Weekend Stakes Action - Frank E. Kilroe Mile

This weekend’s top stakes races are both at Santa Anita Park. It’s the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile on the turf and the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap.

The Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, the race made famous by the horse Seabiscuit, looks to be incredibly intriguing as a full field figures to show up at the starting gate.

Let’s analyze this weekend’s top stakes races.

Santa Anita Park – Race 9

Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile

$300,000

For Four-Year Olds and Up

1 mile on the turf

How good is Ventura? Bobby Frankel wins the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with her, then the Grade I Santa Monica and now takes on the boys in the Franke E. Kilroe Mile. Yes, she’s that good. The one hole and jockey Garret Gomez adds to the allure. She gets the win money. Gio Ponti is back to his preferred surface after racing on Pro-Ride. He should be more comfortable on turf and he’s the best closer in this race. Artiste Royale, a Neil Drysdale trainee, might go off the chalk after winning the Grade II San Marcos. He is another closer that could win this.

1. Ventura

2. Gio Ponti

3. Artiste Royale

Santa Anita Park – Race 10

Grade I Santa Anita Handicap

$1,000,000

For Four-Year Olds and Up

1 ¼ miles on Pro-Ride

Matto Mondo has been brilliant for trainer Richard Mandella in his last two races. If Mondo can get the lead and just relax, then he can easily win this at huge overlaid odds. He’s worth a long look in the paddock. Einstein will go off the chalk and he should. He rarely finishes out of the money and there’s no doubt that he could easily run past Matto Mondo in the lane, but the odds will be too low for me. Blue Exit made a fantastic, huge move in the Grade II Strub Stakes, but failed to catch Cowboy Cal and lost by ¾ of a length. He could make another big move and has to be considered a live long shot in the Santa Anita Handicap.

1. Matto Mondo

2. Einstein

3. Blue Exit