Gold Cup at Santa Anita Picks and Preview

Last year's runner up Hoppertunity is back to try and go one better in this Win and You're In event for the BC Classic, and gets the nod as the lukewarm 3-1 morning line favorite. He has a win in three starts this year, taking the (G2) San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita back in February, before shipping over to run third on the synthetic in the Dubai World Cup. He gets back on the dirt here and is in with a shot under Mike Smith.

Others trying to make ther mark at the top level

Lining up against him will be Melatonin (7-2), a lightly raced five year old who has created a buzz lately as a late bloomer. Although it took him two years to get his maiden win, and he started this year running at the allowance level, he's been in good form recently, taking the (G1) Santa Anita Handicap against a strong field two races back, and ran a solid second last out in the (G2) Oaklawn Handicap. Florida-bred Second Summer (4-1) is another who has found most of his success in the allowance ranks, but scored a win in his Santa Anita debut in his second graded-stakes try over a couple of others entered in here.

Since winning this race a year ago, Hard Aces (6-1) has been shut out of the winner's circle in his last eight starts. But he's been losing to some of the top horses in the country, and is good enough to at least get a piece against this field. 

The Gold Cup at Santa Anita goes Saturday, June 25. Post time is 5:43 PM Pacific.

OTB California Picks by PP

#6 Hoppertunity

#7 Melatonin

#2 Second Summer

#3 Hard Aces