It’s a Full Day for Spawr
Bill Spawr, who holds a three-winner edge over Bobby Frankel in the trainers’ race (14-11), will be busy today at Santa Anita.
Spawr, the last trainer not named Bob Baffert to win the title at the Santa Anita winter-spring meet--he led in 1995-96--has runners in four of the first five races.
In the opener, Yankee Pirate will be trying to end a seven-race losing streak as he drops to the $10,000 level and stretches out again.
In the second, the trainer will send out recent winner Bright Sunday and 9-5 favorite Starship Saratoga, who is the one to catch in the mile race.
Fairway Foe drops two levels in the third, searching for his fourth victory in seven tries at Santa Anita. Road To Kisses, a recent Spawr claim, is the 9-2 third choice in the fifth.
Frankel, who has started 17 fewer horses than Spawr at the meet, will send out first-time starter Royal Gem in the fourth and Narasimha in the seventh.
Race of the day: The fourth is a contentious maiden race at 61/2 furlongs on the turf. Golden Arrow, who is bred for the surface and who is adding Lasix for his second start for trainer Neil Drysdale, is the 3-1 morning line choice.
Who’s hot: Sharp Park. The 3-year-old Distinctive Pro colt will be looking for his fourth consecutive victory in today’s second race at Golden Gate Fields.
Who’s not: Mikala’s Starr. Later on the card at Golden Gate, this 5-year-old mare will try to end a 20-race losing streak.
Exotically speaking: Exacta boxes in the fourth keying Golden Arrow with Fall For Me, Royal Gem and Hecandigit.
Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/90. Money: Previous day/meet total: $14.60/$563.20. Total money bet: $512.