Horse Pick of the Day: Santa Anita Race 9 Grade II San Felipe Stakes

In roughly three weeks the most important 3 year old Kentucky Derby prep race on the West Coast, the Grade I Santa Anita Derby, will be run.

One of the horses who figures to be tough in the race is the undefeated Caracortado. But before Caracortado makes his way into the Santa Anita Derby starting gate, he will have to take on his rivals in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes this Saturday.

I believe that it’s time to bet against Caracortado. Let’s take a look at the San Felipe Stakes this Saturday.

Horse Racing Betting Trends
Race-time: 7:38 pm EST

Santa Anita – Race 9
Grade II San Felipe Stakes
$150,000
For Three Year Olds
1 1/16 miles on Pro-Ride

Interactif - - 7/2 fair online betting odds

Interactif finished 3rd in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf after breaking from the far outside post. He just couldn’t get past both Pounced and Bridgetown in that race. Then, in his first race in 2010, he finished 2nd by a nose to Bim Bam. That race should have set him up perfectly for the Grade II San Felipe, his first race over the Pro-Ride surface. Interactif is a very talented horse that comes from the Todd Pletcher barn, gets top jock Rafael Bejarano to ride, and has finished off the board only once in 6 lifetime starts. The son of Broken Vow should track American Lion, Sidney’s Candy and Caracortado before making a serious run in the lane.

Dave In Dixie - - 4/1 fair online betting odds

Because of the field of the San Felipe, Dave In Dixie figures to go off at nice odds again even though he finished second to Caracortado in the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Dave In Dixie is getting better and better. The San Felipe will only be his 4th lifetime race and if he improves the way he did in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, then he probably should win it. He’s a serious contender who has excuses for that 2nd place finish to Caracortado as he broke in and had to go 4 wide in the stretch. He deserves a long look in the paddock.

Caracortado - - 7/2 fair online betting odds

My gut tells me that horseplayers will finally give the undefeated son of Cat Dreams his just due. Caracortado is 5 and 0 and has won every single one of his races by 1 ¾ lengths. He broke his maiden at 4 furlongs, then won 2 sprint races, and now has won two route races. He’s just a good horse. He’s already beaten Davie In Dixie, the well regarded Cardiff Giant, and Alphies Bet who beat a decent field in the Sham Stakes last Saturday. Why, then, am I going against him? Because as good as the gelding is, he hasn’t faced a field quite as talented as this one and, more importantly, both Dave In Dixie and Interactif have room to improve while Caracortado may have shown us his best. He also faces a tough speed horse in Sidney’s Candy. Hey, he might beat me again on Saturday, and that’s okay if he does, but I can’t bet him to win at what figure to be very low odds.

Wagering Strategy

I will bet Interactif to win and place. I will bet an exacta box with Interactif, Caracortado and Dave In Dixie. I will bet a trifecta keying Interactif in all three slots with a box made up of Caracortado, Dave In Dixie and Sidney’s Candy.

with BetUS.com