Like last weekend, Southern California is again the site of the best racing in the country, as Santa Anita Park has four graded stakes races—three on the New Year’s Eve card and one on the New Year’s Day program—in the offing.
Saturday’s $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes (G3) attracted a short field of five, as did Sunday’s $200,000 San Pasqual (G2) including 1-5 morning line favorite Arrogate.
That said, I’ll focus my attention on the two best betting stakes races—the $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3) going a mile and an eighth on the grass and the $300,000 American Oaks (G1) at a 10 furlong trip over Santa Anita’s turf course—both to be contested on the December 31st card.
Our first installment of 2017 will focus on three black type heats next weekend at Santa Anita—the $200,000 San Gabriel (G2) going a mile and an eighth on the weeds, the $100,000 Sham (G3)—a one-mile dirt affair with early Kentucky Derby (G1) implications—and the $200,000 Santa Ynez (G2), a race that kicks off the road to the 2017 Kentucky Oaks (G1) on the West Coast.
Happy New Year and all the best for 2017!
For today’s spot plays at Santa Anita, click HERE.