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Might have some over weight jocks today after all the good food so many of them consumed this holiday weekend. And a few of them might still have "visions of sugar plums" dancing in their heads with all the eggnog and other holiday drinks so prevalent this time of year. Let's hope Mike Smith took it easy on his aging body as he is our top choice in 3 races, 2nd choice in 1 race, and 3rd pick in another.
It's great to be back in action. I feel fresh and ready for one of the great meets in American racing, the Santa Anita Winter/Spring meeting. Good luck to all and thank you for being such great customers.
race 1 average clarity
6 Ismene good shot to get a nice chase/stalk position......powerful race at SA and a recent eye popping 6F work at Santa Anita
1 Tangerine Tickle won MSW debut despite having a bad trip in a good heat of MSW turf runners.....1st ever on the dirt but bred to handle it.....hot rider/trainer combo scoring with many pricey horses
3 Willa B Awesome very nice work tab is most reassuring for this consistent 2 year old filly.....7F appears to be a good fit
race 2 average clarity
10 Trando's Tremor proven on the SA dirt.....all 3 lifetime races fit solidly at today's level.....trainer has had a fabulous Fall and his history 2nd out after the claim is strong
5 What A Rush best ever was his lone SA effort......poor trip in last hides a forward move....reassuring work since
4 Zapeye logical drop for this gelding who hasn't exactly earned his keep.....Eurton is good with sizable drops in claiming price.....good trainer/rider combo the last 3 months or so
6 Street Titan seems slightly better on conventional dirt.......might need a small forward move to win this affair...also tends to hang somewhat....but his conditioner is an incredible 33% and that is with copious starters for the year
race 3 average clarity
2 Lasso love the last 4 drills for this Baffert 1ster......fit to finish up well in his lifetime debut....best % rider (by plenty) at the recent Hollywood meet is aboard this colt
5 Midnight Transfer getting kind of hidden.....3 consecutive poor trips......Gaines goes with top jock in Rosario to get the journey and earn a trip to the circle of joy
9 Coaltown mom has tossed 6 winners in 6 starters many of which were able to score at 2......work tab for this well bred 1ster suggests he has some good early foot.......Bonde has been on fire the last month or so
8 Bernster another very dangerous Baffert 1st timer out of an impressive broodmare who has tossed 5 2 year old winners out of 5 starters
race 4 below average clarity
2 El Tango Ray nice solid victorious move forward in 2nd lifetime start......1st on the sod but has an adequate pedigree to handle it and the 1 mile distance
1 Uzziah last looks like a tune-up........very good sign that Bejarano is still in the irons....good history with blinkers off.....does have to overcome his tendency to hang
3 Myhorseofcourse deep closer seemingly gets ample pace up front to flatter his late run....best effort on the sod ever was the lone time today's rider was aboard
7 Sanibel Sid another closer with a good shot at getting a solid pace to close into......would have rated higher if it wasn't for Quinonez going 0 for 40 on the SA turf during the Fall meeting
race 5 average clarity
9 American Blend nowhere in lone race which was on the grass way back in May.....but.....training like a vastly improved animal and mom has produced some very nice runners
10 Doubledown On Ten both lifetime efforts were out of fast heats.....just needs the same energy with a clean trip and this colt should be very tough
6 Fiarano exactly the same scenario as our 2nd choice
2 Sky Fox long layoff but training great and owns fresh speed in a race that lacks it......caught multiple key fields in his 6 lifetime starts
race 6 average clarity
5 Mr. Bossy Pants superior turf animal drops to get to the winners circle on opening day SA....well proven on the hill and that is 1/2 the battle
11 Kelly Leak continues to train like he has remained in good form......another willing to take the chance at losing their horse to drop to score
9 El Marito sharp move by one sharp trainer to get this one back on the SA hill 1st under his tutelage......only beaten by 3 in his lone run on it and it was in a vastly more talented field
3 Achak does his best turf running on the SA hill turf course......seems like a good spot to put the blinkers on because this race doesn't really have much speed in it
Possible price shot: 1 Rainbow Goose owns decent speed in this spot if he can manage to break well from the 1 post......good history running down the hill.....sure like the way Berrios rides sprint turf runners
race 7 average clarity
7 Stoney Fleece 2 for 2 for Rosario.......distance turf fit and proven on the SA dirt....both bode well for appreciating the extended sprint distance
5 Motown Men capable of producing significant pace and still battling from start to finish....what more can you ask for
8 Exotic Slew on the right end of the learning curve.....deservedly gets a shot in a Stakes affair
4 Johnny Be Mine bombed in last in a race at GG.....can rebound today off of a solid 5F SA work-out.....his trainer is red hot
race 8 average clarity
4 Mr. Commons has been racing stellar versus older....back to a race restricted to 3 year olds seems like a big plus....continues to train like a sharp individual
3 Comma To The Top very good speed in this spot especially if the 8 horse elects to take back as I believe that he will.....shot to wire with a very good turf lead rider up in M Smith
8 Ultimate Eagle 4 for 4 on the sod including a G1 and G2 wins.......very capable of chasing and I believe he will in this spot...believe he has a shot at 5 for 5 if he does
1 Cozy Kitten deep closer gets a good post......recent drills are much improved.......2 wins and 1 2nd in 3 races at today's turf distance
race 9 average clarity
2 Centralinteligence exits a very fast alw race just missing despite dueling in solid pace.......big move forward in 2nd lifetime race.....that seemingly bodes well for today's 2nd out after the layoff run....4 lbs off too
5 Racing Aptitude fired lifetime best in last and the works since suggest that strong race did not take any toll on him....same or better today
6 Hoorayforhollywood has gone eye to eye in strong pace multiple times (twice at a mile) and still sticks around to the finish.....that sure seems like a big plus in a 7F race
11 The Factor tremendous when he brings his "A" game......difficult to tell if today will be one of his top efforts or a bust
4 Rothko Asmussen starter just keeps getting better and better and better.......
8 Smash another who seemingly improves with every start.......continues to train like he still has some upside....awfully nice animal for me to have to make as my 6th choice....surely not impossible to win it....very deep group for this year's Malibu
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