SANTA ANITA: SEVEN SET TO GO IN GRADE 1 SHOEMAKER MILE

By Rick Francis —-

Farhaan looks to upset the Grade 1 Shoemaker; All photos by Benoit

Race 7) 1 Mile. (Turf) Shoemaker Mile S. Grade I. Purse $400,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD.
Post Time: 7:00/ 6:00/ 5:00/( 4:00)

Heart to Heart (1), Lynch/Leparoux; tough 5-year-old out of English Channel just missed last out in the G1 Makers Mile at Keeneland; however his worst performance in quite some time was in this contest a year ago over a course he’s yet to hit the board in two tries.

What a View (2), Black/Baze; bested Cal-breds here last out and his two prior Santa Anita starts had this Vronsky gelding coming up a head short in both the G2 Arcadia and the Grade 1 Kilroe; owns six wins on the course; should be there at the end.

Bal a Bali (3), Mandella/Smith; was a head better than the View in the Kilroe, but his last attempt over a wet go at Churchill on Derby day produced his worst turf finish in close to two years. 7-year-old by Put It Back has a pair of firsts and thirds on the SA lawn and should be part of a blanket finish in this.

Farhaan (4), D’Amato/Prat; 8-year-old by Jazil makes his third start in the D’Amato barn, and showed in improvement in each of his first two, battling gamely two back to finish second over OC’s and in last rallying late to win the G3 Thunder Road; trainer is solid in this spot.

Free Rose (5), Baltas/Arroyo; 4-year-old Munnings gelding along with trying the distance for the first time, makes his 2017 debut. Sidelined for almost five months, he’s been working steadily since April, but may need one especially against this group.

Gangster (6), O’Neill/Gutierrez; 5-year-old Street Boss son can’t seem to find his spot, as he’s been inconsistent on both the main and turf tracks around the country; a Grade 1 contest is a tough place to find yourself.

Bolo (7), Gaines/Nakatani; 2-time winner of G2 Arcadia faded to third last out in the Thunder Road, a contest that set-up perfectly for him. In the money with all seven of his SA turf starts, so you have to keep for exotic purposes.

Selections: 4, 3, 2, 7