Santa Anita: Saturday Stakes Preview

Chandelier Stakes (Grade 1)

Purse: $250,000

Top 3: #7 Executiveprivilege, #9 Slamera, #6 Butterfly Soul

Analysis: This is a large field, but the quality is questionable.  However, there in no doubting the talent of EXECUTIVEPRIVILEGE.  She’s perfect on her career, and I think she wins this one in route to the Breeders Cup.  SLAMERA finished second in the Adirondack Stakes last time out, and looks as though more distance will be right up her alley.  BUTTERFLY SOUL finished a very close second to Exectutiveprivilege at Del Mar over synthetic surface.  Can she put up that kind of effort again on the dirt?

Frontrunner Stakes (Grade 1)

Purse: $250,000

Top 3: #7 Know More, #8 Capo Bastone, #10 Power Broker

Analysis: KNOW MORE is my number one ranked two-year old at the moment, so obviously he’s my pick in this race.  He was beaten in his last, but I felt like he didn’t get the best of trips.  CAPO BASTONE had a powerful maiden victory at Del Mar, but bounced a tiny bit last time.  I expect him to improve in this one.  POWER BROKER is still a maiden, but is worth taking a chance on.  He should like the added distance, as well as the dirt surface.

Zenyatta Stakes (Grade 1)

Purse: $250,000

Top 3:#7 Love and Pride, #6 Include Me Out, #3 Switch

Analysis:LOVE AND PRIDE ships in for Pletcher, and is obviously using this as a prep for the Breeders Cup.  She beat some stiff competition last time out in Royal Delta and It’s Tricky.  Her running style should suit the Santa Anita track very well.  INCLUDE ME OUT has the home track advantage over Love and Pride.  She’s the queen of California, so this will be an interesting test for her.  SWITCH is without question the classiest horse in the group, but has her age slowed her down a bit?  Also, is she best going around one turn?  Tough horse to leave off your tickets regardless.

Awesome Again Stakes (Grade 1)

Purse: $250,000

Top 3:#1 Game On Dude, #7 Richard’s Kid, #9 Rail Trip

Analysis:GAME ON DUDE is my Breeders Cup Classic pick, and I love the jockey change to Bejarano.  He fires with his best every time out.  RICHARD’S KID also has been firing every time out as well this year.  His presence makes the race interesting considering the feud between Bob Baffert’s barn and Doug O’Neill’s barn.  RAIL TRIP is much like Switch, an older horse that is very classy.  His trainer admits that he may have lost a step, but you can never count him out.

Rodeo Drive Stakes (Grade 1)

Purse: $250,000

Top 3:#11 Marketing Mix, #12 City to City, #2 Let’s Go Cheyenne

Analysis:Talk about an extremely balanced field!  Maybe it’s not loaded with any giant super stars, but this will be one of the most exciting races of the day.  MARKETING MIX is my top selection.  I just feel like overall she’s the classiest horse entered.  CITY TO CITY looks strong as well, as she is a winner of three Grade 2 races.  Last time out she finished second in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar.  LET’S GO CHEYENNE was an awesome wire to wire winner in an ungraded stakes last time out, and draws a top jock in Bejarano.  Any horse with that type of front end speed must be respected.