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Santa Anita for Thursday 20 Jan 2011
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Better than average card to start off the race week. Friday's card also looks good at 1st glance and the field sizes are vastly improved. S Cal racing like so many circuits hit rock bottom but things are definitely on the rebound from what I am seeing.
race 1 average clarity
6 Buc The Spartan won his only effort on the conventional dirt quite convincingly.....7 year old has had 22 months off but is training smartly and I like the fact he is placed much lower suggesting this isn't a tune-up
2 Tiz True logical drop for a horse that has hardly earned his keep.....good chance to be on or near the lead with a decent speed rider aboard
1 Vulcan has 3 races at today's mile distance and they appear to be his 3 best efforts of his career.....consistently solid trainer/rider combination
race 2 average clarity
4 Spud Spivens wide and off the pace on a good day for speed and running inside in his last run 3 weeks ago.....adjusted for trouble fig was a hidden move forward.....sharp riding Quinonez knows this horse well.....bred fine to handle a mile
3 Bev N Bud decent run in MSW debut considering he went off at 38 to 1 suggesting he needed the race....much tighter for 2nd lifetime start
6 Burns broke slow in MSW debut and seat in the rear of a race totally void of any pace....3 works since and the latest work hints at a solid improvement
race 3 slightly above average clarity
6 Warren's Got Game whole career on the AW fits well versus these especially her 2 turn races.....trainer has been sending his stock ready....major contender if he takes to the SA dirt
3 Party With Brando seemingly in very good form well legged up running on the sod....sure appreciated the "dirt" at Fpx
2 Lady Lazer owns solid early speed sprinting....so....Joe T will try to take them gate to wire which has been a dangerous this so far routing on the new SA surface
race 4 slightly above average clarity
3 Popular Cause blinkers off and P Val up will help this speed colt slow down in the early stages....good chance to be loose in this spot with a reasonable pace being set
2 Quail Hill on the right end of the learning curve...decent chane to sit in the chase position and get 1st crack at our top pick
6 Valuation last was a decent grass sprint tune-up to be full throttle this afternoon for what this gelding is bred for and that is route racing on the lawn
7 Zapeye plenty of foundation and the recant works are improving signaling that this gelding is well prepared to handle the difficult task of running a route in his MSW debut
race 5 average clarity
3 Asperity won only race for his new trainer in latest and comes right back at the same claiming price off of improved morning drills....Gomez has only 1 mount today and he will make the most of it here with this horse who seems very sharp
1 Concerto's Thunder consistent runner has 1 major problem and that is his tendency to hang...10 2nd's out of 34 lifetime races....meets leading rider will have to stay all over him late if he puts his nose in front down the stretch
9 Lease On Life last out this gelding earned a significant fig with a bad trip on the AW 1st time running for Miller......has had physical troubles but the recent powerful works suggest Miller has him feeling great....owns some big turf back numbers on Top Turf Today
7 Kris Silver speed threat here and Pedroza is having one of his better SA meetings so far...likes the 1 mile distance and takes a small helpful drop in claiming price
race 6 average clarity
3 Brass Plate handled the "real dirt" and 2 turns in MSW debut last Fall at Fpx well enough....drops and is training as if ready off of the 4 month layoff for the ever dangerous John Sadler
6 Diamond Touch good chance appreciates the cut back of 1/2 furlong in distance...shut off a couple of lengths in the stretch in his last race or much closer at the wire
2 Cody Peak exits a fast heat and drops.....adjusted for trouble fig fits fine in this spot and his mc debut seemingly was a sprint tune-up to boot....forward move likely....bred to handle a mile
4 Cookie's From Tony big improve in 2nd lifetime start....owns enough speed to possibly get away here in his 1st route race
race 7 slightly above average clarity
4 Crisis Of Spirit 2 for 2 in the win column at 6F....0 for 8 at any other distance...powerful works on the new SA surface....and the white hot Baff man trains
5 Salty Sarah consistent sort also is under the guidance of Baffert...recent breeze is impressive
6 Church Camp very impressive big gaps win in lone race on conventional dirt last Nov at CD....proven fresh runner is training up to snuff
race 8 average clarity
11 Captain Beau toss out his last...was a semi-sloppy surface that most likely wasn't to his liking....big run 2 back racing wide with pace and only getting beat by 2 lengths....tough post but owns enough speed and has P Val up to clear some or all of the field andsave some ground into turn 1
1 Outrageaous Fortune impressive conventional dirt run at Fpx versus better....big shot if ready off of the 10 week break in the action
9 Matamor 2 decent route runs since the blinkers were put on....small drop and Bejaranosticks around
5 Oh Mighty Dollar decent sprint run off of the long hiatus from the track...1st ever at a route of ground but bred to handle it
6 Trueno sharp horse fits well versus these but a definite hanger...that and the fact a lower echelon jock is aboard suggests a piece off the pie is more likely then a win
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