Paranoia the exacta key in loaded Kilroe Mile

A sensational field of 10 top turf performers will vie in Saturday’s $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. The superb group features eight contenders who have achieved prior success at the grade or group level, and the well-matched event could go to a number of talented horses in the cast.

#1 Smooth Like Strait (4-1) has major speed from the rail and will be first or second in the early going. The four-year-old son of Midnight Lute has been consistently good since his debut in 2019, and he capped his sophomore season with a score in the Mathis Brothers Mile (G2) on the course. McCarthy pupil runs well fresh and looms large on Saturday under Rispoli.

#10 Flying Scotsman (12-1) won in wire-to-wire fashion against allowance foes at Gulfstream Park most recently, and I expect him to be sent from the outside post to force the tempo beneath Tyler Baze. I don’t envision the son of English Channel to be around late, but he figures to be an important pace player in the field.

Stylish Thunder Road S. (G3) victor #2 Hit the Road (4-1), Bill Mott’s #7 Casa Creed (6-1), and Tropical Park Turf (G3) winner #9 Ride A Comet (7-2), will be in the next flight to ensure an honest early tempo.

My top pick will come from well off the pace in his Santa Anita debut. #3 Social Paranoia (8-1) found the 1 3/16 miles of the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) to be a bit beyond his scope most recently, but the Pletcher trainee still gave a fine account of himself when a nice fourth. By Street Boss, the dark bay five-year-old cuts back in distance for his third try of 2021 and is sitting on a peak performance.

The multiple Grade 3 victor is a perfect three-for-three at the distance, while earning triple-digit Brisnet Late Pace numbers on each occasion. Kentucky-bred draws well near the rail to save ground early and run them down late with Abel Cedillo inheriting the mount.

For the exacta, I will include the aforementioned #1 Smooth Like Strait, #2 Hit the Road, and #9 Ride A Comet, as well as Seabiscuit H. (G2) hero #8 Count Again (12-1), who is two-for-two at the trip.

Kilroe Mile Wager

• $10 Exacta: 3 with 1,2,8,9 ($40)