Rather than angles, today the focus is on three items, Winx, Santa Anita and the Fair Grounds. First, the wonder mare Winx won again yesterday at Rosehill, her home track in Australia. Her win streak is gaudy and her continued excellence at 8 years of age is awesome but the way she does it is just as impressive. She goes by everybody in virtually every race. Is this made easier by having smaller fields…yes, but Mick doesn’t think it matters. Her turn of foot is other worldly. Few, if any, horses have her turn of foot. Her acceleration, especially over the last 2 to 3 furlongs is extraordinary. If you haven’t seen her run, catch a replay and stay tuned for her swansong in 3 weeks, it should be special. Santa Anita remains a mess. The trainer colony seems to be truly divided on whether to stay or go with many SoCal regulars showing up at other venues. Today’s races at the Fair Grounds have some representatives from SoCal but not in the numbers that future cards will have if Santa Anita doesn’t fix their track. Let’s hope Santa Anita figures it out before any one else gets hurt. And Chris Garrity has you covered on the Fair Grounds card on this monster race day.
Picks for March 23, 2019:
Rapidly drying tracks with windy conditions. Laurel was fast and Parx was good for training this morning so expect the wind to be more of an issue than the track condition.
Aqueduct Race 1
$8K claimers older boys at 8f. Last chance to qualify for the Starter races next week at Aqueduct. With the scratch of 5-Rogue Nation, go with 2-Borso Vento as the best of the rest to take this very short field all the way around. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche is rounding back into form after his long layoff and gets the best horse in a short field here.
$10 W/P/S 2-Borso Vento
Aqueduct Race 8 Cicada Stakes
3-year-old fillies at 6f. This is always the time of year when trainers are trying to figure out whether their good young horses can stretch out. The runners in here that have tried, have failed, some dramatically. Many others have stuck to their strengths as sprinters. The one filly that has shown ability sprinting and class stretching out is 8-Miss Imperial from the red hot barn of Jason Servis. She returns to a shorter sprint distance after fighting to the end at 7f last out with similar. Look for her to bounce back here followed by 2-Stonesintheroad and 6-Guacamole, both of which could jump up for the top spot on their best day but neither has shown the consistency of the top choice.
$10 W/P/S 8-Miss Imperial
$2 Exacta box 2,6,8
$0.50 Trifecta box 2,6,8
Laurel Race 1
$25K claimer for 3 year olds at 8 f. This is a really good claiming race for just 3 year olds at this time of year. 5-M G Broker is on a roll but has won three in a row for three different barns. The one common denominator is jockey Riccardo Chiappe who retains the mount here. That is a real sign of confidence from a trainer that has not used Chiappe extensively in the past. 2-I’mthetapitnow is taking a huge step up from the maiden 10K level but the barn does well off maiden breakers and fast track is a bit of an unknown for him. 1-Top Hat Warrior looks to hold out at the one turn mile when 8.5 f was too far last out.
$10 W/P/S 5-M G Broker
$1 Exacta box 1,2,7
$0.50 Trifecta box 1,2,7
Parx Race 7
Starter $25K non4 for older girls at 7 f. 1-Dancin Debbie looks much the best in here and everything is in place for another big performance. The price may be short but should be worth it. 4-Bertranda is the alternative but the distance is a big question for this one. Until she proves she can go beyond 6f, look elsewhere.
$20 W/P/S 1-Dancin Debbie
And now for some quickies . . .
Aqueduct Race 5
$8K for older boys at 8f. Very evenly matched field with no one on a good form cycle. Play the most viable option in 5-Avast Matey but do so with great caution. This is definitely the race to go with the paddock pick.
Laurel Race 4
Allowance for older fillies and mares at 8 ½f. Mick has tipped 7-Louise repeatedly as she has run her streak to three straight but this one appears to be a bridge too far. That said, look at her underneath as a good option for a show bet. Otherwise, 5-Belle ‘n Tonic is on a similar form cycle with much better.
Parx Race 8
Optional $50K for 3 year olds at 8f. 5-Spun to Run is the best bet of the day. Super consistent and the speed figs win here, excellent barn and good trainer-jockey combo numbers. Look to this race to pad the bankroll going into the Stakes races at Fair Grounds.