Not crazy about today's card but Sunday's looks much better.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â below average clarity
4 French Getaway  tepid top selection has run two straight improved final times and also showed more "pace".........eight year old seldom gets to race at today's 9F on the turf but he owns a couple of strong efforts at the distance
2 Cleopatra's Strike  double barrel action from the Hess barn as he also trains our top selection........significant drop down in class for this elder statesman makes sense to yours truly as he has not found the winners circle since September of 2019
3Â Seeking Refuge
race 2Â Â average clarity
4 Your Royal Coil  nice layoff run in her latest which was the 6F version of this 20K cond. claiming race.......6 1/2 furlongs to travel today seems likely to be within his distance capabilities.........five year old mare has only gotten to run off of short rest twice in her career and both were moves forward.........34 days qualifies for short rest.......trainer Lerner is solid 2nd out after long breaks
2 Cowboys Daughter SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE Tyler Baze should get a nice stalk position behind our top selection in what should be a reasonable pace.........smart move by Tom Bell to work this filly a quick 4F to help her adjust to a sprint following a nice 5L win at one mile.......four year old should finish up well in this extended sprint distance coming off of 4 consecutive route races
1Â Saving Sophie
race 3Â Â average clarity
5 Exultation  both efforts at 6 1/2 furlongs on the new turf configuration which were his last two races are solid for today's level and arguably his best two lifetime races......Rispoli wisely stays put for a 4th straight time.......gelding has been stalking the lead with success and it appears Umberto will get the position again today
3 One Flew South  last three grass races that this Gus Headley five year old ran have been 6F or 6 1/2F affairs at SA and all fit fine at todays level.......and like our top selection Kent Desormeaux should get a nice stalk position behind a suspect lead horse in #2
4Â Rager
race 4Â Â average clarity
4 Feeling Grazeful  solid work tab for Bill Spawr for this MSW 1st time starter........especially noteworthy are the two gate works of 4F the 2nd of which was put in at SA only 6 days ago........rather sure this filly Cal-bred 1ster is ready to compete at a high level
6 Omg It's Jessica  Dollase filly likes the front end of things but she has faded in the late stages of all three of her lifetime dirt sprints......but two remedies for that - first time blinkers to help her focus and 1st time with an apprentice rider up to lessen her load
2 Aristeia SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE
race 5Â Â average clarity
1 Prince Magician  both dirt races since the blinkers were taken off fit solidly at today's higher level......but of course this is a grass race and this Palma colt has failed to do any better than 5th in 3 turf races......but.......he was hurt in his 1st one - caught a good turf in his 2nd one - and he was in a route in his 3rd one.......3 excuses for a colt with a good turf pedigree.......firm turf sprint today.......hot jock stays up on the only four year old in the field
3 Enough Nonsense  good time to drop into MC for the 1st time following two consecutive off the board finishes........and back to Gutierrez making for a turf rider upgrade........trainer Doug O'Neill is 24% win with his last 94 making the MSW to MC move
4Â Epidemic
6Â K P Silver Bullet
race 6Â Â average clarity
1 Itsthattime  bug boy has a good post to send this O'Neill runner hard to hold the rail and be on the lead or 2nd behind our 5th choice ridden by a bug girl.......unless they duel each other into oblivion our top choice seems likely to be tough from start to finish at the speed friendly one mile dirt distance at Santa Anita
4 California Street  last win was 22 June 2019 so the drop down to 20K makes sense especially after a dull race off of a layoff where this gelding was up for a 40K tag.......that and the trainer and rider are 3 for 4 over the last two months and 3 for 6 prior to that
5Â Question Authority
race 7Â Â average clarity
3 Big Talker  three year old gelding has been absent since Feb but his a.m. work suggests he is ready fresh off of the bench for Yakteen and company........(3 1 2 0) since this youngster went on Laisx........he is quite the late runner putting in some visually impressive late kicks and today he gets for the 1st time one strong turf jock in Risploi with off the pace turf types
2 Play Chicken  seems like a good claim by Steve Knapp and with the claim comes a significant turf rider upgrade.........a.m. work is improved with the trainer change hinting Steve might have the trump card for this colt......we shall see if that is so about 4PM Pacific
1Â Found My Ball
5Â Cargo
6Â Standing O
race 8Â Â average clarity
5 Chollima  four year old Lorenzo Ruiz filly is (5 3 1 0) at 5 1/2F or 6F and might be best at today's 5 1/2F distance.........and make it perfect 3 for 3 when today's rider Abel Cedillo has been up at 5 1/2 or 6F.......trainer is willing to drop to win and why not as many claiming spots are not filling and 5 1/2F races are not often carded
6 Kirsch Truffle  brutal trip in this gal's last race breaking very badly and then racing wide......worked out to be a par like adjusted for trip Santucci fig for today's $10K level.......Periban changes jocks to Baze who just won for the trainer with a 1ster (by 7L) on Friday as our top pick.......start means a lot as this mare has left the metal monster poorly in 4 of her last 10 races......should be a price
7Â Empressive Cat
4Â Brilliant Bird