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Santa Anita for Friday 20 January 2012
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Seemingly one of the better cards in quite a long time. Not one race even close to being rated lower than average clarity and 3 races rated above average clarity. Whenever I finish handicapping and I feel that I can state "win or lose this is a good card" I know I truly like what I see. Let's hope for our fair share of good trips.
race 1Â Â Â average clarity
4 Yankee Dan  appears to appreciate 2 turn racing affairs........fired a very nice route race with 1 1/2 months rest in last.......1 1/2 months since last once again
2 Arathorn  done little wrong in 2 lifetime races on the dirt.......trainer who usually makes the most of her limited starters has been hot
3 Blueskiesnrainbows  learned to rate in last and it really moved this colt forward.....improved works since....1st long but bred to appreciate route racing
race 2Â Â Â average clarity
5 Spicy Beau   major awakening in last 1st time ever running a route of ground....nice work series.......Sherman's stock all seem to be firing of late
7 Clearlyaluckyguy  trainer is good first time at a route.......horse has a touch of early speed and this race lacks speed types......shot to get good position on or near the front in what might be a pedestrian pace
3 Sidepocket Kid  competitive in all 4 races since the blinkers were removed......caught a monster in last who won by 11 lengths and then the horse won again by 11 again yesterday at a higher level making me feel foolish that I selected him 2nd
10 Mccarroll  Guillot runners have been up the track this so far this meet so why not drop a MSW runner from MSW to the bottom mc level
race 3Â Â Â above average clarity
1 Charm The Crowd  powerful figs/efforts 3 of the last 4 grass races on Top Turf today.....had an excuse in the race that was so so in that he sat too far out of it in a semi-soft pace race down the SA hill...should get some pace today
5 Five Silver Stars  consistent sort gets Bejarano to stick around for a 4th straight time.....that seems significant.....race seems somewhat set for her late running style
2 Ayoumilove  3 of this fillies last 4 races in S Florida fit well here......those were 5F affairs......so the question is can she handle 6 1/2 furlongs and the unique Sa hill turf course
9 All The Love  claimed by Kitchingman and he smartly gets this mare back on the SA hill where she fired one of her lifetime best races
race 4Â Â Â above average clarity
8 Teraad  impressive invader from GG......bad trip in last and still almost won his 1st ever at a route.........1st on conventional dirt but bred well enough to handle it
4 Corner Office  good forward move in 2nd lifetime start.......1st long but bred well to get a route of ground....solid series of 3 works since with 2 of them at 6 furlongs
1 G'night  horrendous trip in last and it was a fast heat to boot......that race was on the grass and I am surprised the barn doesn't want a grass race again.....but......lookout if she handles the dirt as well and gets a reasonable trip-a-roo
7 Dylan Donnelly  last looks like a tune-up sprinting........ all part of the preparation to be ready 1st time at a route....Mitchell is extremely stout with 2nd time starters
race 5Â Â Â average clarity
7 Thrice The Vice  light weight app up and seemingly owns the best early speed in a race lacking it.....ultra consistent efforts when he runs in one turn conventional dirt sprint races
5 Clear To Canada  owns an uncanny strong 2nd quarter move......Miller seems to have this bottom level claimer on the improve....2 wins and 1 close 3rd in 3 lifetime races on the SA dirt track
6 High Success  drop to bottom did wonders for this claimer in his last......owns 3 wins in 4 races at today's distance......conventional dirt is a question mark
4 Spectacular Slew  dangerous looking drop down from trainer Diodoro who has woken up from the doldrums.....this gelding handled both lifetime races on the SA dirt track nicely
race 6Â Â Â average clarity
5 Skinny Genes  all 3 lifetime races on firm turf fit well in this field......hot rider/trainer combo.....1 for 1 at the distanceÂ
4 Sheskey  toss out last....dueled on good turf.....rightfully tired....back to firm turf which she can handle........race on paper says she should be in the hunt from the get go not getting caught wide
7 We Are One  impressive forward move in last a grass affair run at Tup off of 2 weeks rest.....off 2 months this time but might be doing just as well considering the trainer elects to ship in form ArizonaÂ
1 Vikkilee  doubt can win this but with a good trip she can snatch a slice of the pie
race 7Â Â Â above average clarity
3 Motown Men  horrid stumble in last and ran a little wide......I had him losing about 10 lengths....only got beat 8.....actually all 4 career starts are better than appear on paper....Bejarano sticks around....will be out to make amends
2 Johnny Be Mine  chased a nasty pace and rightfully tired trying to get 7 furlongs.....cut back 1 furlong sure looks like a good thing.......continues to train like a happy healthy horse
4 Rockinarz Recruit  this GG invader had a significant improvement in his last 1st time with the blinkers.......that effort fits but now he will need to repeat the effort on convention dirt
race 8Â Â Â average clarity
6 Midnight Con  has run superior races....seems mostly a matter of how he  handles conventional dirt for the 1st time which he has worked well on.....Mullins has started off the SA meeting quite well
8 War Politics   sat too far off a slow pace in last which was in a MSW affair.......back to maiden 30K and a jockey upgrade should put this colt back in the hunt for the winners circleÂ
3 Take No Prisoners  laid up since his so so November 1st lifetime start but sure is training as if he is all set to roll......bred to greatly appreciate route racing
9 I Feel Free  1st ever long in last and he sure responded well to his new endeavor.......nasty post at 1 mile on the dirt or would have rated much higher
 10  Stormy Bob   Mitchell 2nd time starter fell way back in his maiden debut after a slow break from the gate.....showed some good running ability from there......very difficult post but Mike Mitchell has been outstanding with 2nd time maiden claimers going a rote
7 Already There   seemingly running for a small slice of the pie only
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