$200k Las Virgenes

$200,000 Las Virgenes (G2)
Santa Anita

Race 5 (Saturday, February 9, 2019: 4:30 p.m./ET; 1:30 p.m.PT)

One mile on the main track (three-year-old fillies)

Five three-year-old fillies enter the starting gate for this, looking to stamp themselves as major players on the 2019 Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail. Let’s take a closer look at each runner:

#1 CALF MOON BAY broke her maiden by daylight two starts ago and came back to defeat four other rivals in an allowance race last month. Makes her first start against graded stakes competition.

#2 ENAYA ALRABB is another one that broke her maiden two starts ago. That day, she defeated #1 CALF MOON BAY and won the race easily-by two and a half lengths. Most recently, this daughter of UNCLE MO went off at 30/1 in the Starlet (G1) at Los Alamitos and lost by a head to CHASING YESTERDAY while finishing ahead of #4 MOTHER MOTHER. Big money rider Mike Smith takes the call again.

#3 BELLAFINA is the West Coast leader of the three-year-old filly division. Most recently, the daughter of QUALITY ROAD went off at 2/5 and won the seven-furlong Santa Ynez (G2) by eight lengths, defeating #4 MOTHER MOTHER and #5 TOMIN. The one to beat.

#4 MOTHER MOTHER finished third behind stablemate CHASING YESTERDAY and #2 ENAYA ALRABB in the Starlet (G1) two starts ago and was well beaten by #3 BELLAFINA in the Santa Ynez (G3) last time out. An exotics placing appears to be her ceiling.

#5 TOMLIN ran third in the Santa Ynez (G3) but finished over 10 lengths behind #3 BELLAFINA. Her only career route try resulted in an eight length loss on turf at Golden Gate Fields. Others looks more appealing underneath in exotics.

SELECTIONS

1. #3 BELLAFINA – Looks too tough.

2. #2 ENAYA ALRABB – Starlet (G1) effort was terrific.

3. #4 MOTHER MOTHER – Exotics contender.

LONGSHOT VALUE PLAY- #1 CALF MOON BAY – Improving filly.

WAGERING STRATEGY

I’ll key my top pick aggressively over my other two top selections in exactas.

BANKROLL PLAY ($50 Budget) $25 Exacta: #3 BELLAFINA over #2 ENAYA ALRABB and #4 MOTHER MOTHER ($50).