Handicapper's Corner: Santa Margarita Stakes (G-1)

Is Taris Unbeatable in the Santa Margarita Stakes?

By: Dylan Jarmulowicz

The Saturday program at Santa Anita has 11 races with the feature being the Grade I 500k Santa Margarita Stakes. The race is has a storied history, past champions include Zenyatta and Azeri to name a couple. Who will be this year’s winner and add themselves to the exclusive list of champions, let’s break it down. 

 

Santa Anita Race 9 – Grade I 1&1/8^th Miles  Post Time – 7:30pm (EST) Advance Weather: Partly Cloudy, 80s

When first looking at this race the first thing you will notice is that the race is loaded with speed. Just about everyone in this field has running lines that are not far off the lead or on the lead. The likely post time favorite will be #7 TARIS (8/5). She has won back to back graded stakes with the last being a complete romp at Santa Anita. She has been to the winners circle seven times in 11 starts and looks to be in her best form right now. Likely to be shorter than her morning line, some people may try to beat her, I won’t be one of them. She is the play.

Backing the favorite as the winner, I’m going to try and find some value underneath in exotic bets with #4 LAVENDER CHRISSIE (10-1) and ALL STAR BUB (15-1). LAVENDER CHRISSIE ships in from Gulfstream after a winter freshening. She won the Zia Park Oaks in November and has been working steadily since. While she steps up in class, she might get the perfect trip sitting off all the speed and picking them up late in the stretch. 

ALL STAR BUB is intriguing at a price because she loves this track and is the only true closer in the field. Is she good enough? I don’t know, but at a huge price and likely to get pace to run into, if the race falls apart she may be the one left standing.

Good Luck!

My Plays:

Win: #7

>Exacta: 7/4,6

Trifecta: 7/4,6/ALL; 7/ALL/4,6 and 4,6/7/ALL

>Good Luck!