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Santa Anita for Saturday 7 February 2015

A card that the racing office at Santa Anita should be very proud of. If I was a jet-setter I would get on a plane to be there for it. And then take my winnings and fly north to Seattle for a little evening tennis at one of America's finest clubs.

Best of luck as always!

 

race 1    average clarity

7  Cheap O Charlie   1st time gelding and training well with a tightly spaced set of works at LA.....drops from MSW to mc.....one of Mike Puype's better stats

3  Royal Gambler   last  race fits OK here and might give him a small shot a the winners circle......but what we want is his debut 2 back which might make him the one to beat......recent work hints that he will rebound to his stronger effort

5  Ministers Prayer   believe debut was needed as there was no support at the windows and he is back rather quick and with two 5F works spaced only 5 days apart......moving forward today in all likelihood.......to what degree seems to be the question mark

2  Chief Dan

Long-shot consideration:  8  Roper  rider upgrade and this three year old gelding has shown life in the stretch in 2 of his 3 races at SA and the efforts are hidden by rough trips

 

race 2    average clarity

7  Industry Leader   solid races with blinkers on and running on "real" dirt........seems likely to get a nice outside stalk position which was the place to be yesterday and quite a few of the days over the last couple of weeks

3  Pray Hard  gelding has seen better days but the fact that Bejarano (who owns both lifetime wins for the horse)  gets back on the diminishing four year old tells me that he still has enough physically to compete at this lowly level

10  Limited Response   off since March but sure is working as if he is meant and ready fresh off of the bench........and his last layoff effort was strong and disguised by a poor trip and it was versus better

5  American Act

 

race 3    average clarity

7  Cyrus Alexander    funky looking ride by Smith in last........see ya Smith......hello Nakatani...........previous two route races are very strong and the competition in those races was tougher than today's 

4  Secreto Primero   nice improvement sprint debut to route 2nd out last summer at Dmr..........layoff sprint in last - route today..........and the sprint run this time around is markedly better.......so the route today logically will be better as well

8  Nob Hill   big awakening in last and it is somewhat disguised by a wide trip...........blinkers off for today and that equipment change has worked for Baffert 31% of the time in his last 88.......very dangerous

2  Sindys Luck

 

race 4    average clarity

3  Battle Evermore   on the right end of the learning curve......last effort is his best yet and hidden by a rough trip........3 very reassuring works since his strong last.........should be flying late

5  Anytime Anyplace   not so hot in latest but showed very good early foot in his debut 2 back...........bred just fine for the sod..........likely to be a major factor right from the opening bell

8  Currency Exchange   debut was likely needed (38 to 1) and he ran better than appears on paper........gets grass today and he is bred exceptionally well for the green carpet......move in the right direction seems highly likely today

10  Young And Hungry

Long-shot consideration:   4  Paythebank   away since late Sept when he showed a touch of life in a route grass race.......a.m. prowess is much improved these days.........has a shot to be motoring late and at a handsome price 

 

race 5   above average clarity

6  Dortmund   Ky Derby like efforts in last two races.......in his latest he ran 140:4 at Lrc sitting close to a brutal pace.......that effort is most impressive.....as are his works since the stellar run...........4 for 4 lifetime seems to be in the cards

2  Rock Shandy   on the right end of the learning curve and will need the trend to continue if he wants any chance to upset the potential monster that Dortmund appears to be

5  Firing Line   like our top selection he ran his eyeballs out in the Grade One 140:4 at Lrc.......so why not at least 2nd choice........not too crazy about his drills since the race especially compared to his works prior to his big run

 

race 6    above average clarity

9  Pulling G's   all 4 lifetime races are very strong for today's nw alw level.........not the best of trips in last......Stevens will be out to make amends 

2  Whine for Wine   runs awfully well to only have 2 wins in 10 lifetime races.........so Hollendorfer tries to shake things up with "blinkers on" for today and a new jock in the saddle in Bejarano following 6 straight rides by Smith.......best with a good trip can win this

11  Logan's Moon   all three lifetime races are "key" races.........and his latest is a very nice graduating effort.......good final time........good pace displayed........not at all impossible here 

1  Celebrity Status

 

race 7    above  average clarity

1  Finnegans Wake   wonderful job of training by Miller to get the stout six year to win back to back Grade 2's......and especially his last at 1 1/8th which is really a little too short for him to get up in time.....back to 1 1/4 today and continues to train as if he has held his solid form

2  Patrioticandproud   was getting to our top choice down the stretch at 1 1/8th in his last.....so the extra 1/8th of a mile for today seems likely to enhance his chances to beat him

8  Dynamic Sky   blocked in the stretch in last which was versus our top two selections.........and like our top two picks he seems better suited to today's longer distance

4  Power Ped

 

race 8    above average clarity

8  California Chrome   last three races run at SA are very powerful efforts all of which are much better than par for today's Grade 2 level........Ky Derby and Preakness numbers aren't too shabby either.........training great........seems likely to be in a nice stalk postion along with our 2nd choice

5  Shared Belief    four year old gelding was my early Ky Derby pick following his brilliant two year old campaign but he was set back by injury............8 for 9 lifetime runner might be at his very best sprint to route and that is today's scenario.......splitting hairs with my top two picks and I think so highly of both of them that I might be rooting for a dead heat

7  Bronzo   washed out in the B C Dirt Mile 2 races back and still managed 4th......then in his next start he ran way too wide in a Grade 2 at SA and did well to only get beat by 4 3/4L.....definitely benefits from today's extra distance.........won a Grade 1 in Chile in May of 2014 by 8 3/4L.........deep closer might be mopping up some tired horse in the late stages

1  Hoppertunity

 

race 9    below average clarity

3  Dakota Kid   horrid start in debut 2 back and still was able to snatch 3rd........won 2nd out on the grass at SA at today's distance and did it closing into a pedestrian pace.....seems likely to receive an honest pace here

5  Smoove It   ran awfully well in winning her 1st ever two turn turf affair.........and the jock sure knows this filly inside and out........last fits.......more would be icing on the cake

4  Kyriaki    trainer is as hot as he has been in many a moon.......turf sprint layoff run in last sure appears to be nothing more than a tune-up to leg up and be at full throttle today at a turf route.....and the way Eurton's stock has been firing this meet that is a dangerous thing

6  Fresh Feline

2  Demonica

10  Intoxicating Move

Posted on February 7, 2015 at 10:19 am by richs · Permalink
In: Free Information, Selections