Racing at Santa Anita with Marc Doche: Opening Day at the Great Race Place!

The best gift of the holiday season for horse racing fans comes the day after Christmas with the start of the winter meeting at Santa Anita. The return to dirt, increased purse sizes and eight months without racing at The Great Race Place bring additional anticipation for this year’s opening day.

The success of the meet will be measured in the days and weeks ahead, but as per usual, the opener features full fields and quality graded stakes racing.

A pair of $250,000 Grade 1 races, the Malibu for the boys and the La Brea for the ladies, showcase three year olds going seven furlongs on the main track.

After taking three months off following the first defeat of his career, Twirling Candy is listed as the 3-to-1 morning line favorite in the Malibu. He’ll face three main challengers in his quest to win his fifth start in as many tries in races restricted to three year olds.

Two-time Grade 1 winner Smiling Tiger is the second choice at 7-to-2 returning after finishing third in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Rising superstar Alicndor, who brought $1.15 million at Keeneland in 2008, is listed at 4-to-1 as he looks to run his record to a perfect three-for-three. He romped home by over seven lengths in a first-level allowance in his last start across town.

Caracortado is 9-to-2 off a dazzling display of speed in his comeback race on the turf at Hollywood Park, where he was just a tick off the course record. He began his career with five straight victories before disappointing in three starts as the Triple Crown trail heated up.

In the La Brea, Switch was installed as the 3-to-1 favorite off a pair of impressive second place finishes. After coming up short by just half a length against Zenyatta in the Lady’s Secret, she got the place money again in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs.

She’ll be challenged by two-time Grade 1 winner Champagne d’Oro, Always a Princess, Malibu Pier and six others after a pair of late scratches.

The $150,000 Grade 2 Sir Beaufort for three year olds going a mile on the turf and the $100,000 California Breeders Championship for two year olds going seven furlongs on the main track round out the stakes action.

The minimum wager for both the early and late Pick 4’s is back to $1 after having been 50 cents at both Del Mar and Hollywood Park.

We’re off to the races!

Best Bet of the Day (Will calculate ROI based off $2 WPS bet)

Race 1: No. 7 Capture the Call: Lone speed marks a fitting start for the return to dirt.

Late Pick 4

Leg 1 - Race 6 (3,7,9,11): One of the top four choices in the wagering is likely to find herself in the winner's circle. The scratch of the inside speed with Pica Slew could pave the way for Champagne d’Oro to win in front-running fashion.

Leg 2 - Race 7 (5): Off the turf in the Sir Beaufort, which decimates the field and any potential betting value. Sidney’s Candy towers in class over those left and he should cruise to victory.

Leg 3 - Race 8 (2,4,5,9,11): We’ll go five deep in the Malibu using the logical horses.

Leg 4 - Race 9 (2,4,6,7,8): Bottom level claimers close the day with a six furlong sprint and we’ll again go five deep.

Recap: (3,7,9,11) w (5) w (2,4,5,9,11) w (2,4,6,7,8): Total cost of ticket = $100

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches.

Good luck!

Previous Result: N/A

Total for Del Mar meet: (-$554.55)