$300,000 Awesome Again (G1) – Santa Anita

Race 11 (Saturday, September 29, 2018: 8:00 p.m./ET; 5:00 p.m./PT). Mile and an eighth on the main track (three-year-olds and upward)

A total of four Grade I’s will be run on Saturday at The Great Race Place, including the Awesome Again (G1), featuring ACCELERATE, who has been nothing short of awesome in 2018. But five other runners look to beat the 2018 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Gold Cup (G1) and Pacific Classic (G1) winner, including $5.8 million earner WEST COAST, who returns from a vacation.

#1 SHADES OF VICTORY pulled off an 80/1 shocker in the E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-breds at Los Alamitos and wheels back in just three weeks for a try against open, Grade I competition. This is obviously a significant step up in class and he’ll need to run even faster than last time to have a shot at an in-the-money finish here. Will be a longshot again.

#2 ISOTHERM was last seen running second to next out stakes winner DABSTER in the Harry F. Brubaker at Del Mar. His best races have come on turf and he has not won since February, 2017. A nice horse, but others like more appealing.

#3 PRIME ATTRACTION was third in the Pacific Classic (G1) but finished over 16 lengths behind #6 ACCELERATE. In fact, he has finished behind #6 ACCELERATE in the last three races in which they have met. An exotics placing appear his ceiling.

#4 THE LIEUTENANT is a half brother to 2018 Triple Crown winner JUSTIFY. He won the All American (G3) at Golden Gate Fields three starts back and returned to finish a very good second to next out Grade I winner DIVERSIFY in the Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park two races ago. Most recently, however, he lost by over 21 lengths in the Pacific Classic (G1). That last run is a concern and one has to wonder how much is left in the tank after a couple of big runs.

#5 WEST COAST hit the board when finishing behind 2017 Horse of the Year GUN RUNNER in both the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and the Pegasus World Cup (G1). After shipping to Dubai and finishing second to THUNDER SNOW in the Dubai World Cup (G1), he was given time off and makes his first start since then in this spot. Trainer Bob Baffert can get ‘em ready of layoffs, we all know that, but all signs indicate this might be a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Nonetheless, he oozes class.

#6 ACCELERATE put up a career best race when winning the Pacific Classic (G1) by a dozen lengths last month while earning a 115 Beyer Speed Figure. Earlier this year, the son of LOOKIN AT LUCKY also won the Gold Cup (G1) and Santa Anita Handicap (G1) over this track. The leader of the handicap division in the west.

SELECTIONS

1. #6 ACCELERATE – Keeps getting better.
2. #5 WEST COAST – Gearing up for Breeders’ Cup.
3. #3 PRIME ATTRACTION – Has a chance at a minor award.

LONGSHOT VALUE PLAY- #4 THE LIEUTENANT – Best race makes him competitive.

WAGERING STRATEGY

In order to make money in this race, horseplayers have to try and beat one of the two obvious favorites, so I’ll key my top selection in exactas over my third pick and longshot value play.

 BANKROLL PLAY ($50 Budget)

$25 Exactas: #6 ACCELERATE over #3 PRIME ATTRACTION and #4 THE LIEUTENANT  

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