
Santa Anita for Friday 30 September 2011
[private]
Nice opening day card at Santa Anita especially considering the money that they are giving away Saturday at SA which has a terrific lineup of quality races.
race 1Â Â Â average clarity
2 Lime Rock Revenge  sure looks like lone speed in this spot....2 for 3 in the win column on conventional dirt......deservedly steps up out of a fast heat of 8K claimers at Fpx
3 Chinese Praise  Miller snatched back this hot gelding after losing him at the claiming box....won going away in last 2 efforts....my guess is he has held form for today.....only race at SA is his lifetime best
7 Deluxe Bus  likes the somewhat specialty distance of 7 furlongs.....5 of 8 lifetime....drops to 25K where he is 2 for 2
race 2 Â Â average clarity
2 Runflatout  much needed confidence builder here after facing much better....capable of significant pace and still able to last especially at this softer level
1 Red Alert  1st time in the Baffert barn and training like Bob has him primed for a top effort........won by 6 1/2 the last time this colt had the opportunity to run in a sprint
6 Centralinteligence  late runner seemingly receives ample pace to flatter his late run.....very solid effort in lone sprint race on the AW....1st ever on conventional dirt but bred just fine to handle it
7 Blue Jay Attack  most impressive run ever for this colt was the last time he ran on the main track (albeit on the synthetic) 9 races back....very bad trip yet still was victorious....dangerous if fires the same on the "dirt"....laid up since March but training as if he is ready
race 3Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
2 Unzip Me  love the 4 lbs off and the return to the majestic SA hill turf course where she is 5 for 7....good position in this affair....only 1 of 2 speed types in the race
4 Tanda  impressive bad trip win in last 1st time in the Mitchell barn.....proven on the hill....should get a nice mid pack or stalk position....would have been top pick if she didn't have 3 more lbs to handle than our top pick
3 Broken Dreams  consistent late runner can fly by them all if she receives more heat up front than anticipated by yours truly
race 4Â Â Â below average clarity
4 Nemrac  tepid top pick in this most difficult of races to decipher but at least he should be a price......ran evenly versus better in a small Stakes race at Fpx at 76 to 1....seems like a nice maiden debut tune-up....also we get a positive jockey upgrade
3 Enuff Bull  useful maiden claiming debut in last and the works since strongly suggest a solid move forward should occur today
5 Crimson Giant  last 3 sprint races fit fine in this spot especially if our top 2 picks fail to move forward in their 2nd lifetime starts
12 Skip Tony  might be muscled up enough to be ready in mc debut off of some tightly spaced drills hitting the track to work every 6 days for the last 2 months
race 5Â Â Â average clarity
5 Field Report  flashed solid speed in last and still only got beat by less than a length.....1st on the "dirt" but just worked well on it.....large field yet it still lacks speed....should be prominent from the get go here
3 Sun's Out  late runner was greatly compromised in his last by a day that was friendly to front runners.....his other lifetime sprint on the main track was another decent hidden effort....impressive best of 31 work on the SA surface...all systems go
11 Sentry Duty  should be able to sit close in an affair lacking speed......just keeps getting better and better and better and.........
9 Cyclometer  good work series for this 1st timer......plenty of foundation applied with 4 straight 6 furlong drills one week apartÂ
race 6Â Â Â average clarity
3 Roman Chic  what a race 1st time for Mitchell in last at the maiden 20K level.....crushed foes setting a pace in which most MSW runners what be gasping for air in the stretch......lone turf race was OK.....solid step up but will handle it if she repeats her last
5 Dubai Perfecto  solid grass races in her portfolio and a very sharp recent bullet work......high % trainer....all systems go
6 Hot Ticket  excellent history at the distance of 1 mile on the turf, dirt, or AW.......should be flying late as usual
1 Magic Mama  improving sort (wide trip in last hides the improvement somewhat) was just claimed for the 2nd straight time and now her new trainer is switching her to the sod.....Knapp is decent 1st time on the lawn and this filly has the pedigree to handle it
race 7Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
11 Coal Region Kid  solid move forward in last 1st time blinkers......far outside post but owns plenty of early speed to clear most of these and not get caught too wide....1st on conventional dirt but work a bullet at SA so I doubt the new surface will be a problem
2 Los Bomberos  has shown strong effort all three times this gelding ran on the drop down....drops a notch today....should be prominent from the get go in this spot
5 Benny's Benchmark  improving by leaps and bounds in (3 races run) 2011.....last race fits fine.....another move forward and he would be especially difficult to beat here
4 Clear To Canada  trainer is stellar getting horses ready off of a layoff and this Emd horse has ability but he sure likes to hang in the stretch....Bejarano should help
race 8Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
8 Matto Mondo  tough outside post at 1 mile on the grass but owns 2 wins with outside posts at 1 mile.......very solid turf figs at today's level and 4 for 7 at the distance....training well for sharp grass conditioner
2 Kettle Corn  improving sort (especially since Sadler took over) just ran his eyeballs out overcoming a wide trip in his last in an alw nw.......1st on the lawn but bred to love it
5 Donato  love a lead type only when they rate for the 1st time and win which is the case for this gelding....sharp work tab suggests he has held his form
3 Yodelen Dan  4 lbs off can help this late runner be a factor when it counts....really motors very late in 1 mile races and often gets little support at the windows when he runs in them
race 9Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
7 Heavy Handed  exits a fairly fast heat in his maiden debut and didn't have the best of trips.......solid with a better trip and very solid with a better trip and a move forward in 2nd lifetime start
12 Depth  whole career sprinting fits and especially his races on the SA surface.....would have been top pick if it wasn't for the 12 post going winless in 15 starts in the last SA meet
10 Undaunted Rally  last sure looks like the gimme to tighten up and drop and go 2nd out after the layoff....trainer/jock have a nice history together
6 Archie's Way  very nice work series for this 1ster and the trainer is quite good with maiden claiming 1st timers
2 Totally True  useful mc debut last....blinkers on....works suggest he likes the equipment change....might see quite a bit better today
13 Cheers To Boogie  tough post for 1st ever on the main track but takes the ever dangerous drop out of MSW....laid up but works say ready to roll
[/private]