’t be seen on the head-on replay for about five seconds. Jockey Tyler Baze straighted out “The Hat” and he led down the backstretch and to the top of the stretch. But he stopped quickly in midstretch as The Major, ridden by Patrick Husbands, eased to the lead and held off a mild late rally by #4 Only Be Cause.

I bet $200 on #2 Benezit at 7-to-2 and $150 on #6 The Major, who paid $21.60.

To watch a replay of this race, go to www.calracing.com.

PGM PP# NAME JOCKEY TRAINER ODDS FN
1 1 Prince Novetti (KY) Bejarano R Bell, II T 7.80 6
2 2 Benezit (KY) Flores D McCarthy S 3.60 4
3 3 Afleet Magic (NY) Espinoza V Hess, Jr. R 13.40 5
4 4 Only Be Cause (KY) Rosario J Baffert B 2.50 2
5 5 Final Journey (CA) Talamo J Jones M 39.90 8
6 6 The Major (KY) Husbands P Hollendorfer J 9.80 1
7 7 Philly Slew (CA) Olguin G Gregory W 20.50 3
8 8 Eddie the Hat (KY) Baze T Stute G 1.90 7
 
Pgm Win Place Show
6 $21.60 $8.80 $7.00
4 $4.20 $3.40
7 $12.80
 
Exotic Payoffs
$1.00 Exacta paid $48.10 (6-4)
$1.00 Superfecta paid $2993.00 (6-4-7-2)
$1.00 Trifecta paid $732.60 (6-4-7)

Results, Santa Anita Wednesday Race 1 — lost $350

Uncle Jeep with jockey Garrett Gomez won without difficulty after being bet to 4-to-5

Uncle Jeep with jockey Garrett Gomez won without difficulty after being bet to 4-to-5

He failed as the favorite at this class level three straight times, but on Wednesday jockey Garrett Gomez got #4 Uncle Jeep to finally break his maiden.

Trained by Mike Mitchell, this horse was no secret, as he closed at 4-to-5 to pay just $3.80.

The race began with #1 Eddie the Hat zooming to a clear lead down the backstretch with Uncle Jeep stalking him just a length or two behind. At the top of the stretch Uncle Jeep challenged the leader who tried to go with him. But Eddie the Hat couldn’t match strides and weakened.

It was Gomez’ first chance riding Uncle Jeep and his win continues the great recent success he and Mitchell have had together, winning 13 out of 36 races before this.

I was watching the tote board on a couple of second timers and ended up betting $200 on #6 Hammurabi at 9-to-2. Also, I put $150 on 18-to-1 shot #2 Cracked Code, who was making his debut. 

To watch a replay of this race go to www.calracing.com

PGM PP# NAME JOCKEY TRAINER ODDS FN
1 1 Eddie the Hat (KY) Nakatani C Stute G 1.70 2
2 2 Cracked Code (FL) Talamo J Mollica M 18.90 3
3 3 Khurt Harry (CA) Espinoza V Abrams B 28.90 6
4 4 Uncle Jeep (IL) Gomez G Mitchell M 0.80 1
5 5 Pemba At U. T. K. (CA) Fong, Jr. F Ho H 41.40 4
6 6 Hammurabi (FL) Enriquez I Matlow R 4.60 5
 
Pgm Win Place Show
4 $3.60 $2.20 $2.10
1 $2.80 $2.80
2 $3.20
 
Exotic Payoffs
$1.00 Exacta paid $4.50 (4-1)
$1.00 Trifecta paid $15.90 (4-1-2)

Wednesday, Santa Anita Race 1 — 1 p.m. post time

Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races

Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races

Maiden claiming $50,000, 6 furlongs, 3 year olds

Possible overlays                   Morning line

#1 Eddie the Hat                               3/1
#2 Cracked Code                              10/1
#6 Hammurabi                                  4/1

The obvious horse in here is #4 Uncle Jeep, but the odds on this one are almost certain to be minuscule. Uncle Jeep was the beaten favorite in his last three races, he is ridden by money magnet Garrett Gomez and Mike Mitchell is by far the most accomplished and recognized trainer of the six in here.

Uncle Jeep’s morning line is 4-to-5 and even if he goes off at even money, he would only be a good bet if you thought Uncle Jeep had 65-to-70 percent chance of victory. That’s a difficult argument to make, considering this horse so far has lost five sprint races at this class level.

His previous jockey Victor Espinoza jumps to #3 Khurt Harry, and I don’t like him either because he raced greenly in his initial race on Dec 27. On that day, Khurt Harry broke slowly, remained in last on the turn and zig-zagged through the stretch while never showing anything.

However, second-timers #1 Eddie the Hat and #6 Hammurabi both ran OK in their debuts, posting Beyer Speed Figures of greater than 50. Richard Matlow, the trainer of Hammurabi, has been winning at 30 percent second time out for two years now, while Eddie the Hat flashed speed in a turf sprint and has four good workouts on his ledger.

Finally, debuter #2 Cracked Code has a shot, as the owners De Renzo & Hartly won with their only first timer. That horse was trained by Jeff Mullins and it paid $10.40 on Aug. 8.

I will bet $200 on both #1 Eddie the Hat and #6 Hammurabi at odds of 5/2 or more. Also, at 6/1 to 19/1, I’ll take a $150 shot to win on #2 Cracked Code.

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