A Grade 1 for fillies and mares on the grass at Santa Anita with an eight-horse field. They’ll go a mile and an eighth and I will be going back at a filly I bet last out when I really expected her to win. She came up a tad short finishing second, but she was off a lay-off and making her first start for a new barn that just happened to be Richard Mandella.

I though May Day Ready always had talent and more in the tank. The move to Mandella, with nothing against her prior trainer was a big positive for me. She had a nice trip swinging out to make a serious run but could not quite get up. This is only her second start at this distance, and she had trouble the first time she tried it. She has been flawless at a mile and a sixteenth so I think this trip will suit her just fine.

She will need a career best race to win this but in the second start off the bench, at this distance and for this barn I view that possibility as quite likely. Antonio Fresu got to know her last out and that should help as well. I will be looking for a big race from May Day Ready and I’ll play the race accordingly.

The Delaware Oaks 2026

This week I thought we’d try something new. At Past the Wire we have developed a model based on my handicapping techniques. I have been using and perfecting it the […]

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The Just a Game Stakes 2026

We’ll start things off Belmont Stakes Day is Race 7, the Grade 1 Just a Game at a mile on the turf. When I say start things off, I mean […]

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The Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Meet Begins

The Wednesday card is drawn. The Past Performances are out. We have a host of New York Bred Stakes to get things underway. Where to begin? I went with NYRA […]

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