How to bet the 2022 American Stakes

A trio of black-type events, two of which are graded, lead the action at Santa Anita on Sunday. The finale features a well-matched field of 10 that will travel one mile on the lawn in the $100,000 American S. (G3).

Group 3 victor #1 Ecrivain (4-1) never factored in the San Francisco Mile (G3) at Golden Gate last time out after drawing an impossible 14 post, but the five-year-old comes in fresh with an inside post on Sunday, and I am expecting big improvement from the homebred.

Trained by Richard Mandella, the son of Lope De Vega gave a nice impression of himself when a smart allowance third in his stateside debut two races prior on the surface. The chestnut faced some of the top horses in Europe in 2021, and the French import lands in a field lacking an abundance of class, overall. Ecrivain has been training in swift fashion as of late and gets reunited with strong turf pilot Umberto Rispoli.

I am not sure what caliber of horse that #2 Hong Kong Harry (4-1) has been running against since coming to the U.S., but the Phil D’Amato trainee has looked the part visually in posting back-to-back victories. The gelded five-year-old has made mostly easy work of a pair of allowance fields in succession on the course, and even slight improvement in this event will see him challenging late with Ramon Vazquez retaining the mount.

#7 Tarantino (12-1) is the value of the field in his second assignment since arriving in the Ed Moger barn. By Pioneerof the Nile, the four-year-old posted some good results on the dirt last season, but he has always given me the impression of a colt who is better on the green. Kentucky-bred might need one off the shelf while making his 2022 bow, but at his price, the bay is surely worth including. Juan Hernandez will be in the silks atop the contender.

#3 Vannzy (7-2), #4 Gregdar (10-1), and Team Valor’s #8 Homer Screen (15-1) also will be included in the gimmicks.

American Wagers

• $15 win and place #1 Ecrivain ($30)
• 50-cent superfecta 1 with 2,7 with 2,3,4,7,8 with 2,3,4,7,8 ($12)
• 50-cent superfecta 2,7 with 1 with 2,3,4,7,8 with 2,3,4,7,8 ($12)