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Santa Anita for Friday 17 January 2020
2020 Pegasus World Cup Day selections for the 9 Stakes races at Gulfstream Park on January 25th are now available for purchase for $29.50. The selections will be sent to your email at about 4 p.m. pacific time on Friday night, January 24th. Please sign up as early as possible as logistically speaking it helps us out.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 average clarity
3 Zillinda has shown she can run well with ample time off between starts and gets it today......work tab which includes a solid 6F drill at SA only 4 days ago supports the notion she is meant and ready......good history at SA racing at one mile on the dirt (2 1 1 0)......and one of the races (26 Apr 19) is very strong and disguised in its strength
6 Reds Sacred Appeal seems likely to sit in the rear of this small field and the small field likely will give her the opportunity to work out a good trip as there should be minimal traffic in front of her..........low percentage jock aboard but he does a nice job riding this cheap filly
5 Flying Blue lifetime best in latest but this filly got away with one ridiculously slow pace at Lrc to wire the field.......but she might feel really good as the effort was likely stress-free.......that and she seems capable of running well off of the pace
race 2 average clarity
2 Gotta Be Lucky four year old filly sure has been at her best when competing in route dirt races.......that and she should sit on or close to the front at a distance that so far has been kind to those who do at the new SA meeting
4 Mansera solid MC debut at SA at today's one mile distance at one level higher that today's MC20K........next race was a better than it looks sprint run off of a two month layoff.......returns off of short rest for today's route race.......hard not to like
1 Lily's Storm not much in her 3 lifetime races all of which were turf routes.......but she takes the MSW to MC20K plunge and draws Prat.......both her turf figs on Lasix fit fine........but.........her dirt pedigree is not too hot.......but then again........Prat and his agent want the mount
race 3 average clarity
5 Odysseus seems like a great spot for a first time starter as those that have raced so far sure haven't done much to date at the MSW level.......talk about tightly spaced drills - worked 6 times 18 Dec to 12 Jan.......seems wound up like a top and ready to unwind in his MSW debut
8 Big Cheddar nowheresville in his MSW debut and absolutely no play on the board (31 to 1 in only a 6 horse field) suggesting the race was a total gimme........returns for his 2nd lifetime start 14 months later as a 1st time gelding........a.m. work is awfully good as is his pedigree for a turf sprint.......should be a decent price
7 Sky Jumper four year old 1st time starter from the Baffert barn has a prolonged work tab with drills that aren't as fast as most MSW 1st timers for the world class trainer........but as stated above this is a soft bunch so a good spot for what might be a "B squad" runner from the Baffert barn
3 Silenced
6 Onceinabluemoon
race 4 average clarity
5 Golden Melodie 1st three lifetime races vs. better fit quite well in this spot........next three races do not......but......she just put in a couple of much improved gate works hinting Lewis has tweaked some for the better........we shall see if that is the case about 2:30 p.m. pacific time
3 La Rosa Drive dueled in her last with the 1 horse and was put away by her finishing 2 1/2L behind her at the wire.......but she made a nice forward move in her 2nd lifetime start at Ind last May.......so there is a strong likelihood she will move forward in her 2nd out following a 9 month layoff
1 It's a Riddle three year old filly sure has lucked out pace wise except for one race and in that race that yielded a decent set of fractions she cashed it in badly........but.......it appears that once again she might get away with pedestrian fractions......we shall see
race 5 average clarity
5 Brickyard when last seen in Oct. this colt had quite the move forward in his 2nd lifetime start and 1st with blinkers.......good final time fig that fits here and with exceptional speed......that race was run off of 8 weeks rest.....races off of 14 weeks rest today......outstanding work tab......pedigree for the grass is good and route pedigree seems adequate........hard not to like
4 Commander seems like an awfully nice youngster to risk for 40K as this colt appears to be a legitimate alw runner on the grass........but than again he only went for 40K at sale and if he isn't claimed he is eligible for this race again and they can protect him........tough call
6 Govenor Cinch bad race in his latest but it seems excusable as he appears to be not too crazy about the Lrc dirt........previous 3 races at Dmr & SA fit fig wise.........1st on the turf with an unproven pedigree for it on dad's side of the equation
7 Fly the Sky
race 6 average clarity
4 Conformation 3 for 5 win on fast rated conventional dirt and (6 3 1 1) overall..........1st at 7F but coming off a steady diet of route races should bode well for her to finish well when push comes to shove at the often grueling distance of 7F........regular jock Gutierrez knows his mount inside out and has given her many solid rides in the past
5 Majestic Diva last two times this filly stepped up in class (27 April & 7 June) she showed the "step up" to be warranted......steps up two levels today and with just what one wants to see as an improved a.m. work
2 Desert Smoke like our top selection this seven year old mare is racing at the somewhat specialized 7F distance for the first time......but she is also coming off a steady diet of route races which bodes well for her to finish well when push comes to shove at the often grueling distance of 7F..........and whereas our top two picks are stepping up in class she is stepping down
race 7 average clarity
11 AE Moonoverthebayou consistent late runner on real dirt and the AW........1st on the sod but bred better for it than he is for main track surfaces.......and he takes a logical significant drop in class
4 Reedley seems better suited to sprinting.......set blazing fractions in both of his turf routes......ran 1:10 flat for 6F in both.......should be on or near the lead even with the cut back in distance especially with 1st time Maldonado up
5 Exultation competitive in all 5 lifetime starts two of which were in turf sprints which were down the SA hill grass course........away since from the game for almost a year but runs very well fresh......and today he gets a much more accomplished grass rider on his back than he had in his other two lifetime starts on the grass
10 AE You Must Chill only 5 1/2F grass race to date is a solid fit here
8 Cunning Munnings showed life on the turf without wearing blinkers......and appears better with them on
2 Mike Operator
3 Lucky Romano
