California Chrome takes to the track in the Awesome Again at Santa Anita

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

On Saturday at Santa Anita Park, the amazing California Chrome will face six rivals in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race that will serve as his final prep race for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5. The 2014 Horse of the Year has been unbeatable this year, with five wins from five races, and he couldn’t have been more impressive when winning the Pacific Classic at Del Mar last month by five lengths.

If California Chrome (#1) runs anywhere near as well in the Awesome Again as he did in the Pacific Classic, he should win this race without much trouble. If you’re a fan of California Chrome and want to make a big score betting him to win, the key will be identifying which horses might finish second, third, and fourth so that you can hit the trifecta and superfecta.

The consistent and talented Dortmund (#2) looks like a strong choice to finish second. He won the first six races of his career, including the 2015 Santa Anita Derby and has run well against California Chrome twice this year, finishing a half-length behind him when second in the San Diego Handicap and third by 7 ¼ lengths in the Pacific Classic. Trained by Bob Baffert, Dortmund will wear blinkers in the Awesome Again, an equipment change that could help the colt stay focused and show more early speed. Given that he almost upset California Chrome in the San Diego when setting the pace, this seems like a good strategy.

Hoppertunity (#3) finished a solid fourth in the Pacific Classic and was third behind California Chrome in the Dubai World Cup back in March. A late runner that could benefit from a fast pace in the Awesome Again, Hoppertunity has a habit of finishing third or fourth in major races and must be included in all trifectas and superfectas, although it’s possible that he could scratch in favor of a run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 8 at Belmont Park.

Another horse to consider is the 8-year-old veteran Soi Phet (#5), who has been in great form this year while finishing first or second in all six of his dirt races. He enters the Awesome Again off two straight wins in minor stakes races, and his recent Beyer speed figures have been strong—with his blend of speed and ability to rally from behind a fast pace, he could work out a great trip and find a spot in the top three.

To round out the superfecta, we’ll also include Win the Space (#4) and Hard Aces (#7), two capable graded stakes competitors that could be in the mix if they rebound from poor showings in the Pacific Classic.

Wagering Strategy A: Trifectas

$10 trifecta: 1 with 2 with 3,5 ($20)

$5 trifecta: 1 with 3,5 with 2 ($10)

Wagering Strategy B: Superfectas

$6 superfecta: 1 with 2 with 3,5 with 3,5 ($12)

$3 superfecta: 1 with 2 with 3,5 with 4,7 ($6)

$2 superfecta: 1 with 3,5 with 2 with 3,4,5,7 ($12)

Good luck, and enjoy the race!