Santa Anita racing top tip: In Italian can give home fans cause to celebrate
With the quality of the performers from all over the globe on Santa Anita’s bumper card, homegrown talent will have their cut out to give the local crowd much to cheer about.
19:10 Santa Anita: Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (1 mile 2 furlongs)
British raiders could well steal the show here, with early favourite Inspiral possibly providing Frankie Dettori another major success to round off his will-he-won’t-he retirement season.
She hit a career high when landing the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket four weeks ago, although this will be her first step up from her familiar mile trip, which could yet catch her out and let in the strong presence of Warm Heart, who has won five of her last six outings for Aidan O’Brien.
Lumiere Rock, State Occasion and With The Moonlight are other contenders familiar to UK racing fans, but just so we don’t seem completely biased, our nod goes to In Italian, who looks best equipped to see off the foreign raiders.
Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Matareya finishes in the first 3 places, get a £5 Free Bet!
Trained by Chad Brown, this well-raced five year-old has only once finished outside the top two (when third) in 13 career outings, backing up seven wins with five runner-up spots, of which three were by less than half a length.
She was last seen coming second behind Gina Romantica in the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland four weeks ago, missing out by a head, but she is proven over longer than that one-mile trip and could be poised to step up here.
Jockey Joel Rosario steered all three of his rides into the frame on Friday (two thirds and a second) and this possibly represents his best opportunity to convert those near misses into a visit to the winners’ circle.
Suggested bet: In Italian in the 19:10 at Santa Anita
Tip advised by Power Racing US on Tipstrr