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Santa Anita for Thursday 12 January 2012
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 Seems like a slightly above average card for today.
Good luck to all.
race 1Â Â Â average clarity
6 Hey I'm Sobaa  best lifetime race of 3 race career was her MSW debut....solid pace and final time......fresh off a 1/2 year layoff and training well.....very tough if she runs a similar fresh race today
1 Smil'n From Above  same as our top pick.....best ever (and it is hidden with a very bad trip) was her debut run....and ironically she is also laid up 1/2 a year....recent 5/8ths bullet drill says ready
7 To The Top  nice debut and surely can move forward in 2nd lifetime start....then again the rider is cold to start the meet and so is Mike Mitchell....doubt both of them stay chilly for long
5 Subtle Creek   might have needed last.....if so lookout because her other 3 lifetime sprints are solid ....much better than appear in print
race 2Â Â Â above average clarity
4 Sky Kingdom  last 2 races are better than par....quality late runner had to negotiate 12 other horses......only 4 to cope with here....1st time conventional dirt but trains well on it
5 Spirit Rules  crushed his competition in 2nd lifetime start in stellar final time and did it showing decent pace.....now needs to do it at a route of ground......average trainer isn't bad 1st time at a route
1 Smart Ellis  decent grass layoff run in last......1st ever on "real" dirt but his breeding suggests it should not be a problem.....will need lifetime best to beat the top two
race 3Â Â Â Â Â average clarity
3 Jaredella  monster fresh run 1 year ago and it is significantly hidden by an ugly trip.....training as if Sadler has this filly all set to roll fresh like last year.....1st ever on the sod but bred just fine to handle it
4 Stormy Slew  sharp efforts in last 2 endeavors one of which was a turf sprint at Hol.....continues to train like she has held her form....Puype barn is heating up
1 Amorously  last was the gimme off of a 2 month break to be full throttle today 1st ever on the lawn....bred to do her best running on the turf......we will see today
5 Elusive Cookies  continues to train like a "live" MSW.......this mare was improving with every start last year before she was laid up......so.....2nd out after the layoff seems like a good thing especially considering her strong work tab
race 4Â Â Â above average clarity
6 Creston Cutie   big potential here......ran "large" (just missing in lifetime debut despite a poor trip) in only race on the SA dirt....albeit on a track rated good.....also we get a jock upgrade
5 Sunshine High  debut was not too shabby especially the way this mare finished up......McCarthy is much more dangerous with 2nd time starters
8 Lara Antipova  lone race on conventional dirt run way back in Aug is decent......hard to tell how ready this one is off of the layoff but she should fit fine if she is fit and ready fresh off the bench
2 Johanns Kee  owns dangerous early speed and has a decent speed rider aboard......major move forward in 2nd lifetime start......another move in the right direction sure would be a bonus
race 5Â Â Â average clarity
5 Doc Can Dance  most of the contenders I can foresee in this field like the front end.....this fellow is a late runner......trainer has a good history 2nd out after a layoff and that is today's scenario for this gelding
1 Syncobeat  consistent sort on the lawn has battled 5 of his 6 grass endeavors.....seems to handle eyeball to eyeball pressure and still stick around
2 Personalitary  turned career around as soon as he competed in two turn affairs....1st on the sod in last wasn't bad......... he surely can build on the learning experience......trainer shows signs of waking up
4 His Boy Elroy  AW races fit effort/fig wise quite well but I am a bit leery of his pedigree for being able to handle the turf just as well......and this is also his 1st two turn affair.....still a dangerous contender
Longshot Possibilities:  3 My Count Silver  work tab sure has improved since his last........might take back here as he did for his only lifetime victory and that looks like a good thing in this spot
race 6Â Â Â average clarity
5 Thirtyfirststreet   blinkers on and gelded since his last......has been facing tougher......seems well meant today to get a taste of winning and build his confidence
3 Megastar  nice win at this level in last.....solid drill since strongly suggests he has held his form......1st ever on conventional dirt is a question mark....other then that all systems seem to be a go
6 Smart Spending  has run well on all 4 lifetime races on "fast" tracks.....only route race he had the excuse of dealing with a nasty pace and running in the slop.....bred fine to run long
race 7Â Â Â average clarity
1 Antidote  proven at the distance with a nice 2nd at today's distance in last.....works since are very solid....sure seems like a very happy healthy horse right now
4 Admission  looks like the best early speed in spot....should be formidable on the front end if Guce is able to slow things down early
3 Tiz Gianni  so so pedigree to get 1 1/4 miles but sure likes 1 1/8 mile races and is trained by a guy who knows how to put stamina into a horse
8 Slim Shadey  Callaghan looks like he gave this gelding a race 1st run in the good old U S of A.....should show more today......bred to run all day but the 1 1/4 distance is still a ? mark in that this gelding bombed in both races at 1 1/4 overseas
Longshot Possibilities:  7 Teafatiller  ran quite well at 1 3/8ths miles on the sod and it is hidden with a bad trip......positive rider switch for today especially considering the apprentice weight break....not impossible at a handsome price
race 8Â Â Â below average clarity
6 Elusive Moment  both races following the 11 month layoff sure look like tune-ups to drop and go with the pedal to the medal today......trainer is very good when he drops a horse a couple of levels like today
1 Charlie And Chris  last two wins came at today's distance with 1 1/2 months off and Rosario in the saddle.....exactly that same scenario for this afternoon
2 Bruno's Wager  poor trip in last hides a decent effort....just claimed and wheeled back in 6 days....good history running back in 2 weeks so maybe 1 week off will be OK
3 Lt. Hopeful  claimed for 62K in late Oct and now he is in for 10K......yikes.....Pedroza is one impressively tough hard trying jock but he best be careful on this seemingly fragile animal....will he run?.......toss a coin.......I hate these massive drop down types for a multiple number of reasons
8 Gibson Home Run  speed of the speed is almost always dangerous
4 Party Mandate  overdo drop for this gelding who has hardly earned his keep......not impossible with a little pace up front and a good trip
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