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Santa Anita for Thursday 13 Jan 2011
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Decent looking card today. Studied for a neutral racing surface.
Don't know if any of you have noticed that I have broken our "format" rules now and then of late including today in the 6th. Sometimes I spend way too much time and effort splitting my final choice when most of you would want the horse in the picks anyway. The structure for The Racing Digest is a good thing and well thought out by Marty Dermer, but rules sometime need to be broken. I hope you agree.
race 1 average clarity
6 Marrymeonemoretime on the improve with every start and in her last, which was run on the turf, she fired a solid fig for this level....drops for 1st on conventional dirt and recent works on the new SA surface suggestsehe will handle it...can be prominent from the get go
1 Subtle Greek lost about 8 lengths in lifetime debut breaking poorly and running very wide....rightfully steps up and gets weight off for 2nd lifetime run
2 Misty Carmel blocked badly or right there at the wire in mc debut last....also showed some speed...can be close up early with the ever dangerous speed rider in P Val
race 2 average clarity
5 The Unusual One race lacks early speed and this Barry Abrams charge appears to have the most...has run decently fresh in the past and is training smartly
7 Ain Gaines takes over this invader who has run well versus better on the dirt and the slop.....bred fine for the sod.....will be flying late if he takes to the SA hill grass course
6 Causeithertz long hiatus from the track after a decent MSW run on the turf in early May.....in that affair this colt closed nicely from too far back in relation to the pace being set.....good series of works suggests he's ready to roll
race 3 average clarity
2 Spectacular Slew good sprint history especially at 6F...and more importantly trained by the white hot Baffert (his only starter today)
6 Obsess cut back of 1/2 furlong well help this speed sprinter......somewhat hidden in that he had a short lead with decent pace but he was stuck on a dead inside...sharp bullet drill on the new SA surface too
5 Three Pointer bad trip-a-roo in latest....only win came the lone time this gelding ran with short (2 weeks) rest...same scenario today
7 Ribald 3rd start of racing career ran a strong race.....then....3rd start after a layoff ran a strong race....now....3rd start after another layoff today.....and steps up....all point to a better effort
race 4 average clarity
7 Espirito Santo trainer has a good history in all of the relevant handicapping categories....showed plenty of speed in lone race at Sar which was on the sod...faces a very soft bunch unless I'm wrong about my 3rd choice
3 Magic Beam small barn is fairly capable with a 1st timer and this 1ster is training well enough especially considering the weakness of the field
4 Fleet Continental very suspicious drop into maiden 30K claiming after a much improved effort at the MSW level......but this field isn't much and he still might be competitive not at 100%...and if he is still the same (my conclusion is wrong) then he wins it
race 5 average clarity
6 Ricketyracketyruss big rebound in form 1st time on the lawn.....sharp bullet work since....good shot for lifetime best today
2 Lula Talullah MSW debut turf sprint was a par-like effort on Top Turf Today....then apparently disliked a distance turf affair...back to a turf sprint and back quick
8 Working At Night 1st on the lawn but bred OK for it....owns some tactical speed which often is advantegeous in a large field down the SA hill grass course
12 Saint Bouquet showed life in lone turf race 2 races back....will need a very clever trip from the 12 hole...but leading rider aboard
race 6 slightly above average clarity
2 Super Harmony seems loose....P Val in control....enough said
8 Skellytown ultra consistent late runner and his conventional dirt history is solid with 2 wins, a 2nd, and a 3rd in 4 starts
1 Oh How Nice lifetime best ever was run on "real" dirt....and his best effort ever on the AW was his last....conclusion....maybe poised for lifetime best
7 Troubletimesthree small but capable barn trains this hard trying sort who most likely was given a tune-up in his last.....positive rider change.....needs to avoid hanging in the stretch
race 7 slightly above average clarity
5 Dime very strong races the last 2 endeavors sprinting on the AW.....and I love the pedigree to handle a sprint on the sod...should be prominent from the get go if he handles the sod like I think he will
1 Meltropolitan Man won for fun in MSW debut last April on the AW at Kee.....bred fine for the lawn and just flashed a solid workout on the grass with the dogs up at SA....long layoff but the new barn has him all set to roll...good shot to be 2 for 2
6 Diamond Geezah overseas invader makes his 1st start in the good old U S of A and Mitchell has won with 2 of his last 4 with shippers to the USA
race 8 average clarity
6 Pleasant Earth takes a logical drop out of MSW to the bottom (baby didn't cost much in 2007 Kee sale)....trainer could use a win...already seems like the best speed in the race and now adds blinkers....see ya
8 Coffee Gossip useful debut and a decent work series since...good shot to move forward
9 Breakmark last was a major clunker on the drop after 2 solid efforts....we need a rebound
3 Forward Commintment last 2 are so so efforts....what we need is his effort 3 races back
2 Society At Large 2 rather dull races in 2 lifetime starts but continues to train like he has ability....works on the "real dirt" are especially good
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