Battle of the sexes in California

Wow What a great day here in California for the Grade 1 $1,000,000 California Handicap(2783.0114) to be run over 10 furlongs on fast dirt for all horses 4yo and up. This race is going to be a very interesting race indeed with the best filly in the sim SWIFT KICK taking on the boy’s including UNPRECEDENTED and ANTICOSTI who are both ranked in boys top 7, and with horses such as LACONIA LIGHT, KISSIN COUSIN II and SINANJU also in the field this is going to be a great
race. Let’s have a look at the form guide and try to pick the winner.
PP1
CAT OF THE TAIL
Game Dam : STORMTAR Current Owner: graywolf3 TALE OF THE CAT x DANEHILL x PROUD TRUTH 13/1
This horse has been racing on turf latley until last start when he ran his best ever speed figure 111 on a fast dirt track. CAT OF THE TAIL has never won at stake level which makes me think this will be to hard, but if he runs as well as last start he may try to take the lead and go wire to wire I give him an outside chance.
PP2
HYATT(IRE)
Game Dam : ALLISON REBEL Current Owner: chevrolet THEATRICAL(IRE) x VICTORY GALLOP x DIESIS(GB) 23/1
This 4yo colt is comming back in distance and I think will suit him more than his last few starts he is a winner of the The A.R.S.E. is Unbelievable Stakes-G3 and has finished in the top 3 in his last five runs a stake level. This is however a big step up in class which I think may tell but he does have the services of L Jones in the saddle who is winning 20% of his races so far this season. Place chance only
PP3
BARB’S ADVENTURE Current Owner: sprintbarn PALACE MUSIC x AL HATTAB x ARCTIC TERN 11/1
This 4yo grey is the up and comming horase to keep an eye on. He has been comming through the grades and took the step up to stake level only 4 starts back and ran a nice 3rd. Since then he has won 3 in a row including the Carden Special-G2 over 12 furlongs. However the race is only 10 furlongs which he has not raced at before and he has out of form jockey C Mecklenburg in the saddle. I will only pick him to run a place but I may be wrong.
PP4
GARDINER Current Owner: kingswood CAPOTE x STORM BIRD x GONE WEST 10/1
Very lightly raced 6yo who has won all of his 6 races in the past year including The COMMUNAL BAIT Challenge-Stk. Last start he was put up to 10 furlongs for the first time at allowence level and won by four and a half lengths with a great speed rating of 106. Steps up in class which will test him so he is another one of those horses that might sneak a place.
PP5
UNPRECEDENTED Current Owner: jockeymax HANSEL x NUREYEV x RAISE A NATIVE 5/1
Ranked 5 classic distance older male horses and a winner of 6 grade 1 races ,this 6 year son of Hansel is looking to get his first win over 9 furlongs and also get his career winning strike rate up to 50%. He has the services of no 1 jockey F Gossett which will be a huge +. I’m looking for UNPRECEDENTED to settle well back into the field and to try to strom home but I will stick my neck out and perdict that he will not finish in the top 3 (my reputation is on the line).
PP6
LACONIA LIGHT
Game Dam : LADY LARKIN Current Owner: whitehall A.P. INDY x SMART STRIKE x NIJINSKY II 8/1
4 time stake winner who has an ok recored at 10 furlongs is another up and coming horse who is trying to crack the big time. He disoppointed last start in the Edward Garrison G1 last start finishing only 7th and will need a big turn around to win this race. he needs to be in the front 3 at the 3 furlong pole to have a chance but I don’t think he will win but he may run a place.
PP7
SENSATIONALIZE Current Owner: dixiedotco A.P. INDY x SADLER’S WELLS x BUCKPASSER 10/1
This is another star in the making who ran a brilliant 2nd to gun 4yo Toy Maker last start with his best rating ever of 110. I expect to see him settle near last and fly down the outside late in the race. With the very experienced M Staples in the saddle I think he is an outside chance to win.
