$400,000 Santa Margarita Stakes Analysis
2daysrace
Senior Member
Warrens Veneda is two for two since Tiz Midnight held her off to win a narrow decision across town in the Grade 2 Bayakoa Dec 6. She turned the tables on Midnight to start her winning streak Jan 11 and returned to win a Grade 2 when making a big move into the stretch in the Santa Margarita Feb 14. She is the one to hold again and her home court advantage may enable to handle invaders Cassatt and Dame Dorothy. The former is a frontrunner that is riding a three-race winning streak. Shes trying this nine-panel trip for the first time after just barely lasting to the wire in Houston Jan 24. Shes been given plenty of time to recover and worked fast on Monday at the Fair Grounds. She figures to make a run for it from the inside. The latter has only lost once for Pletcher, but hes also only tried her twice in the Graded Stakes ranks. She won a Grade 3 at Belmont Oct 26 before lacking a rally at this trip Nov 29. She rebounded when returned to the one-turn game Jan 17 and should get a good trip just off the leaders. Class is her cloud. Tiz Midnight failed to fire Jan 11, but has trained sharply since raced and is a winner on this layout. She should get a good trip pressing the pace outside of Cassatt and may once again be the one that Veneda has to catch. Uzziel is an example of why horses can be unpredictable, as she had been showing speed around one turn before being stretched out in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita. She was making her first start for Joe Desormeaux and he changed things up by having her taken off the pace. She responded by rallying with Veneda into the stretch. She couldnt match strides down the lane, but Kent Desormeaux takes over and she shows two works since raced. That race may not have been a fluke. Thegirlinthatsong shares the paper race win and may bounce back after ending up 3rd as the favorite in the Santa Margarita. She may get a great trip from the second flight.
CLOSERS: Fastest in the stretch in recent races at or near this distance have been: Dame Dorothy :37.2 Thegirlinthatsong :37.8
For analysis of all races on March 14th at Santa Anita Park, visit Horse Racing Tips, Free Picks, Winning Handicappers
CLOSERS: Fastest in the stretch in recent races at or near this distance have been: Dame Dorothy :37.2 Thegirlinthatsong :37.8
For analysis of all races on March 14th at Santa Anita Park, visit Horse Racing Tips, Free Picks, Winning Handicappers