Santa Anita for Thursday 1 January 2015
Not an easy day as you can see from the clarity ratings. But I couldn't have worked harder to keep the good times rolling and start the new year off right. Good looking card for Friday!
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â below average clarity
6 Bullwinkle Babe  tepid top selection seems to be making a rebound of sorts......likely the one to overcome if the rebound in form continues
3 Swiss Jet  best to date was her lone lifetime route race on the sod.....likely needs more still but seemingly has never worked better.......believe best ever occurs today.....to what degree of "best ever" seems to be the ? mark
5 Majestic Heat  well bred 1st timer for Abrams who also trains our 2nd choice.........mom has tossed 5 winners from 5 starters including 3 turf winners......nice tightly spaced works over a prolonged period hint this 1st timer is fit enough
1Â Silver Starlight
Long-shot consideration:  4 Lucky Illusion  blinkers on and two impressive drills hint the equipment change has really helped........Bonde is quite good 1st on the grass.......and the pedigree for this filly is adequate for the sod
race 2 Â Â average clarity
1 Cat Meeting  blinkers being put back on for today and the recent a.m. work suggest this seven year old is going to show more today with them on.....and his last fits
2 Anxious Times  plenty to prove fig wise but this Mandella colt is training markedly better seemingly out of nowhere......lone win came turf to dirt which is today's scenario..........rather sure this fellow moves forward today
4 Sir Macho  consistent sort likely will be in the mix once again but he sure seems to be a hanging sort with little punch or desire when it counts.......but Smith is getting to know this runner well having ridden him his last 4 races and likely will be all over the gelding in the late stages
6Â Crane Lodge
race 3 Â Â average clarity
1 Froggy Fresh   last two endeavors fit fine and D'Amato has been rather hot the last couple of months.......that'll do
4 Peaches n' Brandy  good debut and the effort was somewhat disguised trip wise......checked some at the start and then ran wide.....ran a better than par adjusted for trouble fig......decent shot at the circle of joy if Pedroza gives a better ride this time
7 Ritzy Tags  showed much better early speed the only time this Baffert filly wore blinkers in a race run 3 back......blinkers back on today and drops.......very dangerous speed at today's lower level
2Â She Got Away
race 4 Â Â below average clarity
7 Margot Machance  last 3 races are strong and the latest two are disguised by wide trips......doubt top gun Bejarano lets that happen for a 3rd straight race especially off of a solid bullet drill for this filly
1 Our Little Hen  14 for 16 in the money lifetime on fast dirt or turf.......the kind you can get ready "fresh"........showed monster speed and earned a decent number when last seen running down the SA hill and did it versus better......danger city if she is ready off of the long layoff
4 My Monet  done little wrong in 4 lifetime sprints with a record of (4 3 1 0)........looked fine action wise in her only grass race which was a route.......tired in the stretch as she doesn't seem to want to go two turns
9Â Jade With Envy
race 5 Â average clarity
4 Privileged One  MSW debut last looked like a public work-out (and a decent one) for this well bred Eurton filly.......trainer is better with 2nd time starters.........full throttle go this afternoon dropping into claiming........likely on or near the lead
1 Alyeska   Kathy Walsh is good with maiden claiming 1st starters and this one is working rather well.......tough post for a 1ster......but......not a tough field
6 Katerrific  takes that ever dangerous drop from MSW racing to maiden claiming and draws top gun Bejarano.......seems likely to be in the mix from the get go
5Â Twenty Eleven
race 6 Â Â below average clarity
10 Lotta Attitude  poor trip in last.......wide close to a hot pace and versus much tougher........drop seems slightly suspicious but this Ellis 2nd out after the claim filly will be very tough if she is still in relatively good health.......feel it is about 60/40 that she is
2 Swissarella  smartly steps up following a well hidden effort.........ran wide on a rail bias up on the pace........and still she nearly won..........a.m. work since suggest she has held form
7 She's Flush  best on conventional dirt and best at today's 6F distance.......and very consistent.........so no reason that this Sherlock four year old filly won't be in the hunt for the win here
1Â Desert Madam
race 7 Â Â below average clarity
3 Batti Man  capable of firing fresh and the preparatory drills hint this seven year old is ready......and it seems noteworthy that Mike Smith wants the mount........gelding sure fits solidly here if he is up to his "A game"
7 Follini  another laid up individual who is training as if he is meant and ready off of the layoff......sizzling 5F bullet drill best of 70 just 5 days ago........might be best early speed in the field.....good history when loose and he might be here
2 Rolling Fog  not much in his return to the race wars but it is excusable as it was off a 2+ year layoff.......continues to train as if he is in good condition......deserves another shot.......needs to avoid a speed duel with our top pick one way or another
6Â Nicklaus Way
race 8 Â Â below average clarity
5 Jaded Glory  won turf sprint MSW debut like a good thing.....then had a bad trip in a turf route or might have made it 2 for 2........trainer is due to awaken.....good sign Stevens stays with the Proctor runner
1 Midnight Candy  (4 2 0 2) in 4 lifetime routes two of which were on the sod......last sure fits and it was at today's 1 mile turf distance.......reassuring bullet work since......good post
8 Rainha Da Bateria  plenty of run in this grass competitor but she sure likes to take the overland route......so post 8 won't help but even wide she might be able to take this
4Â Lutine Belle
Long-shot consideration:  2 Singing Kitty  might be a good claim by Chew off of a solid romp in latest.......1st at a route and the grass but her pedigree is decent for both......good post and good grass rider in T C Baze
race 9Â Â above average clarity
7 Lucky J Lane  no where in last but his barn mate was bet and won.....previous two races (both grass routes) are very strong........switch to Bejarano.........rebound city if he handles his 1st on the main track.....sure trains well on it
1 The Mad Hungarian   lifetime best and likely would take this is his effort two back......last might be good enough as well especially if the 7 horse fails to fire for whatever reason
9 Durango Flyer  nice wake up as a 1st time gelding in last.......and has the right to move forward 2nd out after the layoff.....fits fine if he does
10Â Romar Success
8Â Valley Cat
2Â Alpine Luck