Sprinting at Santa Anita

The Chosen Vron has been nothing short of a win machine with a huge heart sitting at 15 for 20 lifetime. It seems all he does is win whether against California bred sot in open company. He is 10 for his last 11 and the loss came in The Breeders’ Cup Sprint where he was only beaten 5 lengths. He loves Santa Anita and loves 7 furlongs. The Grade 1 winner will be odds on to win The Grade 3 San Carlos and I’ll bet against him.

Elwood Blues rides a 3-race win streak into this. He has never been farther than 6 furlongs, but I believe he will be better at 7. He only gets 4 pounds from The Chosen Vron and while I wish it was more, I think he will get the lead early and get brave. Brave enough to beat the 6-year-old gelding who seems to just keep coming remains to be seen but I like my chances at anything close to the 4-1 morning line.

I’m A Gambler tries the dirt and is somewhat of a mystery. Frankie rides for the hot Glatt barn but he would have to be much better on dirt than turf to win this. Yes, I think he can probably handle the dirt, but that much better I would have to see.

The other Glatt trainee, Ghost of Midnight is 5 for 6 lifetime and handles the dirt just fine. He cuts back from a mile, and we know the Ghostzapper gelding is as honest as they come. I don’t like the pace set up he faces here so I will go in the other direction trying to beat the odds-on favorite.

McLaren Vale is the first one in here I think is simply over his head and not fast enough to beat these.

Super Chief would be a major surprise and upset.

Most of them get beat at some point and it usually comes at a short price and often when you don’t expect it. Elwood Blues would not be a shocker and I will be surprised if his 4-1 morning line holds, but beating an odds-on horse almost always has value somewhere and I will try and find it. Speed is always dangerous.

Let’s hope we get out clear and forget to stop! Enjoy the races.