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Santa Anita for Saturday 19 Feb 2011
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Didn't get as much rain as was forecasted but you might want to take it easy the 1st couple of races to make sure you don't have to deal with anything other than an even playing surface which I studied for.
Nice card loaded with quality and fields of strength.
race 1 average clarity
3 Lauren C history on conventional dirt is solid....trainer recently scored with a significant drop in claiming price like this mare is taking today
4 Misinjennuous horses last win came turf to AW...so last (over her head) on the sod effort obviously looks like the prep for today's well meaning drop
2 Funky Soup has been stepping up the claiming ladder and meeting the challenges...has run well over at LA in races with moisture in the track
race 2 average clarity
4 Flashy Green seemingly all 6 lifetime efforts run at GG fit fine here.....Art Sherman wins a very high % of these N Cal shippers especially when they drop a little...can be in the hunt from the get go
3 Mark Of A Warrior hard to argue with a horse that has won 3 of his last 4 up and down the claiming ladder...barn is starting to heat up
6 Turco small drop and has decent early speed in a fairly good looking spot for a speed type....right guy for the job in Mr. P Val
race 3 average clarity
1 Bourbon Bay yikes....3 for 3 at the at the distance and 5 for 5 on the SA turf course.......a softer grass course is my only ? mark
5 Champ Pegasus 4 wins and 2 2nds in last 7 starts....softer sod is also a question mark for this world class grass horse
8 Falcon Rock blinkers back on seems like a smart move.......lost by only a couple of lengths in Grade 1 & 2 with them on...also....has handled a softer turf quite well overseas in GB
4 Juniper Pass jury is still out if this colt will appreciate the marathon 1 1/2 mile distance or the softer turf but he just missed with a wide trip in the Hollywood Derby at 1 1/4 miles...fig in the Derby on Top Turf Today fits fine here if he can reproduce it at 1 1/2 miles
race 4 slightly below average clarity
6 Hanakkuh broke her maiden in 2nd lifetime start......so has a decent chance moves forward 2nd out after the layoff.....chance to be speed of the speed especially with P Val aboard
8 Social Event deep closer had the trip from you know where in last checking badly early then running wide (only lost by 4!)...claimed by Carava who is rather hot of late
3 Darling Ciana last 3 races on the AW fit solidly here and she would have been top pick if this race was run on a synthetic surface....1st ever on conventional dirt?
5 Roulete It Roll last run way back in Nov was a powerful wake-up/fig......solid here if ready enough off of the layoff and handles the new surface as well
race 5 slightly above average clarity
1 Dime last 2 sprint races (albeit on the AW) are very strong for this level......very tough here if fires the same on the "real" dirt
3 Courtside long layoff but training super....flashed brilliant speed in last chasing a nasty pace and drawing off in the stretch...show be prominent from the get go
6 Gnarly Dude also owns some solid early speed and has proven he can run fresh
5 Speed Bias broke slightly bad and ran wide and still won mc debut......laid off for awhile but training sharply with 1st time blinkers and we get a major jockey upgrade
race 6 slightly above average clarity
5 Beautiful Sunday 5 wide in debut and still only beat by less than 2....horrid trip in last losing about 7 lengths andstill only beat by 2.....jock will be out to make amends
8 Jaredella bad trip here as well losing about 7 lengths...very formidable if this filly smooths things out in 2nd lifetime start
10 Mildly Offensive very rare that I don't select a 1ster training so brilliantly on top but she has drawn the outer-most post and has 2 strong fig horses 2 beat
7 Artuya training great for Mr Baffert who has had a great last 9 months with his 1st timers
race 7 average clarity
2 Galientos believe he needed his last where he had little shot being caught wide with pace.....should be tighter today...on or near the lead with a good speed rifer up
3 Kelvar Kid both lifetime sprints fit here.....off since July but the drills say ready and Bejarano accepts the mount
12 Royce Paco G. is much more dangerous 2nd out after the layoff...blinkers on and the recent drills suggest the horse has more early speed since the equipment change was made
1 Get My Fix prolonged layoff but is training as if he loves the new SA surface and he is ready at 1st asking off of the 15 month layoff
race 8 average clarity
2 Ventana probably needed his last and should be peaking for this affair.....good chance to sit in a nice distance stalk position with a couple of speed types in front of him and the other 3 behind him...if so will get room to maneuver
5 Smiling Tiger and 2 monster sprint races (world class) this colt tossed a clunker in last....hate the word bounce but I'll use it here...good work since rebound is a good possibility
6 Supreme Summit deep closer is quite a bit better than appears on paper.....can he flying home late especially if a trying out track helps his closer's profile
race 9 average clarity
8 Klassy Saint good debut showing solid pace....nice drills since....believe will chase or press a faint of heart leader in the 4 horse andmay find himself alone at the top of the stretch with P Val on his back to help carry him home
7 Thunder Of Zion very sharp right now and can get a very nice stalk position
2 Warren's Tiger works for 1st time say ready....will need to be good from the gate with only 5 furlongs to work with
9 Our Senor Moments 1st timer is training up to snuff...must overcome a tough post at 5F
3 Sea And Sage only race ran up the track but just worked way way faster then he ran...showing self today
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