Handicapper's Corner: Thunder Road Stakes (G3)

Thunderstruck at Santa Anita

 By Robert Marks, They're in the Gate (and on Twitter @theyreinthegate)

On Saturday, April 29, 2017 Santa Anita will be host the Grade Three Thunder Road Stakes for 3 year olds and upward. The purse is $100,000 and it on the Turf going 1 Mile. We have a small but competitive field of older horses with two 4 year olds and everyone else 5 years old or older.

Here are the participants listed by Post Positions, Horse, Jockey and odds:

1. Perfectly Majestic, K. Desormeaux 7-2

2. TwentyTwentyVision, F. Prat, 7-2
3. Bolo, M. Smith 5-2
4. Mithqall, R. Berajano, 15-1
5. Fabozzi, C. Nakatani,6-1
6. Faarhan, T. Baze, 6-1
7. Sawyer’s Hill, M. Bedroza, 7-2

Here is who we like:

Sawyer’s Hill - The hot horse- this 6-year-old has 2 wins last out including an allowance win on March 30. Has run on both dirt and turf with an impressive 50%-win rate out of 6 starts on turf. Pedroza will likely set him out of the gate as the leader where he likes to be. Fast enough to hold the lead if no one goes out and gets him.

Bolo - This 5 year old comes off 3 graded stakes races run since February running 9^th in the Grade 1 Makers Mile, a 3^rd in the Grade 1 Frank E Kilroe Mile on March 11 and first in the Grade II, one mile turf Arcadia Stakes Feb. 11.He had 5 wins out of 15 starts with 7 of those wins coming at one mile on the turf (same as this race). And look who is on board-Hall of Famer Mike Smith-who will have him in a tracking position early and closing late. 

Mithqaal - The longshot here at 15-1, this shipper from Europe has only run once at Santa Anita but that was on dirt back on April 1 where he showed little interest finishing 6^th. But now he has had time to get used to American soil (and turf) and look for him to pick up the pieces late to get into your exotics.

We will hope that our 15-1 shot Mithqaal clunks up for 3^rd to juice up our trifecta.

Wagering/Betting Handigambling Bankroll: Her is our $80 worth of betting for the race

Exacta Box: $5 Exacta ($20)

3,7

Trifecta ($10 Box for $60 Total)

1,3,4

As always, watch the Board and if at the track watch how the horses look in the Paddock and adjust your bets accordingly. 

Good Luck!