3/1 (SA): Big Cap & Kilroe (Gr. I's)

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Not true, Great Hunter is in the race.

Isn't it ridiculous that he's listed at 8-1 on the ML? He's horrendous.

Medici Code could pull of a nice upset here. He was training very well at Del Mar on the Polytrack and at one point was being considered for the Pacific Classic. The two conspicuous losses on conventional dirt should keep many away, and classwise, he fits here against a basically Grade 2 calibur field.

War Monger

Awesome Gem

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

War Monger

Awesome Gem

chalk eater..lol

[Mike]

I'm without a wager at SA except for the Big Cap. I'm going to toss Go Between form the underside of my Monterrey Jazz exotic keys, and focus on a larger $$$ amount on a box of Medici Code and Monterrey Jazz

[pick4]

John Shirreff's has been aiming for the Santa Anita Handicap with Tiago all winter. His two races this meet have been very good. He wasn't cranked up in his return race the San Fernando and the top two horses battled each other 1-2 around the track. In the Strub Stakes, the trainer wanted Mike Smith to have Tiago well off the pace for the first half-mile. The winner Monterey Jazz ran an insane race and one I can't imagine him replicating.Tiago is 6-1 and he might be between 4 and 6-1 when they go to post. He's a multiple Grade 1 winner on dirt. He's had three very good works since the Strub ending with a minute and three fifths breeze earlier this week. If he's good enough, and I believe he is compared to his competition, he'll run a good race and probably win the Big Cap.

[pick4]

War Monger is a good horse and he might be good enough to beat these horses. However he's shipping out west for the first time and while he's probably not facing a true Grade 1 field, these horses are better than the ones he has raced with thus far. War Monger is 8/5 morning line and he's a bet against as a heavy favorite. I think there will be enough pace here with Storm Military and Willow O Wisp that Out of Control will have a perfect setup to stalk, pounce and have enough to hold off the late close of War Monger. If Out Of Control is anywhere near the 4-1 m/l odds when they go to post he will be a good horse to wager on.

[Pedigree Ann]

So instead of cheering at having a 14-horse field in a major race you grouse about the quality. Heads up, lads - 14-horse fields of the past contained questionable horses, too, who got real weight concessions (105 lbs vs 130 on the top-weight) to give them a shot. Not every SA Hcp winner has been one for the ages, either - do the names Azucar, Olhaverry, and Linmold ring any bells? Milwaukee Brew, who won this one twice (the first such dual winner who didn't have help from the stewards' room), didn't look like much, either, until he got to run 10f.

If you have a star, or two or three, you get a small field. If you don't have a star, you get a big field and an interesting betting contest. Be thankful for what you have, and shed a tear for the grand old Gulfstream Park H, once a 10f test of champions, like Round Table, Coaltown, Armed, Kelso, Pretense, Forego, etc., now merely a shadow of its former self.