Quills Picks Winners – Sunday 4/5 – Santa Anita Race 8
Happy Easter to those who celebrate as we close out the weekend with a light schedule on the horse racing docket. We’ll head out to Santa Anita on this Sunday for their featured race. Three-year-old fillies will go a mile and an eighth on the turf in the Providencia Stakes.
Santa Anita Race 8 – Providencia Stakes
Favored in today’s featured race is the 8 Abigail (7/2 morning line). She finished fifth last month in the Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs. The program said she was outkicked, but she looked like she made a wide move on the turn and stalled a little. She appears to want to be closer to the pace than she was last month which may be how she runs this afternoon.
The 6 Victorious Dream (5/1 ML) has been dreaming about her first win as she is still a maiden after five tries. But she has been close in both starts this year, finishing second in both races here at Santa Anita. She stalked the pace last time out and had the lead midstretch but was outkicked in the final strides. She is on the cusp of winning, and it would not surprise me if she breaks her maiden in this stakes race.
The 4 Wild Like the West (4/1 ML) stretches out after just missing in an optional claiming race here at Santa Anita back in February. Her best races have been near the pace and just has been outkicked at the finish. She definitely has shown the effort in her last two races and should be there at the end again today.
The 1 Darya (5/1 ML) closed under hand urging to break her maiden at this distance two weeks ago. She races for the third time in the United States and looks like a good one potentially. Look for her to be closing late today just like two weeks ago.
Joe’s Pick
I get the feeling that this race could come down to the finish, unlike the Blue Grass at Keeneland where the race was over when Further Ado took the lead at the top of the stretch. There is no filly here that looks like she will definitely go for the lead here. But I think that Darya will get a perfect trip to have Wild Like the West experience some déjà vu as she gets caught yet again today.
I’m calling this race 1-4-6-8 and my play is $20 to win on the 1. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
