Jockey Race Is Tightening Up

With five weeks left of Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet, the jockey race has really tightened.

Through Sunday, Tyler Baze leads with 43 winners, one more than Rene Douglas and two more than Pat Valenzuela. The latter will lose some ground this week because he begins a five-day suspension today for a disqualification last week.

Baze, who has had 14 more mounts than Douglas, is named on five horses this afternoon while Douglas has three.

The best opportunities for Baze to visit the winner’s circle are Singin Devil in the first race, a $62,500 claimer for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs, and I’ll Be Watching in the seventh, a $52,000 allowance for California breds at one mile on the turf.

Douglas’ mounts are Pindaric, who won her California debut on Jan. 20, Golden Rahy, a comebacker in the fifth, and Ms Mintons Excess in the seventh.

Race of the day: Anew, an eight-length winner against maidens in his second career race on Feb. 9, will try for another victory in today’s ninth at Gulfstream Park. Code Cracker and Superior Odds are the other main contenders in the third leg of the pick four.

One for the road: Contemptuous should win for the second time in 17 starts in today’s sixth at Aqueduct. Apprentice Channing Hill will ride the 4-year-old daughter of Gold Token for Brian and Sandy Miller and trainer Kelly Breen in the $44,000 allowance for New York breds at a mile and 70 yards.

Exotically speaking: A place pick all using Singin Devil in the first, Cotopaxi in the second, Go Bye Bye and Burnished Steel in the third, Indian Flare in the fourth, Exterior in the fifth, John The Mail Man, Viento Fuerte and Lakeside Trail in the sixth, Carano and Budget Surplus in the seventh and Jake Can’t Wait and My Universe in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 0/128. Money: Previous day/meet total: $0/$693.60. Total money bet: $908.