
Santa Anita for Thursday 6 Jan 2011
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Decent looking card today if we get a neutral to slightly speed favoring track.
Looking forward to a dry period now in S Cal where the new SA surface can settle down and we can see how the track is playing under a more controlled environment for the track maintenance crew. This also makes it much easier for yours truly to make good selections. If you make picks for a particular racing surface and get something else you have little chance at giving out enough good choices.
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race 1Â Â Â average clarity
4 Reality Ride  same combo of trainer and rider won the last race Sunday as our top choice and paid just short of 6 to 1......won't get that here but plenty of money will go on our 2nd choice another Baffert starter.....excellent series of works including multiple bullet drills on the Fpx dirt surface
6 Lichtenstein   vet scratch 4 weeks ago at the MSW level and now appears here for a tag......only 1 work showing in 7 weeks but it is a solid drill and it was on the new SA surface.....health issues.....can win but I wouldn't want to snatch up in the claiming box
3 Saintly Soul  logical layoff drop down out of MSW racing......gelding has been well prepared in the morning by Gaines with a prolonged work series.....can compete here if he takes to the dirt
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race 2Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
4 Sambora  distance fit and owns enough early speed to sit in a good chase position....bodes well for the extended sprint distance
5 Lift Our Luck  debut fig/effort fits and her last was even better.....a ton here if the trend continue....Mullins is off to a hot start
2 Ghost In Your Heart  won despite a bad trip in 1st career start......a contender if seldom used Puglisi can coax a better trip out of the youngster...jock usually rides fairly well especially considering his lack of mounts
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race 3Â Â Â average clarity
2Â Yodelady OÂ Â nice improvement since Hollendorfer claimed last Summer....2 of his 3 lifetime turf races are solid on Top Turf Today
8 Bella Roja  very impressive layoff win in last.....proven on the SA hill turf course.....solid recent drill hints at another strong effort
1 Saanneen  filly responses well when she has contact with the front end of things and Gomez should be able to have her close up here
4 Magic Launch  consistent.....good record back with short rest (10 days).....can sit close in a seemingly paceless affair....all in all a very strong 4th choice
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race 4Â Â Â average clarity
2 Marquisite  solid rider/trainer tandem......positive switch in riders....bad journey in last hides an OK effort....previous effort was solid.....love the recent drill on the SA surface
5 Elle Dehere  1ster has shown a liking to conventional dirt both at CD and SA....race lacks speed and his works suggest she may have some
4 Great Bernadine  proven on conventional dirt and training better than ever......can sit close in an affair lacking speed types
7 Sleepy Time Girl  long hiatus from the track but drops a needed couple of notches and training well enough to possible be ready fresh
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race 5Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
7 Bitt A Heat  rather sure her last race was nothing more than a sprint tune-up and a very good one at that....seems very poised to pop a good one today running long
1 Orfano  17 to 1 in a MSW debut sprint for O'Neill strongly suggests the race was needed and it will be full throttle today in 2nd lifetime start.....to fact Rosario sticks with the filly supports this conclusion
5 Unknown Heat  good history with a month or two between starts like today......best ever was the only time today's rider was up and it was on the SA sod.....p Val will need to stay after her late because she tends to hang
4 Favoloso  very fast pacesetter since the blinkers were added.....definite shot if jock can harness her speed some early on....seemingly a decent affair for speed types
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race 6Â Â Â average clarity
7 Shesoprovocative  laid up 9 weeks but training as if the SA dirt surface is significantly to her liking and she posses a good history when she runs fresh
4 Serene Sophia   blinkers on in last and she fell off figure wise a little...Baffert yanks them off today....positive rider switch to Rosario
2 Our Road Scholar  versatile mare seemingly on any surface is in good form...deserves a shot back in Alw racing
1 Torrey Cliffs  1 for 1 on "real dirt" and it arguably was her best effort ever on the main track....also on the improve since O'neill claimed 3 races back
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race 7Â Â Â Â average clarity
7 No Dream  quality grass horse a few years back is on the rebound and all signs point to another forward move today
4 Yodelen Dan  Mullins has always handled this horse well and his barn is heating up to boot......good history at today's distance....good history on the SA sod
1 Get A Grip  on the improve and has a shot to get a ground saving chase or mid pack position
3 Sporting Art  drops down a notch and has a recent reassuring drill.....has a win and a 2nd since Mitchell claimed both up for today's claiming tag of 40K
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race 8Â Â Â average clarity
6 Led Advatage  drops and is training as if the switch to the SA dirt surface is a very good thing...barn means business
9 Marino's Promise  definitely owns enough speed to clear and may........go........all.......the.......way
5 Really Elegant   improving sort maybe feeling really good to be able to race back in less then 3 weeks....1st at a route but bred well enough to get the mile
8 Warren's Highroller  best ever on the main track was only effort on conventional dirt....trainer has been awakening Â
1 Mystery Bird  blinkers on possibly to help focus in late stages of a route race....has had a tendency to flatten out in two turn races
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