Prime Picks - Handicapping with Jeff Siegel

Today’s early daily double doesn’t look terribly enticing, so for the sake of action we’ll begin conservatively using #7 Lacey Leilah in the opener and #5 Lyrical Goddess in the second race. Lacey Leilah stretches out for the first time, switches to Rosario, has worked very well of late and looks semi appealing at 3-1 on the morning line. The projected pace of the race should be very soft and if she breaks cleanly she might end up being the controlling speed. As for Lyrical Goddess, she’s a fresh face in a bottom rung maiden claimer and the works indicate she has some ability.

The final week of racing at Santa Anita begins with a decent Wednesday program that offers the potential for profit with various rolling exotics. The opener looks fairly competitive but we’ll zero in on #5 Megastar and #6 Royal F J in this maiden turf event. Megastar, second in his last pair, seems best when held up early and allowed to run late and should like this nine furlong trip. Royal F J keeps running second – he’s finished in the runner up slot five straight times – and while he may lack a winning punch he at least keeps trying and might get lucky eventually, maybe even today.