Racing At Santa Anita With Marc Doche: The Monrovia

Today’s featured $100,000 Grade 3 Monrovia for older females sprinting six and a half furlongs on the downhill turf course is curiously spotted as the second race on the card. The placement is fortunate, as with more rains looming and scheduled to hit in the afternoon, it appears the race will go off without a hitch over firm turf.

A pair of fillies returning after third place Breeders’ Cup finishes are the top two choices on the morning line.

Unzip Me ran against the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and after not being near the lead early for the first time in a long time, did well to pass horses late. She’s won her last seven starts against females and three of four down this turf course.

Evening Jewel’s third place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint was her second straight show placing after having finished first or second in her previous 11 starts. She has looked a tad sluggish in recent morning works and even flipped on the track in her latest.

With the uncertainty surrounding the latter part of the card due to weather, we’ll take a crack at the early Pick 4 sequence.

There’s also a $120,599 Pick 6 carryover to end the week.

We’re off to the races!

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

Race 8 - #2 McMurtry (3/1 ML) – This Nor Cal shipper appears to be lone speed in a field comprised of primarily turf horses. He gets the weight break with the bug aboard and won in wire to wire fashion in his only start over the dirt.

Yesterday’s Result – Off the board with Two Violins (-$6.00)

Total for 2010-11 Santa Anita meet – (-$15.40)

Early Pick 4

Leg 1 – Race 1 (3,4,6) – Cheap three-year-old maiden fillies start the day sprinting seven furlongs on the main track.

No. 6 Real Rockport is your likely pace-setter at short odds, but is difficult to trust as a single.

No. 3 Dear Maria and No. 4 Officerwasispeedin are logical upset candidates.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (4) – Unzip Me will be difficult to beat after getting the early lead. The only other potential speed is over matched maiden No. 7 Candace Gold to the outside, but her early fractions are slower and she takes off the blinkers.

Leg 3 - Race 3 (ALL) – This allowance race for older maiden females can be won by any of the six entrants so we’ll hope for a price.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (3,5,8,11) – Another sprint down the turf course and hopefully the rains stay away long enough to not affect this race.

No. 3 Blue Jay Attack should relish this extended sprint distance as he rolls from the back of the pack.

No. 5 Rauschenberg finally broke through in his last after five second place finishes to start his career.

No. 8 Red Defense looks to start his career a perfect 4-for-4.

No. 11 Ace of Aces returns off a long layoff and finished second in a stakes race in his only start on this course.

Recap – (3,4,6) w (4) w (ALL) w (3,5,8,11) – Total cost of ticket = $72

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

Good luck!

Yesterday’s Result – (-$56)

Total for 2010-11 Santa Anita meet – (-$426)

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