Race of the Week - No. 7 at Santa Anita Park on March 10

by Bodog Racebook | Mar 9 2011

Bodog’s Race of the Week is Race No. 7 at Santa Anita Park on Thursday, March 10. It is an allowance optional claimer with a purse of $56,000 for 3-year-olds willing to go 6 ½ furlongs over turf. Diamond Geezah, D’pendable and Sierra Spirit are among the top contenders.

Diamond Geezah was a winner last out, capturing a 6 ½ furlong allowance race over the same track on Feb. 24. This 3-year-old son of Diamond Green finished third in his 2011 debut, also at Santa Anita Park, on Jan. 13 in an allowance optional claimer. Prior to that, he raced exclusively in England, gaining valuable experience going 1-2-1 from eight races. Diamond Geezah, trained by Mike Mitchell for Capen or Jungle Racing, will be at a slight disadvantage breaking from extreme outside post 10 – but he will have the expertise of Joe Talamo in the irons on Thursday. The Irish-bred colt will be looking to boost his current career earnings of $72,074.

On the other hand, D’pendable had his first career race – and career win – almost eight months ago. This Florida-bred 3-year-old broke his maiden at Hollywood Park on July 4 by 1 ½ lengths and garnered $24,600. A son of D’Wildcat, D’pendable has been training up to this race, switching from the all-weather track at Hollywood Park (where he fired two bullet workouts, one on Jan. 29 and one on Feb. 11) to the dirt track at Santa Anita Park. His most recent workout was 5 furlongs timed in 1:01.40 on March 5. Whether he can race on dirt is the biggest question for this Bob Baffert trainee, who will have Joel Rosario aboard for Thursday’s race.

Jeff Bonde trains Sierra Spirit for George and Mary Clare Schmitt, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of In Excess. Sierra Spirit broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 5, earning $32,400 for the victory. He has had three training sessions since that race, each improving, and his last workout of 5 furlongs was timed in 59.00 on March 4. Sierra Spirit will be breaking from post 6 for Thursday’s race and will have Victor Espinoza in the irons.

Celestic Night, The Flying Whizzer, Future Readings, Tale of Lucknfame, Robie the Cat, Speed Bias and Irish-bred Chin’n Tonic are the other entrants.

Do you have your pick yet? Bet on Bodog’s Race of the Week at the Bodog Racebook!