
Santa Anita for Friday 31 December 2010
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Hope everyone has a great (sensible) time this evening...I know I am. Will study most of Sat this afternoon. Might be a bit fuzzy in the morning.
race 1 average clarity
2 Long Legged Lovely owns seemingly the best early foot in this race....solid race in only effort on conventional dirt
1 Pegastorm late runner looks as if had a tune-up 1st after the claim in a protected non-claiming race and now it is drop and go go go today
3 Ancient Holiday long hiatus from the track but the small barn has been getting the job done with it's limited stock for the 2 or 3 months....works are up to snuff
race 2 average clarity
6 Sassou proven on the majestic SA hill turf course with 2 solid grass figs.....one of 3 speed horses in the race but the other two are "blinkers off" for today.....prominent thru-out with a good speed rider aboard
9 Stoneside back in 3 weeks with a nice bullet work...all systems go for this gelding who also has the advantage of being proven on the hill
7 Dapper Gene a nice series off 3 drills is reassuring for this gelding who has been idle for 5 weeks after 2 straight turf spint wins...he also has won on the hill
1 Trumpet Player Jay seems to be rounding into better form....will need his top level effort but maybe poised to produce it
race 3 average clarity
1 Royal Import should appreciated the 1 1/8 distance when many in here won't...should see a strong stretch run unless of course he doesn't handle his 1st run on "real dirt"
8 Candy For Paseana dirt proven and sure won big at Tup 1st time with the blinkers on....should be prominent from the get go......I am concerned a little about getting the 1 1/8
7 Take A Hard Look last was the gimme to drop and go back in 5 days...trainer is one of the few with good history back with ridiculously short rest
4 Dontmesroundwitjim sure seems as if this speed type will need every ounce of his staying power to stick around at the 1 1/8 distance....but then again it is Mitchell dropping 1st after a claim
race 4 average clarity
4 Wave Of Applause ugly journey around the Hol turf oval made for a 5thplace finish in U S of A debut....Smith must still be down and out after Zenyatta's loss because the Hall Of Fame rider has been a little off since...can right the ship here witha smooth trip
2 Tales In Excess very good speed in this spot...Aw sprinter so far but bred to get a mile and the turf....wire to wire possibility
3 True Way Of Grace good trainer 1st time on the turf with a horse....very positive rider switch......decent figs on the AW.....average turf breeding (good mom / bad dad)
race 5 average clarity
7 Sea Rascal chased a very fast pace versus better and rightfully tired....softer today and training like he is ultra sharp for today
5 Italian Rules on the improve with the addition of blinkers 3 races back....should be on or close to the lead if he takes to the new surface
1 Nikki'sgoldensteed best of the late runners in this group and is proven on conventional dirt
2 Position A hasn't run an effort that impressed me since mid Summer but has 2 works since his last that hint a rebound in form may occur
race 6 average clarity
3 Bauble Queen works were solid for this 1st starter at Hollywood and then they got even better at SA on the new dirt surface....sure seems very sharp and ready to roll
4 Heidi Maria best set of drills for a 1ster from the Glatt operation in quite some time....andfor those who believe in omens....same name as a sweet German friend of mine during a stint for Uncle Sam in the Army in West Germany
7 Blazing Along yet to win in lifetime 4 starts but has always trainer like a runner on conventional dirt....also....Baff is hot hot hot
6 Rumor expensive filly 1ster has impressive drills and would have been top choice if it wasn't for a 3+ week gap in her work regiment
race 7 average clarity
5 Hot Affair consistent in all 4 lifetime races fairing no worse than 2nd....recent works and jock change hint at best ever today
9 Dani Reese very solid effort/fig in last and today's level...also beat our top choice that day and might again
3 Warren's Blossom done little wrong in 4 lifetime races and won by 10 in only lifetime "dirt" race
4 Salty Sarah great job of training by Baffert since he snatched this filly for 25K.....recent drill at SA suggests a liking of the surface
race 8 average clarity
3 Moments Of Weakness well proven on the grass and a positive rider switch.....2nd to a monster in latest
5 Oakcrest Drive nice move forward in a sprint in last which was on the AW....bred extremely well to handle the grass and the distance....trainer excels withthese kind
6 Silver Medallion bad trip in a loaded field in latest at CD and still ran 2nd....new barn today and Gomez gets the call to smooth things out with this somewhat hard to control colt
race 9 average clarity
2 Taptap I'mgone on the improve with every start and now takes the ever significant drop out of MSW's
13 Benica Beauty good ever with very low % rider up in mc debut....Bejarano is today's jock for her 2nd lifetime start!!!
12 Zees Chris good debut and should move forward...flashed decent speed in debut so good shot to clear many andget over to save some ground
5 Knowhentoholdem all 3 lifetime sprints are better then they look on paper......barn loves to fire sprint to route to sprint...today's scenario
10 Conflicted Traits hidden move forward in last with a poor trip....drops into easier
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