
Santa Anita for Friday 18 Feb 2011
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Rain is likely this afternoon and there is 1 to 2 inches in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow so needless to say watch out for any bias that may develop.
I am not a big fan of off tracks. That is one of the reasons I have fallen in love with the sunny California circuit after years of coping with the weather in the Midwest and South.
race 1 average clarity (picks are the same for the main track)
6 Cookinthisorthat easily fired the best speed of anyone in this group....bred to handle the sod....wire shot with P Val in control
5 Burton's Angel decent turf pedigree...and owns enough early speed to sit up close in a good striking position.....MSW debut effort 3 back was solid
1 Reddy Go Jaylo last was the MSW tune-up to be full throttle 1st at a route today......nicely bred for the sod
race 2 slightly above average clarity
1 Misty Carmel 1 post and very quick early is a good combination in an abbreviated sprint of 5 furlongs
4 Milliondollarbill also should sit up close in the 5F affair.....if it is sloppy ?? race at Crc in the goo is better than it appears on paper
7 Quentin Gallivan not the best 1st timer trainer with a claimer but the works are awfully strong for this level....Bisono has been on live animals with his limited no. of mounts
race 3 average clarity (picks for the dirt are 2-7-8-3)
2 Visual Intensity on the right end of the learning curve.....gelding has drawn a good post.....should be in a good ground saving position near the front end of things...OK turf breeding
7 Tapfortexas decent run 1st ever at a route in last......much improved works since......feel good about the chances this well bred horse has at moving in the right direction once again
6 Nahem bad trip in last hides improvement......good work series...bred well to handle the sod
3 Tee Martunis seemingly bred to prefer a route of ground.....also bred fine to run on the grass.....slowly improving sort in his sprints has plenty of foundation for his 1st ever long
race 4 slightly above average clarity
3 Warren's Gridlock most impressive effort in last caught wide with significant pace and still only lost by 1/2 length....repeat effort takes this.... a small fall off in form might still be good enough to take this
4 Big Wags much improved recent drills and a jockey upgrade....very consistent sort
7 Free Beer fairly decent effort considering this gelding had to run long off of an extended hiatus from the track....training like he feels good
6 Anga deep closer should be flying late especially if the track (good chance of a sloppy race track by this race) is playing in his favor
race 5 slightly below average clarity
1 Runaway Wildcat race 2 back was a nice 3rd out of a fast heat at a level a couple of notches higher....tried turf to no avail in last...toss it out....good shot we see effort 2 back
5 Edgewick Road race has enough speed in it that it may set up for this consistent closer....turf legged up in a route in last should help him get the 7 furlongs
2 Tiger Trysts 3 races last Summer show his competitiveness but are a little short fig wise....but the works over the new SA surface hint at an improved runner
3 Stormin Proud Papa his best fits fine but just claimed and the new barn is sending him out with short rest something he still needs to prove he can handle....but it is a new conditioner and things maybe different
race 6 average clarity
7 Frigid Bridget dueled in strong pace in last and still won the race breaking her maiden......continues to work like she has held her form.....shot to be prominent from the get go
4 Lift Our Luck done nothing wrong in 3 lifetime races....bred to handle the 1 mile dirt distance
5 Warren's Flyer has run well at times versus tougher....race 2 back is very solid here
3 A Natural no one I know is better with micro-rest than O'Neill...back in 5 days
race 7 average clarity
6 Excellent News rest appears to have done wonders for this quality filly....tremendous work tab even by Baffert standards
1 Saratoga Sunshine very nice runner out of Britain and the right U S trainer takes over the reigns.....strong work series from a guy like Mitchell....should be ready
2 Crisis Of Spirit blocked badly in last or definitely would have won...would have been top pick but she tends to flatten some beyond 6 furlongs
4 Church Camp solid return to the race wars after a 2 month layoff.....impressive bullet drill since....seemingly ready for a top effort today
race 8 average clarity
5 A Golden Jet both MSW races run last Fall are strong efforts in this spot......drills on the new SA are very fast for this level......jockey was competent enough overseas with a decent record on AW tracks
8 Exponential good forward move in 2nd lifetime start...and a blistering recent work suggests a another forward move is likely
6 Go Sophia trainer sure could use a win and may get it here with the ever dangerous dropping out of MSW racing to claiming runner
7 Lake Osceola earned a decent adjusted fig in last.....repeat of that effort with a good journey gives her a shot for her new trainer
3 Warren's Jazz Walk last might have been a needed/tune-up race....if so....should fit well in this spot
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