Santa Anita Stakes Spot Plays for Oct. 9

A trio of stakes races on the lawn, two of which are of the graded variety, will highlight the Sunday action at Santa Anita.

Race 5 – Surfer Girl S. (G3)

A field of 10 juvenile fillies will travel one grassy mile in the first black-type race of the afternoon. #8 Excelia (4-1), one of two major contenders in the cast for conditioner Phil D’Amato, put in a strong effort in her U. S. debut at Del Mar most recently and gets the nod in the affair. By Exceed and Excel, the April foal forced a fast early pace in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf before finishing a nice third, and I expect improvement from the dark bay in this spot. Ramon Vazquez retains the mount.

Race 7 – Swingtime S.

Fillies and mares will go eight furlongs on the green with seven set to go postward. D’Amato’s #4 Hamwood Flier (5-2) possesses substantial early foot, and I expect her to lead this field from start to finish beneath Mike Smith. Kodiac gray rolled home to a facile tally on the surface in her U. S. debut in May, which preceded a runner-up performance in the Osunitas S. last time out. The Irish-bred four-year-old fired a bullet five-eighths in preparation for her second start for the barn, and she rates a huge chance with even slight improvement on Sunday.

Race 10 - Zuma Beach S. (G3)

An overflow field of 13 juvenile boys will run one mile on the green in a well-matched finale. #2 Gas Me Up (10-1) has improved with each lifetime try to date for conditioner Peter Eurton. By Hard Spun, the $140,000 yearling purchase graduated in his initial route try at Del Mar last time out, and the dark bay will improve off that effort despite the hefty class rise on Sunday. The March foal blitzed a half-mile last weekend in preparation for his stakes bow, and he will save ground throughout under the guidance of Juan Hernandez.

I also think that Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) third #6 Valiancer (20-1) is worth including at a big number. The chestnut son of Tapiture, one of three in the tilt for Jeff Mullins,  is still a maiden, but he made up a lot of ground despite a troubled voyage most recently, and the colt has a right to move forward while making his third run off the shelf, as well. Kyle Frey retains the mount atop the longshot who will be making one run from well off the early tempo.