Horse Racing Picks - $50,000 American Beauty Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Padding Your Bankroll: Saturday January 16
There is plenty of stakes action from coast to coast on Saturday, with a trio of stakes on tap at Santa Anita.
If you are looking for a Kentucky Derby horse, tune into the third race at Santa Anita, which is the $100,000 San Rafael Stakes (G3).
Trainer Bob Baffert has a barn full of promising three year olds, and sends out Conveyance, a son of Indian Charlie who will be making his stakes debut after a good looking score against first level allowance company in his last start at Hollywood Park.
Also on the card are the $150,000 San Ynez (G2) for three year old fillies, and the $150,000 San Fernando Stakes (G2) for four year olds.
The feature at Aqueduct is the $65,000 Evening Attire Stakes, which drew a small field of six colts and geldings who will go 1 1/16 miles on the inner track.
The Paul Pompa owned entry of Understatement and Well Positioned is the 3-5 morning line favorites.
One of the more intriguing stakes on Saturday is the $50,000 American Beauty Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
A field of seven fillies and mares will do battle at six furlongs on dirt.
Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out a pair of runners, Valid Code and Auspicious, who are both coming off victories.
I am leaning toward Valid Code, who has done little wrong, winning four of her five career starts with one runner up finish.
Oaklawn Park Race 8 American Beauty Stakes (Post time 4:33 CT)
#1 Valid Code
#3 Syriana’s Song
#5 One Smokin’ Lady
#6 Auspicious
#1 Valid Code is coming off a smart win last out at Sam Houston in the Texas bred Yellow Rose Stakes. The filly has won four of her five starts, her lone loss a runner up finish in a stake at Retama in her first start against winners. The runner up in her last start was Stealth Cat, who came back to win the Bold Ego Stakes at Sunland Park on Dec. 27. The filly owns a solid pace profile throughout with the edge in late pace numbers. She looks like the strongest of the pair last year’s nationwide leader in the trainer standings is sending out here.
#3 Syriana’s Song is returning off a 2 ½ month break for the Tom Amoss barn. The mare came up short in the Dream Supreme Stakes in her last start at Churchill Downs, checking in sixth while beaten 3 ¾ lengths for the top spot. The winner of the race was She’s Our Annie, who returned to win the Esplande Stakes at Fair Grounds on Dec. 19. She has moved forward since shifting to the Amoss barn including popping a 103 Beyer three back winning a non winners of four allowance race at Mountaineer Park. She fits here with her best and has a strong barn in her corner.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 1,3 / 1,3,5,6
TRI: 1,3 / 1,3,5,6 / 1,2,3,5,6
Good luck padding your bankroll today!
