
Santa Anita for Monday 16 January 2012
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Decent SA card to finish the extended weekend with not one race being rated below average clarity. Be back with you next Thursday.
race 1Â Â Â average clarity
3 Abella  good work pattern for this 1st timer and she appears to have caught a soft group....also is training like she might have some early foot
5 Luckyvic  steadily improving sort gets to run off of a grass race which is often a good thing....less wear and tear
4 Bud And Brandy  race 2 back lost about 8 lengths total and still only got beat by 1 length.....Bejarano will be out to make amends today.....also gets to race off of a turf run
NOTE:Â I left out the heavy morning line favorite here because there are some indications she might not return the same animal that she was when she last raced in early Fall. I sure will be rooting against her.
race 2Â Â Â above average clarity
3 Ry Cheer  very solid winning mc debut both in pace and final time......seems in control here
2 Lil Miss Macky  woke up in last off of the long hiatus from the track.......improved works since....will need another move forward and there is a good shot we will get one
6 Ziva  decent off pace win in mc debut.......laid up since (for 10 weeks) but recent drills suggest she is fit and ready....will need to move forward a few lengths and surely might with 1 start under her belt
race 3Â Â Â average clarity
5 Treacherous  very solid route race on the AW 2 races back.......rather likely to appreciate the sod....can be prominent from the get go
3 Cat's Enough  decent sprint turf race in last and his pedigree suggests route racing on the lawn should be a better proposition
6 Cloud Hopper  has a distinct advantage of having 4 route races under his belt.....1st on the lawn but bred well to take to it.......Talamo is in a funk....he has a shot to get things going here
race 4Â Â Â average clarity
2 Argue My Case   appears to like the extended sprint distance of 7F and most in here won't.....can sit close up in an affair lacking speed types
3 Game Charmer  moved forward some 1st time under the auspicious of Kristin Mulhall........improved drill since....might see more improvement today
4 Blue Eyes Included  gets to run off of 2 consecutive route races which is often a good thing when running at 7F......race 2 back is quite a bit better than appears in print
7 Annie Lou  figs/efforts aren't bad but must overcome a tendency to flatten out in the stretch and this is a 7F race
race 5Â Â Â average clarity
6 Los Bomberos  has won last 3 races on conventional dirt.......showed vastly improved pace in last but is versatile and can run from off of it with success...love the options especially with a good smart jock in the saddle
2 Full Instinct  done little wrong in 3 lifetime starts.....new trainer takes over for Ascanio who is dealing with some medical issues
4 Rule By Force  very difficult to argue with 12 wins and 9 2nd's in 32 conventional dirt races
1 Memphis  needed layoff last and/or it was a turf tightener......will need best like his MSW debut that he ran last July
race 6Â Â Â Â average clarity
2 Winesome Charm  most of his career fits well at today's level.......really like that Dollase stopped on this consistent hard trying sort after a bit of a dull effort when last seen in early October.....sharp 6F drill just 5 days ago says all set to roll
6 Lamm  has run 3 times over the years on the SA hill and all 3 of those races are quite solid considering today's level of racing
5 Mr. Bossy Pants  turned into to a highly competitive sort since the blinkers were put on 8 races back ( 5 wins ** 1 2nd**2 4ths)....and now Mitchell just claimed
4 Wall Street Wonder  hasn't seen turf for awhile but can handle it just fine......1st on the hill.....owns a very solid 6 furlong race on the turf at Hollywood...shot to be loose here and speed on the hill did awfully well yesterday
race 7Â Â Â average clarity
8 Eaton Hall  Baffert 1ster finished up work tab with an impressive 5/8ths bullet gate drill.....and this is only a 5 1/2 furlong MSW sprint
10 Bodemeister  another Baffert 1st timer training like he is ready to roll......finished with 3 straight gate works....a very healthy sign that a Baffert 1ster is ready and well meant
4 Koast   Sadler charge had soft works prior to his MSW debut and little support at the windows......now the works are solid......can you say gimme/go
9 American Act  on the improve....believe the trainer is running him into shape......seems ready to compete for the top prize
race 8Â Â Â average clarity
4 Jeranimo  tosses a clunker now and then but he is stellar when he brings his "A game"....also seems to prefer SA turf over the other 2 S Cal grass courses
3 Norvsky  toss out his last.....not much pedigree to go 1 1/2 miles......has been given a couple months break which he deserved.....Warren is very capable with a freshened up animal....most likely ready and is 1 for 1 and today's distance
5 The Usual Q. T.  hasn't shown his best in awhile but runs well fresh...good chance to sit up close in an affair lacking speed.....believe the 4 will lead and this fellow will chase
race 9Â Â Â average clarity
4 Me Salty  last 2 races are better than they appear in print....and now we get a jock upgrade....small effort and a smoother journey and this gelding will be tough
8 Creston Cowboy  back on conventional dirt and the cut back in distance seem to add up to this 4 year old being a solid contender
1 Hurrican Harbor  also should welcome being back on the conventional dirt.....1 for 1 at the distance
2 Lana's Smile fairly consistent sort has a good history when Santiago is on his back
5 Distinctly  good move forward in last....that solid race was run with short rest....can he do the same with nearly 6 weeks off ????
9 King Red  last might have been the tune-up to drop and go go go.....owns back numbers that fit....way back
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