Racing at Santa Anita with Marc Doche: Wet Weather Wednesday

After nearly 15 inches of rain fell in the week prior to opening day, another overnight storm pounded Southern California as Santa Anita kicks off its first full week of racing.

The new dirt track is listed as sloppy for the first time to start the day and we’re off the turf for the second time in just the third day of the meet.

A handful of scratches leave the early part of the card with short fields, however, there is some value in the late Pick 4 sequence as we look for our first big score of the meet.

We’re off to the races!

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

Race 5 - #2 Warren’s Gridlock (8/1 ML) – Figures to be lone speed with PVal taking over and cutting back to the distance of his maiden win on dirt. He was sharp in his work here 12 days ago and offers great value, if he goes off anywhere near his 8-to-1 morning line.

Monday’s Result – Got all the money with Magic Launch (+$4.00)

Total for 2010-11 Santa Anita meet – (+$1.20)

Late Pick 4

Leg 1 – Race 5 (1,2,7) –  Along with No. 2 Warren’s Gridlock, we’ll also use the La Canada Stables entry of No. 1 Gold Star Status and No. 1a Self Insured. Both will be coming from off the pace and Self Insured has been chasing some sharp horses for much of 2010.

No. 7 Flashmans Papers is also interesting at a price shipping back to this circuit after running in Canada and Phoenix. He likes to win and is the only one with experience over the slop.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (5,9) – Most of these cheap three-year-olds have done a lot of running against each other, so No. 7 Ranger Heartley stands out on the massive drop in class alone.

No. 5 Luv Dragon had a miserable trip in his last after going off favored and his two races prior to that were competitive against better company. Carava gets three works into him off the claim.

Leg 3 - Race 7 (3,4,9) – We’ll go three deep in today’s featured allowance race.

No. 3 Oilisblackgold ran well against some nice horses in his last two after winning clear against much weaker on the dirt at Fairplex.

No. 4 Low Gear Power does his running from off the pace and there should be speed up front to set it up for him. Mike Mitchell should have him ready to fire a big shot first off the layoff and he’s won 4-of-6 at today’s mile distance.

No. 9 Gladding gets a major barn upgrade coming in from Calder and has run well on both the dirt and the slop. He’s been a stand-out in the morning for new trainer John Sadler.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (3,4,7) – Two-year-old maiden colts sprint seven furlongs to close the day and No. 4 Visual Intensity is your most likely winner in his second career start. Joel Rosario rides back for Clifford Sise after running into some trouble breaking from the two hole in the debut.

No. 7 Minutesandtouches drops to the bottom after running against some of the best two-year-olds in the country earlier in the year. Blinkers go back on and four works since his last should have him fit and ready.

No. 3 Twice the Appeal drops from allowance company and gets a jockey upgrade to Garret Gomez, who is over due to start warming up.

Recap – (1,2,7) w (5,9) w (3,4,9) w (3,4,7) – Total cost of ticket = $54

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

Good luck!

Monday’s Result – (-$108)

Total for 2010-11 Santa Anita meet – (-$208)

Total for 2010 Del Mar meet – (-$554.55)