Santa Anita: Baffert duo formidable in Grade II San Antonio

TSV Staff Selections —-

SANTA ANITA

Race 8) Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes 1&1/16th Miles Post Time 7:02 EST

Mor Spirit (5), Baffert/Smith; 4-year-old makes his 2017 debut after a somewhat rank effort sprinting in the Grade 1 Malibu here in late December. The sprint to route angle for Baffert is a very strong 27 percent, so look for this ridgling out of Eskendereya to return to winning form.

Hoppertunity (1), Baffert/Prat; 2016’s winner brings it every time out, however today he enters of back-to-back disappointing off the board efforts here and at Churchill; they don’t stay down for long in this barn.

Hard Aces (7), Sadler/Gonzalez; 7-year-old returns to a distance that’s put him on the board in nine of thirteen tries; his speed maybe just a notch below the top two, but should be enough to find a spot in exotics.

Accelerate (6), Sadler/Baze; this Lookin At Lucky colt can surprise here as he’s finished one across the board in his last three starts, all graded, including a nice second in the short field G2 San Pasquale.

Selections: 5, 1, 7, 6

Cover Photo: Bob Baffert; Benoit