Jeff Siegel's Santa Anita Analysis (Sun., Feb. 3, 2013)

The Super Bowl Sunday program begins at 11 a.m. and includes eight races, with post for the finale at around 2:30 p.m.

In the opener, Lanida, first off the claim for Mullins (31% with a flat bet profit), has been freshened since November and has worked well enough to be fit and ready in her return. She’s a perfect one-for-one over this course and Baze should have her within range throughout. Mia Isabel returns to her winning level and retains Bejarano. She’s the one to fear most, but we’ll prefer Lanida on top.

Lady Shazzam looks like a single in the second race by default. She adds blinkers, switches to Maldonado, and continues to look sharp in the morning. A repeat of her race before last would be good enough to beat this very modest field. However, at 8/5 on the morning line, she doesn’t offer a whole lot of value.

Mystery Me has trained like a good thing for Owens (superb with debut runners) and looks fit and ready to win first crack out of the box in the third race. Pedroza has been on her in the morning and knows her well. In a below par field of straight maiden fillies, the daughter of Bwana Charlie should be long gone as a straight play and rolling exotic single.

Green Secret is a sharp Turf Paradise invader and an old pro who loves to win. If he can make the front end without undue pressure, he’ll take this fourth race field a long way. Tamarack Smarty, first off the claim for Mitchell, adds blinkers today and switches to Leparoux. He’s capable of producing a good late kick and if the pace is fast his chances will increase. Rock This Way likely will inherit a pace prompting trip and has numbers that make him dangerous at a nice price. We’ll use all three while preferring Tamarack Smarty on top.

In the fifth race, Solar Rocket drops a notch and should move forward after chasing as tougher bunch last month. He’s always liked this track, retains Maldonado, and catches an extremely favorable pace scenario. Let’s make him a strong straight play and rolling exotic single at or around his morning line odds of 5/2.

In the sixth race, Tale of a Champion exits a series of tough graded stakes races and lands in a winnable starter’s handicap affair. Stevens rides him back and the Mulhall-trained horse may have found his friends today. Porfido is 11 years old now and still dangerous. This is his favorite distance and course and Leparoux will have him doing his best work late. Both should be used in rolling exotic play with preference to Tale of a Champion.

Game On Dude has worked as well as ever for Baffert and simply lays over the San Antonio field. He’s a no-value free bingo spot in rolling exotic play.

In the nightcap, Warren’s Cracker finished a willing fourth in her debut sprinting on the main track vs. maiden claimers and today tries her luck two-turning on turf against straight maiden types. She’s bred to run long and catches a modest bunch, so let’s use her at 8-1 on the morning line. Roust ‘Em Bertie is improving with racing and finished a solid second in a similar maiden turf affair at Hollywood Park in December. She’s trained nicely since for Puype, so another forward move can be expected, and Talamo rides her back. Let’s double the race in our exotics and then press a bit with Roust ‘Em Bertie on top.