Handicapping: The Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap

By Rick Francis —-

Though the 87th running of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap may lack the legendary star power it carried when the likes of Seabiscuit, John Henry and 3-time winner Game On Dude traversed it’s course, it remains one of racing’s top contests for 4-year-olds and up. A field of seven will head to the starting gate for a run at the “classic” route of one-and-one quarter mile on what should be a comfortable southern California afternoon; let’s take a look at the starters. Good Luck!

Race 8) 1&1/4 Miles Dirt. Purse $400,000. Santa Anita H. presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD Post Time ((04:02PM)

1) Reincarnate (Baffert/Henandez, J.); Good Magic colt makes his 2024 debut after fading finishes in each of his last two sophomore starts, a sixth in the G1 Penn Derby and a weak ninth over the turf in the Twilght. Baffert will send this 4-year-old to the front and try for a gate-to-wire job. Don’t see that happening.

2) Highland Falls (Cox/Geroux); Curlin colt makes his first start west of the Mississippi and brings with him his regular rider Florent Geroux, who’s been aboard in each of his four starts with three trips to the winners circle. He’ll be sitting just off the early pace and is very dangerous in this spot.

3) Mixto (O’Neill/Fresu); this Good Magic colt makes his 5th start here finishing in the money in each of his last two, the Grade 2 San Antonio and San Pasquale; 4-year-old has the skills, however he is but a maiden winner; iffy.

4) Salesman (Mandella/Prat); Irish-bred 7-year-old out of Dubawi is the elder startesman of this group and exits a gate-to-wire win here in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare facing but four rivals. You’re going to get an honest effort from this guy, don’t ignore for these connections.

5) Newgate (Baffert/Dettori); out of Into Mischief, this Baffert 4-year-old has one win and four very close seconds from his last five starts, two of those place efforts coming against a couple of these in the San Antonio and San Pasquale; jockey Dettori returns to the irons.

6) Subsanador (Sadler/Berrios); the first of two 7-time winners entered here all of which came south of the equator; only North American start a fading fourth last out in San Antonio.

7) Newgrange (D’Amato/Espinoza); trainer Phil D’Aamto has this 7-year-old out of Violence rolling having won both the Grade 2’s San Antonio and San Pasquale in game fashion. Bullet work a week ago indicates he’s ready for his Grade 1 photo.

Selections: 7, 2, 4, 5