Santa Anita for Sunday 19 October 2014
Why on earth did SA add a day (Wednesday) to Breeders Cup week as the claiming fields of late are so poor in quality especially the maiden claimers. I don't care what the short term economics are because in the long run you will diminish your reputation as a world class racetrack if you spread things out too thin.That will cost you some day.
So so day once again but lately "so so" or worse has been a good thing as when I'm right the returns are significant. Hoping for a 3rd straight big day!
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
1 Cee's Tizzy Belle  nice forward move in last (especially pace wise) her 1st on the dirt.......back to the grass and back versus Cal-breds.......only mount of the day for Mike Smith hints this mare has remained sharp.......should sit up close and save ground at least thru turn 1......such a deal
5 Bilger's Sapphire  on the right end of the learning curve for sure......toss out lone turf effort as it was her 64 to 1 debut.......obviously wasn't that muscled up for her debut......seems very fit now and back to the sod......bred decently for it and bred fine to a one mile affair
8 Susan B Good   2 of her last 4 turf races fit well here including her latest........and her last was at 1 1/6th......seems better suited to 1 mile grass affairs......... so........... if she repeats her last at her preferred distance.........lookout
6Â Three Blondes
Long-shot consideration:  2 Hot And Pleasing  dismal grass record but working vastly better seemingly out of nowhere........and Cassidy and company take her out of maiden claiming for this race......good post.......good rider.........big price
race 2 Â Â average clarity
3 When We Met  consistent closer seemingly gets ample pace to strut his stuff once again and possible capture his 5th consecutive trip to the winners circle
2 Gal Has To Like It  nice inside stalk position led to a win in his last......same post........same track..........same rider......seems likely to sit inside stalking the leaders once again
5 W. Giles  improving sort might only have to repeat his latest to hit pay-dirt here.......would have rated higher if the trainer and rider weren't a touch cold right now
race 3 Â Â slightly below average clarity
3 Warren's Sunny Boy  by far the best recent a.m. prowess (and at SA) of any runner in this dismal looking field......race 2 back fits decently and off of his "wake-up" works he might be up for even more
2 Higher Mandate  decent layoff route race in latest........cuts back to a sprint for 2nd run following the extended break........should have something left in the tank in the late stages coming off of a route
4 Grey Is Best  rider has done little in S Cal so far but Desiree Stra might find herself loose on the lead in this race totally void of speed making her task markedly easier
race 4Â Â average clarity
5 Jomelo  multiple points of trouble in last disguises an improved effort.......top gun Bejarano will be out to make amends
2 Sizzlin' Joe  big winning effort off of 7 days rest 2 races back at GG........so..........last placed over his head sure looks like a gimme considering he is back in very short rest once again today..........8 days this time around
4 Craving Carats  turf sprint in last.......back in 6 days for a route and puts the blinkers on.........turf rail placed far out.........turf speed has been decent this week and this four year old gelding sure appears to be capable of getting loose and in a reasonable pace......danger city
3Â Buymeabond
Long-shot consideration:  1 Dewrag   seems likely to sit close to the front in a race that might favor speed........last couple of  races are good (albeit on the dirt) and Maldonado has been red hot in grass route lately......dangerousÂ
race 5 Â Â average clarity
4 Marla Hooch  2 for 3 on the SA dirt and with a low % jock aboard..........back on the SA dirt today for the 1st time since March and this time with Bejarano up.......off since July but drops a notch and the drills suggest she is fit
2 Quinnette  Ron Ellis five year old mare likes to sprint at Santa Anita and might be best at today's somewhat specialty sprint distance of 7 furlongs (2 1 1 0) .......should be tough here
6 Papaslilprincess   don't you just love "pulled up walked off" ........and dropping down........seems dangerous at the 16K level especially since far too many horses that ease and walk off do awfully well in their next startÂ
1Â Love The Breeding
race 6 Â Â average clarity
7 Red Outlaw   friends in the racing office?......scratched out of a Stakes on Saturday for this affair totally void of speed except for him.......and with Maldonado up......yikes
5 Street Icon  wide near a solid pace and on good rail day hides a solid return to the race wars dirt race in last.........should tighten him up nicely for today's turf sprint......and he is 1 for 1 on the SA hill grass course
3 Daraybi  trainer has been ice cold all year but sure has this quality French invader working as if he should be a major player in today's turf sprint
1Â Bolita Boyz
race 7 Â Â average clarity
4 Windy Forecast  solid MSW debut and then this Callaghan two year old filly got caught in a ridiculously fast pace (in a Grade 1) in her next start and rightfully tired.....nice work series and back against MSW runners......seems tough here
8 Suva Harbor  exits a solid heat at Lrc where if she can run as well on the SA dirt she likely has as good a shot at graduating as anyone in the race
1 Cadet Roni  not the best of conditioners with 1sters in Mark Glatt but the works (especially her two gate works) are too good to ignore for this young filly
5Â Get Back Annie
race 8 Â Â average clarity
2 Gangnam Guy   2/3rd's of his career sure fits solidly in this field including both of his races down the SA hill turf course.......did toss a clunker in his latest but has had ample time off for Machowsky to get him to rebound
4 Smart Journey  race lacks speed and he appears to have the most.........especially if he repeats his latest......has never been loose down the hill in three races but might be today.....lookout if he his cutting back in distance
3 Law Dog  toss out last to some some degree as route racing doesn't appear to be his matt forte (couldn't help myself-Bear fan)........back to a sprint and 1st time Bejarano........seems like a player today
1Â El Tovar
Long-shot consideration:  7 Sir Barclay  solid move forward in last and it might be even more significant than the number he earned as his running lines suggest that 7F isn't his favorite distance.......very strong move in the right direction if that is fact
race 9 Â Â average clarity
8 Southern Owah  2nd time starter worked 113:2 since his start and nobody in here has run that in a race.......not much......but........one pace-less bad field
7 Push Girl  only runner in the field with speed.....would have been top choice if it wasn't for blinkers off today for her 2nd lifetime start.....very loose lead seemed more guaranteed if they had remained on
2 Turn On  good drills prior to layoff last.....didn't show a thing but it might have been a public workout as she really didn't belong in a MSW affair......go go go today at the bottom mc level?
6Â Miners Lass
1Â Jo's Approval
5Â Groovy Journey