ARCADIA, Calif. -- California racing is known for one thing above all: speed. Whether it be on the dirt or grass, you’ll hear analysts around the country talking about “California speed.”
We’ll get plenty of that in this year’s rendition of the Grade 3 Palos Verdes, a six furlong sprint over the main track at Santa Anita. The field came up light - there are only six runners - but not light in quality. We see the return of last year’s winner, Big City Lights, along with an infusion of fleet-footed runners.
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It’s a chance at a graded stakes win for older horses early in the year - let’s meet the field, and make a wager.
Santa Anita Park. Race 7. Grade 3 Palos Verdes. 6F, dirt. 4+up. $100,000.
1. Big City Lights. 2/5. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Richard Mandella.
The winner of this race last year, Big City Lights continued his run of good form afterward, finishing in 3rd in both the Grade 2 Triple Bend and Grade 2 Pat O’Brien stakes. He then went on to wins in the Cary Grant and California Cup Sprint. There’s no Raging Torrent or The Chosen Vron in this field; no need to go any further: outside of something exceptional happening - he’s your winner.
Comment: winner.
2. Anarchist. 10/1. Jockey: Edwin Maldonado. Trainer: Doug O’Neill.
Anarchist comes in as the co-leader in lifetime earnings in this field, alongside Big City Lights. He’s only won 3 times in his career, but his starts are largely against good fields in tough stakes. He didn’t win in 3 runs last year, all of them in stakes company. He has three lifetime runs at Santa Anita, all of them resulting in second-place finishes. If this race were in 2023, I think we’d have him on top; it isn’t, so we’ll toss.
Comment: toss.
3. Roll On Big Joe. 5/1. Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. Trainer: Robert Hess.
Roll on Big Joe’s only run in a graded stakes was a solid one, a 2nd-place finish behind the Sprint Championship behind eventual Breeder’s Cup winner Straight No Chaser. He’s a bit outclassed by Big City Lights in this spot, but he’s clearly amongst the best at the next level. He’s been no worse than 3rd in his last 4 outings, and should be a solid competitor in here. Expect him to hit the board, but not win.
Comment: include in exotics.
4. Bartholdy. 6/1. Jockey: Tyler Baze. Trainer: Steve Knapp.
Bartholdy’s career arc to this moment has been winding: he’s a son of Mendelssohn, and the connections tried to make his career go on the turf, to no avail. After a series of barns, he landed with Steve Knapp, who made the proper decision and made him a dirt runner. He’s won 3 of his last 4, including 2 wins at Santa Anita. If you were going to try an upset here, it’s Bartholdy; this feels like to far of a step, but we’ve seen far stranger than him winning.
Comment: second-best.
5. Mbagnick. 20/1. Jockey: Kent Desormeaux. Trainer: Marcelo Polanco.
Mbagnick comes into this race off a good effort in his previous race, 6 furlong affair over wet go on the main track at Santa Anita. He hasn’t won since a race at Delta Downs in December of 2023, and seems to be in pretty deep here. Potential saving graces: you’re going to get a great price; his sire, Practical Joke, is a top sire; jockey Kent Desormeaux has own 3 of his first 11 races this meet at Santa Anita. All of those lead to a singular conclusion: he’s not winning.
Comment: toss.
6. For All Mankind. 8/1. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: John Sadler.
For All Mankind last won in August at Del Mar. His most recent run, however, was a solid one alongside Roll On Big Joe, whom he trailed by less than a length at the wire. If you think Roll On Big Joe has a great shot here, bet For All Mankind instead: he’s not coming in off a win, and will almost certainly go off at more favorable odds. Sadler’s horses have been peppering the board during this meet at Santa Anita; For All Mankind could certainly add to those totals.
Comment: toss.
The Sporting Tribune Wager:
$.50 Late Pick 5, starts race 6:
2,7,8 / 1 / 7,8,9,10 / 4,8 / 2,4,10,12 Wager total: $48.
$3 Late Pick 3, starts race 8:
7,8,9,10 / 4 / 2,4,10 Wager total: $36.
