Monday’s 9th race from Santa Anita Park is a starter allowance event for fillies and mares traveling one mile on the turf course (Post Time 7:45 p.m. EST).
No. 2 CLEARLY GONE (5-2) is a sharp Golden Gate shipper for Jonathan Wong and she might like the race flow. Umberto Rispoli booted her home twice on Southern California turf last year and she could easily be along in time.
No. 7 Nice Ice (2-1) chose this race over Saturday’s Sunshine Millions F&M Turf Sprint. I mentioned her as a live longshot in that heat, and this is obviously a much easier spot. Flavien Prat takes the call and the early-pressing mare has won multiple races at this course and distance.
No. 1 Bye Bye Bertie (4-1) won a couple of local flat mile dirt races recently, and she stalked and scored in a turf route at Del Mar last summer. She will probably save ground stalking the pace under her new rider Victor Espinoza.
No. 9 Kleen Karma (15-1) likes this distance and hit the board in five of nine local turf starts. The late runner can get a piece of this at square odds.
Get my Expert Santa Anita Park picks for Jan. 17
Wagers:
No. 2 to win
Exacta Box 2-7
Trifecta 2-7/1-2-7-9/1-2-7-9
Recent Best Bet Winners
Jan. 1 - Sir Alfred James/Souper Highvoltage Exacta ($26.20)
Jan. 12 - Cutefacechubywaist/First Forever Exacta ($33.20)
Jan. 15 - Brickyard Ride/Positivity Exacta ($21.20)