PTF’s Santa Anita Memorial Day Preview
By PTF - May 27th, 2024
I’ve always loved going racing on Memorial Day weekend. Some of my fondest memories center around Fair Hill Races. For many years, I’d go visit Sean Clancy at his place in Landenberg, PA. We’d barbecue, drink beer, talk form, and invite over whomever happened to be in the area. Racing at Fair Hill was wild because there was wagering, but it was on track only. Couple that with the bizarre rule that wins in these nearly no purse training races counted against horses’ conditions and you had a recipe for getting a major advantage. I won’t say anything more about that now – I think the statute of limitations may still be in effect – but suffice it to say, those were some good days of betting that paid for many a beer and barbecue.
No live racing this Memorial Day. I’ll be on TV covering this stakes-festooned card for Sky Sports Racing. I’ll give a final reminder that there’s a contest today from our friends at Xpressbet and the way it lines up looks excellent for tournament play. Get involved at xpressbet.com/tournaments.
I thought I’d share a few of my ideas for Plus subscribers, as much to help me organize my own thoughts as for any other reason.
Let’s start in Race 6, an open-looking dirt claimer.
I’ll look to lock this up with two horses, preference given to #7 CRYPTO CRAZE, who has several attributes that I like. Despite the turnback in distance, he looks to be the main speed on paper, and that gives him an appealing combination of speed and stamina. He’s run three pretty good races and might be better than the competition.
#10 Pat’s Paddock Pick is one I wouldn’t mind having on side in some combinations. He’s racing at a new low level and I think the form of the last race was good for what it was – three of his four opponents returned to improve their figs and the fourth got involved in a big sped duel next out.
Race 7 is a one-mile turf starter with a big full field.
I’m hoping this is a case where we can get a quick enough pace where the theoretically faster horses end up disadvantaged and thus we can get a price.
#9 NASHOBA’S JOY (15-1 ML) requires some imagination but I think the race could be run to suit this beautifully-bred gelding. His lone win came over this course and distance and his downhill try three back was way better than it looked. He earned a career best fig while very much against the flow. The last race wasn’t anything to write home about but that form has held up well with some solid figure improvement from two of the three to run back. This is a significantly easier spot on the drop and I’m hoping he makes one run and can get up into the top three at least.