Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 4/25 – Santa Anita Race 9
The third and final race we are looking at this afternoon is the Grade 3 Royal Heroine Stakes. It’s the finale of Santa Anita’s nine-race card. Like the previous two races, we have older fillies and mares running. But we have a different wrinkle here. These nine fillies and mares will race a mile on the turf course at the Great Race Place.
Santa Anita Race 9 – Royal Heroine Stakes (Grade 3)
Favored in the Royal Heroine is the 9 Grand Slam Smile (5/2 morning line). She won the Irish O’Brien Stakes winning on the front-end sprinting down the hillside turf course. She wants to be on or near the lead, but she might be hung wide on the first turn here. This mare faces open company after racing mostly against California bred horses.
The 2 Tiraputi (9/2 ML) races for the second time since an eleven-month layoff. She was off the board in the Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes in a race that she needed. A lot of times, you will see horses run down the hill and then run well stretching out to the mile and vice versa here at Santa Anita. Her best races have been on the lead and could be challenging the favorite, especially if she can get to the turn before her.
The 8 Take A Breath (4/1 ML) is a stone cold closer and won the Grade 3 Santa Ana going longer. She has closed consistently in her last three races, having rallied from well off the pace. She might need some speed up front, but I wonder if this race is too short for her today.
The 6 Rosie Jeeks (15/1 ML) can close as well as she closed well in the Queen Of The Green Stakes at Turf Paradise last month. Yes, Turf Paradise is not on the par of Santa Anita, but this mare could get a piece here this afternoon as she returns home.
Joe’s Pick
Tiraputi looks like she can get the lead into the first turn. The question is what happens with the favorite Grand Slam Smile. Does she get hung wide on the first turn or can she get most of the way over towards the rail?
I think Take A Breath can take advantage of those two in front of here and show off her closing kick in this race. Sure, there is concern that this race is too short for me, but I will take the chance here today.
I’m calling this race 8-9-2-6 and my play is $20 to win on the 8. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
