Mike Dempsey
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Oak Tree at Santa Anita:
SA Race 4 BC Sprint G1 (12:10 PT)
#5 Gayego 5/2
#9 Fleeting Spirit 6/1
#4 Crown of Thorns 12/1
#1 Zensational 7/5
Analysis: #5 Gayego prepped for this with a visually impressive victory in the Ancient Title (G1) over the main track here. The colt had to steady lightly when in tight early, settled in a nice spot just off the rail and came with a four wide run down the stretch to roll by the field. The colt now has won 4 of 7 on the fake stuff with a couple of runner up finishes. The colt will get a good pace set up here and he looks capable of moving forward as he makes his third start of his current form cycle.
#9 Fleeting Spirit is the wildcard in the race. She was fourth in the BC Turf Sprint last year, beaten 2 1/4 lengths after breaking a step slow. She was off a step slow last out in a 16 horse field in the Prix del'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1), one of the top turf sprint races in the world, beaten a neck by Total Gallery. I love the jock switch to Dettori here and it is interesting Noseda elects to take on the boys on the Pro Ride this year. She needs to break better and she should be flying at the finish.
#4 Crown of Thorns was a good second to #5 Gayego last out in the Ancient Title and looks like he is sitting on a big one here in his third start off the bench. He was sidelined in February of '08 after winning the Robert Lewis (G2) in his first start against winners and has come back a more mature runner and tough to pop a 102 Beyer off a 19-month layoff. This guy has a ton of upside potential and Mandella in his corner. Worth tossing in the mix here at a generous price.
#1 Zensational has been off flat footed in each of his last two starts, breaking fourth in a five horse field in the Pat O'Brien (G1) and fifth and last in the Bing Crosby (G1) two back. I secretly was rooting for a rail draw and got it. If this guy breaks here as he did in his last two starts, he could be in deep waters if some of the speed to his outside angle in on him. He just has the look of the underlay of the day to me at the 7/5 ML odds.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 5,9 / 1,4,5,9
TRI: 5,9 / 1,4,5,9 / 1,3,4,5,8,9