Santa Anita for Friday 6 February 2015
Average looking card today. Very exciting card Saturday with one of the better match-ups in quite some time in California Chrome versus Shared Belief.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
4  Katerriffic  blinkers off and a decent 5F drill just 6 days ago.........just what you want to see with an equipment change.........drop bothers me a little but not too much as Bejarano stays on the Leonard Powell runner
6  Take It Slowly  claimed way back in July by Sadler and has been away since.........ran decent in his debut 2 back so you know she can run fresh.........7 months fresh today and training well enough to be ready
8  L X Sunrise  7 2nd's in 8 races at SA.......so highly likely to be part of things in the late stages once again but she obviously needs to overcome her strong tendency to hangÂ
1 Â Warrensdollarsigns
race 2 Â Â average clarity
1  I Don't Care Who  significant drop and back on a fast track makes this Mullins charge very tough in this spot if of course he has remained in relatively good health........very impressive races run at SA last year in winterÂ
6  The Mad Hungarian  seemingly a need to lead type might be able to get the lead here and if he does he has the potential to fire a big effort........recent solid 5/8ths drill hints he still is feeling OK despite the drop back into claiming
7  Bluegrass Reward  stepped up a notch in his latest and ran 2nd.........would have won if he didn't check in the stretch......steps up again today and this time with a jock upgrade......dangerous
8 Â Valentine Boy
race 3 Â Â average clarity
5  Chaulk O Lattey   little shot in MSW debut running wide on an inside biased SA day and in a fast run race for the level........sharp recent 4F drill should have this filly sharp for her 2nd lifetime start........small logical forward move and a decent trip and she should be a player here
4  Democracy Rules  Machowsky runners are preforming better at the SA meeting than his record indicates and his record isn't bad........and he appears to have this 1ster ready to roll at 1st asking.......especially like the 6f-6f-4f bullet gate work to finish her work regiment
9  Discatsonthesquare  low % trainer overall but not off of layoffs and not (at least recently) with Gryder up.......filly showed talent last Spring and is working as if she is returning ready
7 Â Twentyfive to LifeÂ
race 4 Â Â below average clarity
4 Circa'sgoldengear  laid up Heap eight year old takes a wise drop (8 after all) in claiming and if he is up to the task off of the layoff he sure faces softer than he saw last year down the hill.......low % jock but he rode this fellow quite well down the hill last year
5 Fighter Squadron  consistent sort on any surface when competing at one mile or less......1st on the hill but seems likely to handle it considering the aforementioned consistency on any surface.......well placed if does
10 Maxx The Giant  like this fellow in one turn affairs as he tends to go wide and wide on one turn is usually less costly than wide on two turns.......good sign Smith sticks with the horse off of the 3 month break
11Â LuckarackÂ
Long-shot consideration:  6 Smokey Lonesome  laid up gelding can handle the SA hill turf course .........returns with a new trainer and the works hint his new conditioner has him very ready for his return to the race wars......lookout if he is because he has run well versus better in the past
race 5 Â below average clarity
7  Senor Rain  chased a fast pace and still hung on for 2nd in a fast heat for the 8K level......not much speed in this affair.....seems like he is the controlling speed........1st out after the claim for Victor Garcia who is an eye popping 41% 1st out after a claim with his last 22........yikes
4  Presiding Justice  likes the SA surface and seems to be best running at 6 1/2F........gets both today......and his last effort is somewhat hidden
12  Warren's Cole  exits a fast heat and with a bad trip......checked back early and ran wide.........did well to finish 5th beaten 6L for the win.....rider upgrade......same effort with a better trip and this six year old gelding will be a major factor in this affair
1 Â Contingency
race 6 Â Â average clarity
3  Prime Issue  appreciates 6 or more weeks off between races and gets it........last race run at SA (3 races back) is very impressive........ pressed a grueling pace and still managed to win in good time.........very consistent on main track surfaces (17 7 4 1)
7  Snuggley Bear  big awakening for Canani and company of late......and a significant awakening for this colt in his latest........was able to score despite being a bit wide up on a decent pace.....ran that race off of 16 days rest..........18 days rest for today
10  Airfoil  consistent sort and especially responds well when Talamo is aboard which he is today........decent sprint layoff run in last should have him ready to handle a two turn affair in his 2nd out following his extended hiatus from racing
5 Â American Pride
race 7 Â Â average clarity
8  Day of Fury  bred well to handle the distance and his 1st run the grass..........last was decent but what we want is his powerful effort 3 back where he set a nasty pace and still won in stout final time..........recent a.m. work hints he might be up for that effort today if his turf bloodlines click in
5  Wanstead Gardens  on the right end of the learning curve and his last improvement is hidden by a poor trip which yielded approximately 5 1/2 lengths of trip trouble........only lost by 1 1/4L.........Machowsky four year old colt continues to train like a happy healthy individual
1  Christopher Street   very consistent since the blinkers were taken off 9 races back........seems to be training better in preparation for today's race and his preparation prior to his last race wasn't too shabby.......nor was his race
3 Â Anxious Times
race 8 Â Â average clarity
11  Muzzled Mousse  set an extremely fast pace in his mc debut which was run on a sloppy track.......slop can get your horse hurt at times but it can also act like turf and leg your horse up........and since this gelding just worked a 58:4 best of 63 bullet I'd say the run in the goo worked in his favor........seems likely to be a major speed player here
7  Bandido Too  just missed (and with a horrid start) the only time this maiden ran as low as today's maiden claiming tag......and he is running as a 1st time gelding today.......nice work tab to boot
4  Desert Gem  only lifetime race was run in May and wasn't much......but returns off of the long layoff as a first time gelding and he is working as if the ultimate equipment change has made him into a racehorse
10 Â Sky Heart
9 Â Mt. Eiger
5 Â English Art