PP8
WIZARD OF WESTWOOD Current Owner: lieut60 VISION AND VERSE x SEPTIEME CIEL x GALLANT MAN 13/1
Ran a nice 3rd last start in the Eddie Arearo G1 at very big odds and is likley to start big odds again due to lack of experience at this level. However I think he has a great future but would like to see him win a few races at grade 2 and 3 level. Interesting to note that this horse was claimed for just $10,000 last season, what a great buy but place chance only.
PP9
KISSIN COUSIN II Current Owner: sherwood SADLER’S WELLS x GONE WEST x NIJINSKY II 7/1
Winner of the Movieland Shiny Cup-G1 last season and has already won 2 stakes races this season. He (strange name for a male) has a best speed rating of 113 at 10 furlongs which would almost win this race. I think he will settle in the front pack and will try to steal the race at the 2 furlong pole could be an outside chance.
PP10
ANTICOSTI
Game Dam : YOUR HILL Current Owner: champions4 UNBRIDLED’S SONG x DANEHILL x FAPPIANO 9/1
This 4 time grade 1 winner (who is also ranked no 7 in the classic male division) is making a good comback after his form went off at the end of last season, he has come back and won at stake level and was very good in winning an allowence with a speed rating of 107 in preperation for this. I can see him sitting just off the speed and making his run with KISSIN COUSIN II if he is back to his best he will be very hard to catch. A big chance.
PP11
CYCLE LIKE BAYLEY
Game Dam : DEGRELLA’S WAGONS Current Owner: laq BROAD BRUSH x SADLER’S WELLS x BOLD EGO 28/1
2 time stake winner how ran a very good 2nd 3 starts back at stakes level with a 106 rating, but has had 2 very bad runs since. Not in the same class as some of the others, but you’ve got to be in it to win it so good luck to the owner but for me I will leave this one out.
PP12
SINANJU Current Owner: frosty RAHY x NIJINSKY II x KEY TO THE MINT 9/1
2 time stake winner who likes to get back in the field, he ran ok in the Eddie Arearo but was sensational 3 starts back in the The OVER NOT DANCER Stakes-Stk over 10.5 furlongs with a 114 speed rating. He has proved himself at stake level and needs to take the next step however I think the next step would be grade 2 and 3 but I still give him a chance to run a place.
PP13
APPLE SPLASH
Game Dam : AKEGFORME(IRE) Current Owner: jarid FORBIDDEN APPLE x GENEROUS(IRE) x BUCKSPLASHER 27/1
This could be the horse that makes or breaks the hopes of some of these horses, APPLE SPLASH is one of the only 2 front runners in the field, he is a 2 time stake winner who tends to get very tired at the end of his races. I think he may do the same in this race as he is just outclassed but how fast will he go up front?
PP14
SWIFT KICK Current Owner: sdmf2 SUMMER SQUALL x CRAFTY PROSPECTOR x HALO 5/1
Here is the best filly in the sim taking on the males for just the 2nd time, the first was a gallant 2nd placing to TAKING RISKS in the delpenn champions day delaware mile -G1 and she has since had a 4th and a 2nd at grade 1 level. She has the 2nd best jockey T Bates in the saddle and she will also settle back in the field and if I were her trainer I think I would try to settle in the front half of the field. She has a chance depending on the jockey instructions.

Well after all that I think there are a host of chances, but it will all depend on the speed up front and jockey instrutions. If the speed is fast it will give the back makers such as SENSATIONALIZE and SWIFT KICK a chance but a slow pace will suit a horses like KISSIN COUSIN II and ANTICOSTI. I think we will see outsider CAT OF THE TAIL try to go wire to wire. I’m going to leave UNPRECEDENTED out of my winning chances but who knows I’m only a tippster!

After all that if i were to pick just one horse I will go with ANTICOSTI but to be safe take this trifecta 1,7,9,14-1,7,9,14-1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,12,14 it will cost $96 for a $1 bet