How to bet With, and Against, Clearly Unhinged in the La Brea Stakes

A well-matched field of 10 sophomore fillies will go postward in the $300,000 La Brea S. (G1) at Santa Anita on opening day. Michael McCarthy’s #9 Clearly Unhinged (3-1) is the morning-line choice in the field coming off of a decent try in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) in her latest performance. Second in the Test S. (G1) in the summer, the Into Mischief filly has earned both of her lifetime victories on this surface and was also a nice runner-up on the oval two back in the Chillingworth S. (G3), as well.

The homebred is lightly raced with just six career races to her credit, and she has versatility in her running style as she is capable of running from on or off the early tempo effectively. I expect the favorite to be close up from the break in this particular spot with Umberto Rispoli in the irons. 

Clearly Unhinged – With 

• $8 trifecta key 9 with 2,4,6 ($48)

Clearly Unhinged – Against

• 50-cent trifecta 2,4,6 with 2,4,6,9 with all ($36)
• $2 trifecta key 6 with 2,4,9 ($12)

#6 Ice Dancing (6-1) is a graded stakes heroine on the course and at the distance, and the gray daughter of Frosted will make big improvement while making her second start since January. The Richard Mandella pupil has run well in most of her career endeavors to date and possesses the early foot to be in the mix from the opening bell, as well. Mike Smith retains the mount. 

The Tim Yakteen-trained #4 Big Pond (5-1) owns two wins and a second from a trio of lifetime dirt tries, including a fine allowance second at Del Mar leading up to this affair. A winner of the Fleet Treat S. in July, the Cal-bred daughter of Mr. Big was a debut winner on the oval in a fine performance, and she seems poised for a big effort from just off of the pace with Frankie Dettori taking the reins. 

#2 Daddysruby (4-1) looked the part in an allowance romp in her latest run and could be the inside speed of the field for conditioner Peter Miller. The gray daughter of Frac Daddy is 2-for-2 on the dirt in her lifetime, with both wins coming locally, and she could get tough to pass late if she clears in the early going of the dash. California-bred gray retains the services of top local pilot Juan Hernandez.