The focus at Santa Anita on Sunday will be firmly upon the track specialist Brickyard Ride, already winner of four stakes races here this year and a hot favorite to stretch that streak to five in the feature G2 Triple Bend. High-class turf fillies Cairo Memories and Island Of Love go head to head in the G3 Honeymoon, while the in-form Burnin Turf bids to step up against proven Graded sprinter Bran in the G3 Daytona.
Daytona
Two horses stand out in the Daytona, but nevertheless the race revolves around Bran and whether he can reproduce his performance when a longshot runner-up in the G2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs, finishing fast over a furlong shorter than today.
It’s not always wise to trust the form when a longshot outruns his odds, but that was a very competitive contest and this is a much easier spot. On his previous start Bran got up close home to win a stakes over course and distance – Kanderel always last of five on his first start for ten months – and he is certainly on the crest of a wave at present.
So too is Burnin Turf, who is riding a three-race winning streak at Santa Anita, his last two wins over today’s distance. He finished his race off strongly when landing an allowance optional claimer last time and, although he’ll need more, he’s going the right way and has been found a good spot to make his stakes debut.
Half the field comes from Neil Drysdale but none of the three make much appeal. Majestic Eagle was runner-up in this 12 months ago, but has won just one of his last 19 starts and that was a minor stakes at Turf Paradise; Brazilian G2 winner Homer Screen has shown his best at a mile and must overcome a ten-month layoff; and Nero is zero-for-five in stakes and has shown little on his return after missing all of 2021.
Daytona Betting Choice
This may not take much winning and BURNIN TURF, who has been firmly on the upgrade this year, can make an immediate impact on his first start at this level
| Horse | Jockey | Horse Racing Odds by JazzSports |
| Burnin Turf | Drayden Van Dyke | +180 |
| Homer Screen (BRZ) | Joe Bravo | +800 |
| Majestic Eagle | Edwin A. Maldonado | +600 |
| Bran (FR) | Juan J. Hernandez | +160 |
| Nero | Ryan Curatolo | +1000 |
| Kanderel | Umberto Rispoli | +400 |
Honeymoon
Some horses go equally well on dirt and turf – like Brickyard Ride – but most have a clear preference, and the conditions of the Honeymoon are likely to bring out the best in Cairo Memories, who is unbeaten in two on the weeds at Santa Anita.
Two defeats on the main track in Kentucky Oaks preps were followed by a sparkling return to form on turf over course and distance last month, when Cairo Memories showed the opposition a clean pair of heels in the G3 Providencia, making all and clearing away to win by four and a half lengths from Sterling Crest, who pressed the pace but had no answer to the winner’s change of gear. The longshot Gold Dragon Queen was a further length and three-quarters away in third.
The ex-Italian Island Of Love also got the better of Sterling Crest when running her down to win the G3 Senorita here over a mile by two and a quarter lengths – Fuente Ovejuna a never-dangerous fourth – and has improved with every start in the US; there may be more to come, although she comes back off only three weeks’ rest.
This is an upgrade for Ellamira, winner of a Golden Gate stakes over a mile when doing all her best work late, and today’s distance will suit her better than her only previous try in Graded company, when a fast-closing fourth in the G3 Sweet Life here over six and a half furlongs.
Maiden winner Ballet Dancing was impressive when passing six rivals in the stretch to win here over a mile on her first start of the year, and although these are much deeper waters she has scope for considerable improvement.
Honeymoon Betting Pick
Everything points to CAIRO MEMORIES, who showed improvement on her return to turf when an easy winner of a G3 over course and distance last time.
| Horse | Jockey | Horse Racing Odds by JazzSports |
| Island of Love (IRE) | Juan J. Hernandez | +250 |
| Ballet Dancing | Drayden Van Dyke | +500 |
| Gold Dragon Queen | Kyle Frey | +1200 |
| Fuente Ovejuna (GB) | Edwin A. Maldonado | +1500 |
| Cairo Memories | Mike E. Smith | +120 |
| Sterling Crest (IRE) | Ramon A. Vazquez | +400 |
| Ellamira | Frank T. Alvarado | +1500 |
Triple Bend
There’s a place in history on the line for a special horse at Santa Anita on Sunday, when fan favourite and track specialist Brickyard Ride bids for his fifth straight stakes win at the Los Angeles circuit in the Triple Bend, the feature of the afternoon.
Only the all-time-great Round Table, in the 1950s, has won five stakes in succession at a single Santa Anita meeting, and although Brickyard Ride is no Round Table his versatility is his trademark, his current streak including wins on dirt and turf between six furlongs and a mile, all characterised by early pace and gate-to-wire success.
Last time out he blew apart the G3 Kona Gold over six and a half on the main track, coasting through deep stretch to score by two and a quarter lengths, and although this is officially a step up in grade the quality of the opposition is no stronger. As sure as death and taxes, Brickyard Ride will be out there on the lead, and in his current mood he may be impossible to catch.
He has already beaten Principe Carlo here this year, when four and a quarter lengths his superior in a six-furlong stakes, and last time out Principe Carlo franked that form over course and distance when a longshot runner-up in the G2 San Carlos, never able to threaten the winner but well clear of the third horse.
It’s doubtful whether American Theorem will have the speed to cope, as he has spent 2022 racing at a mile-sixteenth and further, and in any case is zero-for-five in stakes. Get Her Number won the G1 American Pharoah here in 2020, but hasn’t repeated that level of form and returns to the main track after three starts on the weeds, including victory in an allowance optional claimer over six and a half furlongs.
Last year’s Triple Bend third Exaulted has been on the sidelines since that run and although he has plenty of ability, a year-long layoff is not an ideal scenario for him to show his best. Stakes debutant Elector, a comfortable all-the-way winner here in an allowance optional claimer last time, is also engaged in a G3 at Lone Star Park on Monday.
Triple Bend Betting Prediction
The way looks clear for local hero BRICKYARD RIDE to stretch his winning streak to five with another exhibition of front-running brilliance.
| Horse | Jockey | Horse Racing Odds by JazzSports |
| Get Her Number | Ramon A. Vazquez | +1200 |
| Exaulted | Edwin A. Maldonado | +500 |
| American Theorem | Joe Bravo | +800 |
| Brickyard Ride | Juan J. Hernandez | -125 |
| Principe Carlo | Kyle Frey | +600 |
| Elector | Ricardo Gonzalez | +300 |
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