Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

Filly and Mare Sprint — This race has one component and it is speed. Dearest Trickski (9), Dream Rush (7), Indian Blessing (5) and Lady Sprinter (4) will have guns blazing as they spring from the gate. Speed kills most of the time and that may be the case here. So, I’ll be looking for some bombers late: Intangaroo (3), Tiz Elemental (8) and Tizzy’s Tune (13). Ventura (12) was second against the boys on turf and Zaftig (6) took out Indian Blessing in the Acorn, but her almost five-month layoff bothers me.

Indyanne, another speed burner, was scratched from the race Thursday morning after developing a fever and coughing Wednesday.

Indian Blessing may have run down the rest of the speed by the quarter pole, but I think she will be weary and Intangaroo and the rest will be coming. Speed has been holding up at Oak Tree in the heat, but I’m going against it. Ron’s picks: 3-6-8-5.

Juvenile Fillies Turf — This is a first for the Breeders’ Cup as part of its all ladies’ day Friday (the Filly and Mare Sprint falls into the same category). Laragh (2) (won Jessamine at Keeneland) probably will get the nod from the bettors at post time with Saucey Evening (11) (won the Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies) taking some money. C Karma (4), Freedom Rings (6), Maram (3) and Consequence (7) will all have their supports as three of them came out of the Miss Grillo. But the one young lady who also has been hanging around in her races is Sugar Mom (8) and right now I can get her at 10-1, a great overlay. Ron’s picks: 8-3-11-7.

Juvenile Fillies — Stardom Bound (10) off two straight wins, one on the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, is the overwhelming favorite. This race also will have a lot of speed: Be Smart (5), C.S. Silk (8) and Palacio De Amor (9), which will give Starbound something to run at. Dream Express (12) comes in off a win in the Alcibiades, and Doremifasollatido (13) took the Matron in her last. Both will stalk or close, so the outside posts shouldn’t be a problem for them. The same applies to Stardom Bound. The only other one I see getting up for some money is Van Lear Rose (6). Ron’s picks: 10-9-8-6.

Filly and Mare Turf — This race was made for Wait A While (5), who is three out of four this year and most recently won the Yellow Ribbon over this course and at this distance. Her main competition will come from Dynaforce (6), Vacare (2), Pure Clan (10) and Folk Opera (9). The heat is the main concern for Folk Opera, but the Irish breds appear to like the firm ground at Santa Anita. Pure Clan will be taking on elders, so she might get overlooked at the windows. Mauralakana (7) might be tailing off, but her last loss was over yielding ground and this course will be much tighter. Halfway to Heaven (8) is another Irish invader and comes in off a Group 1 win in England. This is one of the toughest races on the card, but I’m going to give the nod to Wait A While. Ron’s picks: 5-6-8-9.

Ladies’ Classic — Zenyatta (1). Can anything else be said about this race? It can if the post position gets her trapped in traffic and if opposing jockeys decide to ‘ride’ her instead of their own mounts. Her temperament can be a problem (with the heat) and the distance, a mile and an eighth, has been her weakest race. The other talent is Cocoa Beach (3), Ginger Punch (6) and Hystericalady (2). I’m still going to pick Zenyatta for the win with Cocoa Beach in the mix. Ginger Beach has never been on Pro-Ride, so that gives me pause. I also saw Lemon Drop Mom give Ginger Punch all she wanted in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga, where a lot of people still think Lemon Drop Mom won the race. She then lost to Cocoa Beach in the Beldame. Tailing off? The one mare I think might have a say is Carriage Trail (5), but I won’t be using her. I want to go another way. I’m going to drop a bomb in this one: Santa Teresita (7). She’s been over this surface and was third in the Lady’s Secret to Zenyatta. She’s by Lemon Drop Kid and distance won’t be an issue, and you’ve got to be kidding at 50-1. Ron’s picks: 1-7-3-6