Friday, January 8, 2021

Handicapper's Corner: 2021 La Canada Stakes (G3)

 La Canada Stakes Picks N' Plays

By: Robert Marks, (@theyreinthegate)



Saturday at 6:30 pm Eastern time is the $200,000 Grade 3 LaCanada Stakes, a filly and mares’ race for 4-year old’s and upward on the dirt at 1 1/16 mile. Held at the Great Race Place-Santa Anita Park, we head in 2021, no fans at Santa Anita just yet because of the Coronavirus Pandemic but hopeful we all soon can return.

This is a short field; however, it looks competitive  which should help you out with your final odds. 

The lightly raced 5-year-old Hard Not to Love is your 2-1 favorite and does nothing but come in the money, having done that in 9 of the 10 races she has run. The 9 in the money finishes were all at Santa Anita. There is a rider change from Mike Smith to Ricardo Gonzales. This might help with boosting the final odds for you if you like this mare.

 

Looking for Value, Mike Smith jumps aboard 8-2 Miss Stormy, a 5-year-old mare. After 5 starts on the Turf she was switched to the dirt surface where she has 3 wins out of 5 starts with 1 at Santa Anita last February. This will be her 2nd start off a layoff and we like the Jockey Change.

 

Fighting Mad, at 9-5 is probably the fastest horse of the field with impressive Dirt figures. Also has run this distance 3 times. Will show early speed for sure.

 

I also expect Proud Emma coming off a Grade 3 win at this distance last time out to be in the mix, trained by high % trainer Peter Miller.

 

I expect Fighting Mad and Miss Stormy D to be the early pacesetters setting up a stretch run fight with Hard Not to Love and Proud Emma.

 

Handigambling

I am going to play around with a $100 total wagering budget on the 3 above horses as follows:

$10 win-#2 Hard Not Love

$10 Exacta Box: 2,3,6

Bonus Longshot Play: $50 to Show on Proud Emma

 


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