Howl

Boxing Day is not a holiday observed on the American calendar--thanks, Revolutionary generation. However, the day after Christmas is circled in red by the horse racing cadre because it means one thing: Opening Day at Santa Anita Park. This Tuesday, an 11-race card kicks off at 2 p.m. ET under the picturesque San Gabriel mountains in Arcadia, California--six of which are graded stakes. To entice the horseplayer, the Classic Meet sports a $1 Pick Six, a 14 percent takeout on both the .50 Early and Late Pick 5, and we...

4th-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 10-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.65, ft, 7 3/4 lengths. HOWL (f, 3, Practical Joke--How, by Indian Charlie) was crunched into 6-5 favoritism for a belated career debut and overcame a wide trip from the outside draw to open her account in impressive fashion. Not the swiftest away, the aptly named $190,000 Keeneland September yearling worked her way into the thick of things in quick order, but that sluggish dispatch meant that Howl was trapped out as they raced to the turn. Easing down into about the three...