A Big Field Day for Bettors
It remains to be seen how long the trend will last, but bettors should enjoy it while they can at Santa Anita.
Large fields have been the norm so far in the winter-spring meet and there is more of the same today.
The nine-race program drew 109 horses, and five races drew 12 or more.
Eight horses are scheduled to go in the $200,000 San Pasqual Handicap, the first step on the road toward the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap on March 2.
Second to Tiznow in last year’s Santa Anita Handicap, after beating him in the Strub Stakes a month earlier, Wooden Phone is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the San Pasqual, which goes at 11/16 miles on the dirt.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Wooden Phone, a 5-year-old, Florida-bred gelding, won his comeback on Nov. 14 at Hollywood Park.
In the San Pasqual, Wooden Phone should be able to make the lead without much effort and may never look back under David Flores.
The Bobby Frankel-trained and Frank Stronach-owned entry of Euchre and Milwaukee Brew is the 2-1 second choice, but there is some doubt about Euchre’s participation.
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Race of the day: The sixth is an interesting maiden race for 3-year-old colts and geldings at 61/2furlongs, with seven first-time starters, including Gold Mine, a son of Mr. Prospector trained by Wayne Lukas; Puerto Banus, a $345,000 2-year-old trained by Baffert, and Metaphysics, a gelded son of 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup.
Who’s hot: Lil Sister Stich. The 5-year-old Seattle Bound mare has won three in a row on turf and tries for another in today’s $100,000 Work The Crowd Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.
Who’s not: Baffert. The leading trainer the last five winter-spring meets has won with only one of his first 28 starters.
Exotically speaking: A pick four using Don’t Holler, Gold Mine, Relentless Seller, Puerto Banus and Metaphysics in the sixth, singling The Price Spirit in the seventh and Wooden Phone in the eighth, and using Fadi, Apollicee and Memo To Mike in the ninth.
Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/24. Money: Previous day/meet total: $15/$164.80. Total money bet: $138.