
Santa Anita for Friday 21 October 2011
To answer the many inquiries about BC weekend.....I plan on doing a special publication for the Breeders Cup but for Saturday 5 Nov. only because of time constraints. Pricing and details will be posted early next week.
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race 1Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
5 Lord Vronsky  big effort 1st time Mitchell in last.....gelded since......drops.....good work series....can finish strong in this spot when many won't
3 Indian Knight  slowly improving sort also was just gelded....flattens some going 6F so the cut back of 1/2 furlong looks like a good thing
4 Jack Reacher  might be speed of the speed and P Val is up.......the lead horse in the last 5 race cards has finished 1st or 2nd for whatever reason.....my guess is the amount of water put down is radically different in the 1st
7 Aldadino  last looks like nothing more than a tune-up to drop and go.....debut race 3 back is much better than appears on paper....horrid start and way too wide yet beat by only 6 for the win
race 2Â Â Â average clarity
3 Shediak  4 in here that like the front end and one that runs off pace....should fly late if he can handle 1st ever on conventional dirt
5 Total Bull  laid up 18 months but 3 wins and 2 2nd's in 5 lifetime starts and training as if he is returning ready for Baffert who sure had a tough day yesterday
1 Matto Mondo  cold barn but consistent horse.....needs to avoid a suicidal pace.....is capable of rating
race 3Â Â Â slightly below average clarity
5 Los Bomberos  difficult race but take note that the trainers that failed to make my 4 selections in this affair are a combined 0 for 44 for the SA meet.......tepid top pick appears to be speed of the speed
2 Edgewick Road  solid pace set up a win in last for this colt and it appears he will get plenty of pace to flatter his late run once again
9 Stormin Rae  drop down for this gelding helps but maybe more importantly the trainer is stellar 3rd out after a layoff
3 Liberal Arts  not the best of claims as Sadler gives little away that is a bargain.....drop and pace scenario might be enough to make this declining sort a contender....O'Neill could use a winner
race 4Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
4 Man Chester Man  very solid record on conventional dirt.....should get the garden spot sitting behind a suspect leader in the 2 horse
5 North Fork  flat at 1 1/16 miles but is 3 for 5 at today's distance......7 year old may fly late with the light weight apprentice aboard
7 Capt. Sparrow  consistent sort especially on conventional dirt....solid route races at SA late last winter
10 Dunscombe  another consistent "dirt" horse........shipper appears ready....tall order for Bejarano to overcome the 10 post or would have been rated higher
race 5Â Â Â average clarity
5 Judicious  5 for 5 lifetime when up for a tag like today.....last sure looks like the tune-up in a non-claiming affair to drop and go
8 Brown Is Beige  very consistent sort on any surface and Pender has been semi-hot the last few months.....likely to be very competitive once again
7 Melissa Rose  back in the Mitchell barn after shipping to GG and bombing....only race for Mitchell fired career best
4 Mizzen Donald  handled 1st ever on the dirt in latest just fine.....has done nothing wrong in 3 lifetime sprints
race 6Â Â Â average clarity
4 Sir Ed  very impressive 1st ever on conventional dirt in latest.....seemingly sets up for his closing style as it did in his last race.....stout history when Garcia rides
3 Classy Lion  so so efforts the last 2 starts (dull works prior) but the latest work-out suggest's a wake-up in form is about to occur
6 Lime Rock Revenge  need a rebound to the effort run 2 back which was a solid race run at Fpx
5Â Dre's KÂ Â need to lead type was a vet scratch 3 weeks ago but still seems dangerous as the trainer/rider have made for a good team together
Longshot of the day: 1 Future Readings  good longshot here.......dismal record on the AW yet fired best on AW with the blinkers on and 2nd out after the layoff at 66 to 1 last May......likes conventional dirt....2nd after the layoff.......1st ever blinkers/conventional dirt.......shot to light up the board
race 7Â Â Â slightly below average clarity
7 Thisismystage  best pedigree to get the distance.....put in an impressive stretch run to win at GG....solid 6F work prior to that race....even better 6F work in preparation for today's race
5 Laura Beasley  many solid efforts that are better than appear in print....Blanc knows this mare well
4 Malusita  likes 6 to 10 weeks between races and gets it....gets very brave on the front end when she is clear and loose
1 Hard Sun  solid 1 1/4 run when you consider she faced older in June which is asking a lot of a 3 year old filly.....not the best Hall Of Fame move by Drysdale
race 8Â Â Â average clarity
7 D'wildbunch  improving sort exits a good heat in last running a solid 2nd....... showed solid pace as well....should be tough from the get go
8 Yes It's Snowing  improving sort ships in from Emd for Vann Belvoir who is off to a solid start in S Cal.....even won on the grass yesterday which is not his strong point at all
11 Ride Captain  competitive in all 3 lifetime starts at today's level of racing....positive rider switch
1 American Warrior  not much in lone lifetime race last Summer on the AW....but new trainer today and training as if the SA surface is much more to his liking
3 Mon Coeur  dangerous work tab for this 1ster on the dirt at Slr...speed and endurance wise
12 Sarangani  red hot trainer.......hard to leave a 1ster out of the equation
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