SANTA ANITA PARK RACE 2 ANALYSIS FOR THURSDAY – 10/10/2019

RACE 2 – 5 ½ Furlongs Claiming 16,000

1 – I BELONG TO BECKY (5/2)

2 – VERYNSKY (7/2)

9 – THIN LINE (4/1)

3 – DON’T’TTEASETHETIGER (5/1)

4 – JUST HIT PLAY (8/1)

5 – CONCORD JET (8/1)

1 – I BELONG TO BECKY is a dropping favorite from 25k off a very good second place finish at Los Alamitos. That was her fourth in the money finish in a row. While she has only won 1 race in 13 tries, this is her easiest chance since she broke her maiden and she won gate to wire that day and breaks from the rail. The blinkers come off today.

2 – VERYNSKY is interesting in that he won at this 16k level 4 races back at Del Mar in July stalking the leader from second early and went on to run that rival down. He raced well enough for 20k in his previous race leading turning for home but finished a close fourth. In his last race, he set the pace for the first half of the race but could only manage third at 3-5 odds vs 12.5k claimers. The angle here is that R B Hess claimed him from that race and the trainer is 20% first race off the claim. Don’t dismiss!

9 – THIN LINE chased the favorite all the way around on 9/14 for 25k at Los Al finishing third. He finished out of the money at a mile last out, a distance he has failed at all 3 times he has tried it and drops today and goes back to sprinting, a move which this trainer boasts a 20% success rate. The Doug O’Neil barn is a very cagey outfit which has been winning a lot of races lately everywhere. This runner is the only main contender that came from off the pace to win and catches a field of predominantly “need to lead” types which could set it up for him.

3 – DON’TTEASETHETIGER was claimed last time by Genaro Vallejo who is 25% first time off the claim. He went gate to wire breaking his maiden one race back and finished third vs 16k claimers last time in his first race vs winners. He will have to fend off the droppers, but none of these is too keen on winning and he will be forwardly placed here.