Choice Is Only The Best

Although it can’t be said with total certainty, Only The Best appears to be the first winner of Bay Meadows’ Malcolm Anderson to be favored in a stakes race at Santa Anita.

A 2-year-old gelded son of Smokester, owned and bred by Alvin Toffel and trained by Brian Lynch, Only The Best is the 3-1 choice on Jeff Tufts’ morning line in today’s $75,000 Sunny Slope Stakes.

The six-furlong Sunny Slope will have nine participants -- after the Friday morning scratch of Jimmy O -- and Only The Best is one of five multiple winners in the race.

After beating maidens at 4-5 in his second start at Del Mar, Only The Best finished sixth in the I’m Smokin, then won the Anderson by four lengths as the 9-5 second choice. Patrick Valenzuela will ride the California-bred.

Race of the day: Belmont Park has New York’s version of the California Cup today. There are seven races for New York-breds, totaling $1 million in purses. The main event is the $250,000 Empire Classic at 1 1/8 miles. The Classic is the final leg of a $500,000 guaranteed pick four. The other races in the wager are the $125,000 Hudson Handicap at six furlongs, the $150,000 Ticonderoga Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf and the $150,000 Mohawk Handicap, also at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Who’s hot: Victor Espinoza. The jockey won three races Thursday at Santa Anita with Voladera, A Reel Tizzy and Dream Day.

Who’s not: Goncalino Almeida. The jockey has begun the Oak Tree meet one of 30.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Rubin’s Rose, Darlin Barbie and A Lil Excess in the seventh, Roll Hennessy Roll, Domestic Dispute and Hell Cat in the eighth, singling Diamond Hope in the ninth and Womanonafasttrack and Princess Nicolette in the 10th.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/34. Money: Previous day/meet total: $8.20/$203.60. Total money bet: $240.