
Santa Anita for Thursday 19 January 2012
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Good looking card for a Thursday. Glad to be back to 4 days of racing a week for awhile. Feel strongly that shorter race weeks help me keep fresh.
 Good luck to all!
Race 1Â Â Â average clarity
1 Shem  logical drop to earn his keep and cut into the those training and vet bills
4 Maker  believe this race might fall into his lap......believe three of the five horses in this field will press the issue up front and set things up for this late runner
5 Morganouska  appears to be speed of the speed......might shake free and wire the field
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race 2Â Â Â average clarity
2 Almost A Lady  trainer is stout with young fillies......blocked in last....had some horse left at the wire.....that seemingly bodes well for today's start
1 Amazingly  impressive MSW debut on the grass.....not only winning at first asking but winning in a fast heat.......pedigree sees fine for conventional dirt racing......same effort as shown in her debut fits fine here
5 Caribaya Queen  showed steady improvement in five lifetime races run last summer/fall in Canada......1st on the "dirt" but bred to appreciate it.....tough to gage how ready this filly is off of the 3 month layoff
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race 3   average clarity  Â
6 Maryjean  somewhat hidden forward move in 2nd lifetime start.....3 wide trip in a fast heat at a higher level....same effort with a good trip has a good chance at getting the job done....jock/trainer combo 5 of last 11
2 Sense Your Luck  fired lifetime best in last her first run ever on the Santa Anita main track......trainer will need to break the good race bad race trend the filly has shown so far....fits solidly if he does
4 Purple Starduster  just claimed in last off of a clunker......but out of town jockey who has won at a 60% clip with the trainer the last couple of months (with numerous mounts) comes in to ride......hmmmmm......rebound seems like a strong possibility
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race 4Â Â Â above average clarity
3 Clearance Clarence   on the right end of the learning curve.....just worked a bullet 4F drill just 6 days ago......seems to be sitting on best ever
4 Ultimate Decision   clubbered maiden 20K claimers by 11 but he did it on a rail bias.....time fits solidly but the effort might be a little overrated
2 El Tango Ray  connections for this late runner should have their fingers crossed that our top 2 selections both go after the lead and set a suicidal pace
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race 5Â Â Â average clarity
4 The Grans  race 2 back fits fine......ran a clunker in last but it was off a set of dull works........now this filly is working her eyeballs out at Tup....like a vastly improved animal.....out of town conditioner is fairly decent
7 Elana Mar  pulled up in lone lifetime start last June.......another starter with a very impressive work tab showing speed and endurance in a prolonged work regiment....1st on the lawn but OK pedigree for it
3 Clean Break  sprint races on the turf and the dirt fit well here but......rather concerned about this one's ability to get a route of ground....half sister to Unzip Me who wants no part of 2 turns and we know how talented she is sprinting on the grass
1 Vonn Nez  slowly improving sort especially running long on the grass .......the trend will need to continue this afternoon if this filly wants to visit the winners circle.....gets a good post to possibly make it happen
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race 6Â Â Â average clarity
1 Russian River  always seems to be around at the finish.....combine that consistency with a drop in claiming and the fact Mitchell trains and you should get your monies worth here
9 Subpoena The Dress  Mikus has popped with 2 of her last 3 claims....just claimed this consistent late runner who retains Bejarano.......mare has a very solid history at today's 6F distance
10 Line One  2 for 2 at SA.....laid up since late June but won at 12 to 1 the last time this mare ran off of the layoff
5 For You My Heart  claimed for 25K and dropped to 16K suggests she has some health issues....but........this filly has 3 wins and 1 3rd in 4 starts on conventional dirt
Possible Longshot: 6 Classy Attraction  back to trainer Silverio Martinez who had this mare running well versus better in 2010.......he will need to wake her out of the doldrums .....recent strong drills suggests he has the trump card for this horse....we shall see
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race 7Â Â Â average clarity
7 Meltarib  1st ever running back off of short rest but seeing that her last race was of a less demanding turf sprint there is a good chance it is a positive.....good history at 1 mile on the turf
6 Sunburn  predicted race shape suggests this mare can sit pretty much in an uncrowded mid pack position with some quicker horses clearly in front of her and some plotters clearly behind her........combine that with Bejarano as the pilot and I like her chances
3 Suances Flower  solid layoff run in last and it was her 1st ever race on the sod.......should be fitter and gets 3 pounds off for her 1st ever at a route.......Vienna is usually very dangerous the 1st time he sends a horse long
5 Arrivederci Caro  only beaten by 2 3/4 lengths in a state-bred Stakes race at GG......the winner of that race would crush these........much better placed here
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race 8Â Â Â below average clarity
Note: All six selections difficult to separate and are fairly solid horses considering the maiden claiming level of 40K.
5 Bull Ring  finished with significant late pace in MSW debut.........hasn't missed a beat in the morning since.......Baffert/Sutherland are a solid trainer/rider combo
1 Royal Meridaian  best set of works for a Canani 1st timer in quite sometime....and why not be ready at 1st asking.......this gelding is 5 years old
2 Marker Down  one lifetime race way back in Oct of 2010......Baffert got this colt muscled up with numerous 6 furlong works at Hollywood......has been at SA for fine tuning the last 4 weeks....sure seems ready for his drop into maiden claiming
8 Relentless Heat  laid up since March but training up to snuff for Eurton......only run on SA dirt course was a near miss for the win despite a 4 wide trip-a-roo
4 Baron Von Red  blinkers on and it might by a solid move because this horse is sure training awfully sharp since his last race......Sadler has won 1/3 of his last 54 runners dropping out of MSW races
9 Sky Fox  last looks like a layoff gimme to drop and go 1st ever in a maiden claimer.....lone race on conventional dirt (@ Fpx) is very strong
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