
Santa Anita for Sunday 26 December 2010
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Back to a non-synthetic surface for S Cal. Needless to say stay very cognizant of any bias. (especially after all the rain) Should be a very interesting 1st week at Santa Anita. Sure hope all goes well as far as the racing surface is concerned. Hope you had a nice week off and a great holiday. I sure did. Welcome back.
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race 1Â Â Â average clarity
5 Streets Of Heaven   rather simple here....last 5 starts: ran 2nd to Bad Boy 3 times (who has won 5 straight races) and won the other 2 by daylight when he didn't have to face Bad Boy.....also 1 for 1 on non-synthetic surfaces
8 Oliver   solid win in latest.....back in 9 days may be a big advantage because of all the training missed by many because of the torrential rain all week Â
2  Skellytown  very consistent sort on any racing surface,,,,,comes off some decent efforts at Tup where the fields came up fairly strong
7 Capture The Call  speed horse drops with P Val aboard....1 for 1 on "real dirt"
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race 2Â Â Â slightly below average clarity
9 Brite Red Reason  broke slow and ran on a suspect inside....so getting beat by 7 in mc debut wasn't bad...good 3 work series since and a trainer that is better with 2nd time starters...tepid top pick
1,1A ENTRY   the 1 horse has run much better on "real dirt".....the 1A owns some good early speed and drops and cuts distance by 1/2 furlong Â
2 Rockin Harbor  tossed a 4 to 5 clunker in last....what we need is his debut effort run 2 races back
6 Swiss Hero  consistent sort was most likely compromised in his last when he acted up at the gate....so much so the vet checked him out...should run better if he behaves today
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race 3   average clarity (off the turf selections in order are 3, 10, 5, 2)
6 Lucky Fitz   trainer has awoken....in may trip notes for this colt's only turf race I wrote, "checked badly or he looked like he was going to be competitive to the wire"...and that was in a strong fieldÂ
10 Valley Cat  not an easy post at SA on the grass but but 2 of his 3 turf figs are strong versus these....also has run well the 2 times Bejarano rode
2 No Stadium  definitely runs best at 1 mile on the grass....any further and flattens out...top connections in Gaines and Rosario
3 Dave's Ruler  in good form now and when he ran poorly on the sod in his only grass endeavor he wasn't
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race 4   average clarity Â
1 Red Sharp Humor  has shown steady development now he just popped an impressive best of 37 bullet 4F drill...seemed poised for best ever
9 The Factor  not best of journeys in his MSW (heavily bet) debut...worked a very fast 5/8ths bullet drill since...Baffertis very tough these kind in their 2nd time start
7 Hope And Believe  after a weak Hollywood meet my guess is that Ellis maybe very ready with his stock at Santa Anita...this 1ster is working very sharply and is bred to be a good sprinter
5 Cook Inlet  plenty of foundation under this Sadler 1st timer....last 6F drill is very good......broodmare has been tossing out runners with regularity
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race 5Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
9 Arresting Officer  broke poorly and rushed up and still won MSW debut by 6 lengths.....strong fig....has significant speed in a race that lacks it
3 Gab Power  7F seems like a good thing coming of a mile turf effort.....what we want is his effort 3 races back
1 Contemplated  difficult post at 7F at SA but is coming off a solid somewhat hidden move forward in latest that would compete for the win if he gets a good trip this time
6 Offlee Wild Boys  steps up for the white hot Miller barn and gets a very positive rider switch
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race 6Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
3 Switch  liked her last versus older in the B C so with the nice work tab since she has to be my pick here
9 Always A Princess  5 works of merit in 5 weeks and the last is a brilliant 6F bullet on the new SA surface...very sharp
11 Champagne D'oro  good history on "real dirt".....usually runs best close to or on the lead and should be in that desired position today
5 La Nez  seems to greatly appreciate 7 furlongs and just worked great on the new SA surface....needs lifetime best and we may see it
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race 7   average clarity  (off the turf selections in order are 5, 6, 8, 7)
5 Sidney's Candy  loves the sod and has the controlling speed here....but good or yielding turf is still a ? mark
4 Sebastian Flyte  last was very impressive....yielding or good turf proven.....can sit mid pack and fly late
7 Stephen's Got Even  only turf race was off of a long layoff and he still ran a fairly decent fig...logically should better that fig off of short rest today
3 Bogie  deep closer has the bloodlines to fire big a turf course with some give in it
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race 8Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
2 Alcindor  giant race in last dueling in sizzling pace and still drawing off...repeat run on a different surface should make him tough to overcome
9 Twirling Candy  very proven animal with a couple of months off......excellent works....4 for 4 in the win column versus his own age
5 Noble's Promise  7 furlongs seems perfect for this invader who has traved a long way for this affair
4 Caracortado  eye popping 107:3 on the turf win in last....eye popping 123 flat work 2 weeks ago....sharp and ready
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race 9Â Â Â average clarity
2 Breakmark  exits a very fast heat....repeat effort would make him difficult to beat....reassuring recent drill
8 Forward Commitment  race 2 back at today's distance is what this gelding needs to compete for the top prize here...trainer has awoken
6 Gifted Student  seemingly needs an average to good day for speed types like himself...does he get it ?
1 Golden Augusto  last wasn't as bad as it looks on paper and his run 2 back fits just fine
7 Johnnie Gold  so so 4 career runs but the works on the new SA surface suggest he's glad to be getting off of the synthetic
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