Handicapping: Grade 2 Whittingham, G3 Daytona headline Santa Anita Saturday; Full-Card Selections

By Bob Hill
Tracksideview Feature Writer —-

Santa Anita Picks

May 23, 2020

Two stakes races, the G3 Daytona and the G2 Charles Whittingham, anchor a nine-race card at Santa Anita on Saturday, May 23rd. The barns at Santa Anita are occupied primarily by California-based runners minus any significant number of shippers from point eastward so fields are still compressed there. Nonetheless, it is great to have one of America’s top racing venues back in action. Here are some picks to get you started on Saturday.

Race 5 – G3 Daytona – 5-1/2 furlongs on turf for 4yos and up 5-2-6-7

Four runners in this race have ML odds between 2-1 and 3-1. Any could win this race depending on racing luck and pace. John Sadler has been a hot trainer all spring, and his entry, Cistron (5), owns the most recent win in this group of contenders. He comes in off a win in the G3 San Simeon contested at this same distance on the grass. He’s my pick. Wildman Jack (6) appears to have great upside going forward, but this will be his first start since a trip to Dubai where he won the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint. He’s is the legit favorite at 2-1, but I’ll play against him on the return-from-abroad angle. Stubbins (2) has been off since his fourth-place finish in the BC Turf Sprint last fall. He posted a blistering 34 second workout last week. Texas Wedge (7) is the fourth of the tough quartet, and although I’ve listed him as a non-winner here I won’t leave him off my Pick 4 tickets. Murad Khan (3) is capable of a finish in the superfecta. Sparky Ville (1) and Blameitonthelaw (4) round out the field.

Race 8 – G2 Charles Whittingham – 1-1/4 miles on turf for 3yos and up 7-5-6-1

Chad Brown has shipped Rockemperor (7) here to take on the ML favorite United (5). That one was runner-up to Bricks and Mortar in last fall’s BC Turf on this grass course, and he enters this race off a win in the G2 San Marcos run on February 1st. The third entry worthy of consideration is Originaire (6), an improving 4yo from the barn of Jeff Mullins. There is no confirmed pacesetter in this field, so the intrigue of the race may come in seeing which one goes to the lead. Bold Endeavor (3) has done so on occasion on dirt, so he looks like the most likely candidate to do so here. Traffic will not pose a problem for the late closer types in this small field, which may set Rockemperor up for the minor upset. It will take a big effort to beat the classy United. Desert Stone (1) and Multiplier (2) are candidates for a minor piece. Synthesis (4) looks to be badly overmatched here.

Full Card Selections

Post Time: 3:30 EDT

Race 1 13-7-1-3-11

Race 2 2-3-4-1

Race 3 6-1-4-2

Race 4 2-5-3-1

Race 5 5-2-6-7

Race 6 2-6-4-1

Race 7 7-6-4-2

Race 8 7-5-6-1

Race 9 9-12-7-2