Player Quick Pick: Santa Anita Park 4/25/2015
With the Kentucky Derby only a week away, many horseplayers might decide to take the weekend off. That would be a mistake. There's great racing all over the country this weekend. One of the best races on which to bet is the Grade 3 Last Tycoon Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Saturday.
He went off at 5 to 1 odds. He won't go off at 5 to 1 odds in this since he's a logical contender, but 3 to 1 odds or even 7/2 odds is a possibility. That would be just fine since Powerfoot appears to be coming into his own, picks up jockey Rafael Bejarano, and has a win and a third place finish out of 4 races at this distance. Rafa could put the son of Powerscourt as close to the pace as he wants to, giving this one a serious tactical edge in this event.
8-Abbey Vale - 3/1 - Phil D'Amato trains this Irish import that has done nothing of note since arriving to the states in 2014.
In 3 races, Abbey Vale has won a $40K optional claimer, got pulled up and vanned off in a $62.5K optional claimer, and won a $62.5K optional claimer in a somewhat slow time at 1 1/8 miles over the grass. Now, D'Amato puts Abbey Vale into a Grade 3. What's to like? Abbey Vale has been training brilliantly in the morning, D'Amato wins 28% with horses that he enters into graded stakes races and this isn't a stellar field. Plus, Abbey Vale's odds figure to drift up some. D'Amato also wins 28% with his last out winners. Some big signs point to this guy running well on Saturday.
7-Quick Casablanca - 3/1 - This 7-year-old has every right to run huge in the G3 Last Tycoon Stakes. Out of 4 races at the distance, Quick Casablanca has a second place and 2 third place finishes.
The Until Sundown horse is trained by the brilliant Ron McAnally. Jockey Gary Stevens rides. Quick Casablanca failed miserably in his last, the $75K Thunder Road, but that race was at 1 mile over the turf. This race is at a distance that suits him much better. One big knock is that Quick Casablanca needs pace in order to win. The pace could be very slow in this event, giving him way too much to do as they turn for home. But he's got a shot and the off odds should make him an overlay.
Santa Anita Park - Race 8 at 7:07 pm ET
G3 Last Tycoon Stakes for 3&Up going 1 1/4 mi. (T)
2-Powerfoot- 4/1 - This Neil Drysdale trainee showed up big in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey at 1 1/2 miles in his last when finishing third behind Ashleyluvsugar and Finnegan's Wake.He went off at 5 to 1 odds. He won't go off at 5 to 1 odds in this since he's a logical contender, but 3 to 1 odds or even 7/2 odds is a possibility. That would be just fine since Powerfoot appears to be coming into his own, picks up jockey Rafael Bejarano, and has a win and a third place finish out of 4 races at this distance. Rafa could put the son of Powerscourt as close to the pace as he wants to, giving this one a serious tactical edge in this event.8-Abbey Vale - 3/1 - Phil D'Amato trains this Irish import that has done nothing of note since arriving to the states in 2014.
In 3 races, Abbey Vale has won a $40K optional claimer, got pulled up and vanned off in a $62.5K optional claimer, and won a $62.5K optional claimer in a somewhat slow time at 1 1/8 miles over the grass. Now, D'Amato puts Abbey Vale into a Grade 3. What's to like? Abbey Vale has been training brilliantly in the morning, D'Amato wins 28% with horses that he enters into graded stakes races and this isn't a stellar field. Plus, Abbey Vale's odds figure to drift up some. D'Amato also wins 28% with his last out winners. Some big signs point to this guy running well on Saturday.7-Quick Casablanca - 3/1 - This 7-year-old has every right to run huge in the G3 Last Tycoon Stakes. Out of 4 races at the distance, Quick Casablanca has a second place and 2 third place finishes.
The Until Sundown horse is trained by the brilliant Ron McAnally. Jockey Gary Stevens rides. Quick Casablanca failed miserably in his last, the $75K Thunder Road, but that race was at 1 mile over the turf. This race is at a distance that suits him much better. One big knock is that Quick Casablanca needs pace in order to win. The pace could be very slow in this event, giving him way too much to do as they turn for home. But he's got a shot and the off odds should make him an overlay.ADVERTISEMENT
