Santa Anita for Sunday 28 December 2014
The Racing Digest is shooting for our 6th straight strong day in a row. Hope I didn't jinx things by stating that.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â below average clarity
3 Sudden Rumor 5F drill one week ago is the best work for this D'Amato runner in some time........feeling good.........and I like that the hot of late trainer steps this gelding up a notch off of a 3rd place finish
2 Jedi Mind Trick  loves Del Mar but not so hot at SA so far........that might be the impetus for Sadler to drop off of two daylight wins......or.......the three year old is hurting
6 Sir Barclay  consistent sprinting on conventional dirt.......stepped up and won in last and it was an improved effort......steps up again.......good sign he feels as good or better for today's race
race 2 Â Â average clarity
6 Tough Stanley  broke horridly and ran wide on a rail biased day in his last........I put about a dozen lengths of trip trouble in my notes for the young colt......not too hot of a trip in MSW debut two races back either.......new jock today......7 furlongs seems like a plus
4 Stormin Trick  work tab for this Puype 1ster hints he likely is ready to preform at a high level in his debut.......sharp trainer wisely puts in plenty of foundation in the a.m. to get the 7 panels as 7F is never an easy task for a debuting two year old
5 Cat McLish  Miyadi 1st timer also appears as if he might be fully ready in his MSW debut.......Miyadi (with the same owner as well) trains our top pick as well.......hmmmmmm
2Â Howdy
race 3 Â Â average clarity
9 Private Marina  seems best on conventional dirt including SA.......route in last - 7F sprint today.........usually a good maneuver.....like the rider change when you consider the 7 lbs bug boy's break in weights
1 Afleet Echo  substantial move forward in latest and hidden somewhat by not the best of trips........and as mentioned above route to 7F is usually a good thing
8 Warren's Purfect  seems to be improving in the a.m. and the p.m........lone race at SA was at 7F and the effort was the closest this filly ever came to graduating in her 5 race career
4Â She's Discreet
race 4 Â Â below average clarity
7  Mangita  very well proven fresh off of the bench......fresh today......solid works.....and a major league rider upgrade especially for a turf race.....1st or 2nd in all 6 lifetime grass races and all of which were at today's one mile distance
8  Kool Kat  always fires a competitive and dangerous race when Mike Smith is up.........and he is abroad todayÂ
11  Hijra  difficult post at one mile on the sod at SA but owns some tactical speed and and draws the perennial favorite to win the SA riding title in Rafael Bejarano
10 Â Shysheisnot
Long-shot consideration:  3  Camryn Kate  change in trainers since her last race and her new conditioner Alfredo Marquez might have the trump card for this mare because her recent a.m. work sure is impressive seemingly out of nowhere.......and she is one for one at the distance on the turf
race 5 Â average clarity
7  Little Curlin  significantly better with 1st time blinkers (and 1st time at a route) in latest......and the effort is somewhat hidden by a wide trip........bug boy and his weight off is up today......same with a better journey and he is likely headed to the winners circle
3  Simon Kenton  solid 1st ever at a route in last somewhat hidden by a wide trip......seems likely to get a nice stalk position which is so often a great place to be in most U S of A racetracks including SA
5  Nowalking   just fired lifetime best in latest off of some solid a.m. preparation.......still appears as sharp in the a.m. since his last......trainer has been hot
1 Â J Serino
race 6 Â Â below average clarity
11  Pepnic  last fits and today we get a rider upgrade.........very sharp recent 5F work........1st down the hill but often the cut back from route grass racing with a speed type to 6 1/2F down the hill is successful
4  Snowday  2 of his 3 races down the SA hill fit fine........and 1st out following a Hollendorfer claim is usually a dangerous proposition
8  Something Unusual  training exceptionally well off of the 11 month hiatus from the game.......solid race down the SA hill 3 back......no shot in her latest hill effort as she caught way too tough a field and probably sat a little too close as she seems to prefer coming from far out of it
3Â No Jet Lag
Long-shot consideration:  5  Giant Ego   one of his two lifetime races down the SA hill fits well here (his effort 6 races back).........has been slipping lately.....but he was just claimed by Diodoro who got him to work an aye popping 58:2H bullet best of 135........yikes.......rebound city today
race 7 Â Â above average clarity
8  Tribal Gal  likely to get a nice (so often highly desired) stalk position......seems poised off a stellar set of drills for a big effort this afternoon
2  Awesome Baby  Baffert three year old filly is 3 for 3 since switching to Mike Smith.......away for 9 months but working up to snuff and is proven fresh.....decent shot to make it 4 in a row today
4  Doinghardtimeagain  hard to argue with 3 for 3 at the distance and her lifetime best was at the distance and the race was at SA
1 Â Golbal Hottie
race 8 Â Â average clarity
11  Lit Bit O'Fun  2 wins and a 3rd in 3 lifetime races down the majestic SA hill grass course..........all three efforts fit well in this spot........and.........he won from the outer-most 11 post in one of those races
9  Bettys Bambino  3 for 4 on the SA hill and his latest was his best effort and likely not all that stressful........likely to get a nice stalk position behind a suspect leader in the 6 horse who is (4 000) on the hill
1  Sweep Swap  by far the most experience down the SA hill with about 50% of his efforts being a good fit for today's Grade 3 level
4 Â Eddie's Turn
race 9Â Â average clarity
5  Oh Newman  on the improve with every start including his latest which was his 1st at a route of ground......hot trainer the last month or so.....and he is 3 for his last 8 2nd time at a route
8  Congrats Seattle  very strong sprint race 2 back.......so so effort in last but it was run at a route.......back to a sprint today......Drysdale is stout stat wise dropping from MSW to maiden claiming which is the case here
9  Sunbeamsfromheaven  solid improvement in latest and it is hidden by somewhat subtle trouble........which of course often makes for a better odds than obvious trouble ......switch to Bejarano to smooth the kinks out
2 Â Pleasure Point
3 Â A Colt Following
7Â Gnarly Harly (1st time gelding)