Racing! It’s show-and-tell time for Santa Anita

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we are all excited about the Santa Anita meeting.

Here’s hoping all of you got what you wanted over the holidays. I haven’t watched one horse race since Los Alamitos signed off more than a week ago.

Believe it or not, there were no discernible signs of withdrawal from TVG. Although the bags started forming under my eyes, my prostate started to feel strange and I had an unmistakable urge to cut a boat in half and to tape it back together.

Instead, I went to lots of movies. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” was easily the best. “The Darkest Hour” had the best third act. And despite the enormous talent of Hugh Jackman, you can pass on “The Greatest Showman.” And I like musicals.

As tradition, I watched the 1938 version of “A Christmas Carol” with Reginald Owen as Scrooge. Despite all those that followed, it is easily the most true to what Dickens had in mind when he wrote the classic story.

Anyway, now it’s time to focus on horse racing. Last year, Santa Anita had a terrific opening-day crowd of 46,514. It’s unclear if the track can duplicate the crowd this year, even though the card is better, with the addition of the Grade 2 $300,000 San Antonio Stakes. The race was moved to opening day to serve as a prep for the $16-million Pegasus World Gulf at Gulfstream on Jan. 27.

Tim Ritvo talked to The Times and revealed some of his thoughts for this coming season. It’s definitely worth reading and you can find it here.

Today’s card is nine races, starting at noon. There are four turf races. Let’s go through the four graded stakes.

San Antonio Stakes preview

Collected, who finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the 3-5 favorite for trainer Bob Baffert in the 1 1/16-mile third race (about 1 p.m.). He has really been overshadowed despite a brilliant career. Being in the same barn with Arrogate has made him an afterthought until he beat him in the Pacific Classic. His only loss in the last five races has been a second to Gun Runner in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Mike Smith will be aboard because his regular rider, Martin Garcia, has moved to New York.

Hoppertunity, also for Baffert, has won the race the last two times. He’s a veteran campaigner and a good finish in this race could put him, along with Collected, in the Pegasus World Cup. He’s at 5 -1.

Also, second favorite at 5-1 is Accelerate, who earned more than $400,000 this year but finished a disappointing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Mathis Brothers Mile preview

This turf race over — well, you try guessing the distance — is pretty wide open. The 5-2 favorite is Big Score, whose last win came seven races ago. Cutting back in distance should help the 3-year-old who has won three times in 11 starts. Her last start was a third in the Hollywood Derby at a 1 1/8 miles. She has two wins in five starts at a mile. Flavien Prat has the mount.

Bowie’s Hero should get some play at 7-2. Her last win came at a mile in the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar. She will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux. Colonist, for Jerry Hollendorfer, is at 4-1.

It will be the sixth race at about 2:30 p.m.

La Brea Stakes preview

This race over 7 furlongs for 3-year-old fillies has one of the more intriguing matchups, with Paradise Woods (8-5) against Unique Bella (9-5). Paradise Woods finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar after winning the Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita. She should do well cutting back distance.

Unique Bella has won five in a row before a disappointing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Fillies and Mares Sprint. Smith has the ride for the Hollendorfer filly.

It’s the seventh race at about 3 p.m.

Malibu Stakes preview

This is the colt version of the La Brea for age and distance. Shipper Favorable Outcome for Chad Brown is the 3-1 favorite. He’s run only three races this year, with two wins. The best was a Grade 2 victory in the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream. Jose Castellano is coming in from New York to ride the colt.

At 7-2 is C Z Rocket, unbeaten in three starts, shipping in from Kentucky. The morning line has Pavel, at 4-1, as the best locally based horse. He’s coming off a well-beaten 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

This is the eighth race at about 3:30 p.m.

Bob Ike’s SA play of the day

SIXTH RACE: No. 6 Holiday Stone (8-1)

George Weaver-trained colt comes off a solid runner-up try vs. older allowance runners and gets back with 3-year-olds in this Grade 2 turf stakes. Although winless this year in 10 starts, he has been right there a number of times and definitely could be a factor in the exotics even if not quite good enough to beat these.

Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy).

Final thought

Yes, new racing year, same goals. Looking to jump the circulation of this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, drop me an email at my new address [email protected] or feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

And now the star of the show, Tuesday’s entries.