It is Risen Star Day at Fair Grounds on Saturday afternoon. The $400,000 Grade 2 prep event comes with points for the Kentucky Derby. There are some interesting races on the Fair Grounds card on Saturday, with the Risen Star the most important race in the US today.
Along with Fair Grounds Race Course, we’re heading to Santa Anita Park for some horse racing picks. Santa Anita has nine races worth $509,000 in prize money on Saturday. There is one stakes race with the running of the $100,000 Pasadena Stakes.
Head below for our best Santa Anita Park picks on February 19, 2022.
Race 2
Post Time: 1:01 p.m. PST
Distance:5 ½ Furlongs
Purse:$26,000
Race 2 covers 5 ½ furlongs for a $26,000 purse. Look at Besame Mucho and Wall Street Trader as strong contenders in the second event.
Besame Mucho is 8th, 5th through two races in his career. As a rookie, he finished 8th on November 19 for a $27,000 purse as a first-time runner.
There was modest improvement made on February 5 at Santa Anita, finishing 5th in a $26,000 race. He could be open for greater improvement in this outing.
Wall Street Trader is 5th, 7th, 5th in three races. In his most recent attempt, Wall Street Trader finished 5th for $67,000 on January 9.
Solidly down in class after three assignments in much higher grades, expect Wall Street Trader to prefer this class. Flavien Prat should get the $155,000 Wall Street Trader into the winner’s circle.
Race 4
Post Time: 2:05 p.m. PST
Distance: 6 Furlongs
Purse:$40,000
Race 4 is a $40,000 event over 6 furlongs on the dirt. Look at Street Art and Con On the Run to do something worth noting in this one.
Street Art has finished 1st, 4th, 4th, 9th, 3rd in five races. He won as a first-time runner on May 9 in a $61,000 event, but hasn’t returned to the winner’s circle.
In his most recent race, Street Art showed 3rd on January 14 for $40,000. This came after really doing poorly in the $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes. Far too tough, but is competitive in the current grade.
Con On the Run has been a consistent fixture at Del Mar and Santa Anita. In four outings, she has finished 5th, 3rd, 1st, 2nd.
The $100,000 Jeff Mullins trainee had a winning trip on November 25 for a $36,000 purse. He drew off for a fairly easy win by 4 ½ lengths in that one.
He remained competitive in his next and most recent assignment on January 14. Con On the Run placed 2nd behind Tizlightning after receiving a DQ.
Con On the Run won by a neck, but drifted in the stretch and was ruled to have interfered. If Con On the Run doesn’t drift in that one, it’s likely an easy win in the $40,000 race.
Back at it on Saturday, the No. 1 should go through to the winner’s circle in the same form.
Race 5
Post Time: 2:37 p.m. PST
Distance:6 Furlongs
Purse:$67,000
Race 5 is worth $67,000 over 6 furlongs on the turf. This grass race will likely feature Rosie Forecast and Bold Choice in the stretch run.
Rosie Forecast is making her debut and should have a solid chance on these terms. As a first-time runner, Rosie Forecast must be respected at this level.
She is been running well in workouts and has a chance versus a mostly beatable field. Bold Choice is the one participant that should be able to give Rosie Forecast a big fight.
Bold Choice is 5th, 2nd, 6th, 2nd, 2nd in her previous five events. She has placed 2nd in back-to-back events on November 14 at Del Mar and Santa Anita on January 30.
Bold Choice finished 1 length behind Professors’ Pride in a $70,000 race and then behind Unwritten Code by 1 ¼ lengths as the favorite.
This looks like a good opportunity for Bold Choice to go in for a win.
