Santa Anita for Saturday 11 April 2015
Not too shabby of a race card this afternoon. I would rate it a 7 on the 1 to 10 scale.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
5  Nextdoorneighbor   seems overdue to blow a gasket but until he shows some signs of hurting it is very hard not to select him on the top of the heapÂ
3  Timeless Indy  trainer has been firing on all cylinders to say the least.....can't recall the last time he missed the board with a starter......nice forward move in his last for this 5-year-old on 29 March......and worked 5/8ths since.....and steps up.....this fellow appears to be feeling goodÂ
6  My Slew   big gaps in work tab........and drops way down............rate it a 75% chance he is hurting........but lookout if he isn't
race 2 Â Â average clarity
5  Twentytwenyvision  showed he can handle two turn racing on the dirt in his last two endeavors......now he gets to tackle the turf and if he runs to his breeding it will a positive.....good trainer/rider combo
1  Royal Banker  Harty finally takes the blinkers off after 3 straight dull efforts since they were put on........recent a.m. work is better.....rebound city this afternoon for this four year old gelding in need of full vision
4  Celebrity Status  blinkers on and quicker recent drills.......believe this fellow moves forward both in pace and final time today
2  Clever Royal   away since August but working well......trainer is good with "fresh" stock......Bejarano is up.......hmmmm
Long-shot consideration:  7  Maxx the Giant  these days by far at his best at one mile on the sod (4 1 2 1) last 4X
race 3 Â Â above average clarity
8  Tester  bad trip in latest and still won by 8L to break his maiden......reassuring 5F drill since.......which makes me less concerned that the connections didn't place this fellow higher
1  Rambling House  big forward move in latest with the blinkers on especially pace wise......dueled in suicidal pace and still hung on for 2nd........very much a major player today if he can repeat the effort off of such a grueling ordeal physically
7  Weekendwithbernie  1 win and 1 3rd in 2 starts on the SA dirt.....still.......he needs best ever if either of our top picks repeat their last
6  Deputy Silver  drops from the sky.......obviously hurting but maybe (a big maybe) he has a race left in him....fits fine if he does
race 4 Â Â below average clarity
9  Lookinfordanger  tepid top selection might be up for her best following a vastly better 2nd lifetime start and the old sprint - route - sprint scenario for this afternoon
4  Stylistic  good improvement in her last which was her 2nd lifetime start........1st on the grass today but she is bred nicely to handle the green carpet
5  Boat Drinks  all three lifetime races down the hill fit fine.......bu.........she does lose Espinoza and gets Van Dyke who has been cold of late....thus....3rd pick
8  Two Taps  decent works and bred very well for this sod........1st timer for Shirreffs might be ready to rock and roll
race 5 Â above average clarity
6  Machochistic  a ton when this fellow brings his "A game" and the a.m. work for his new trainer Ron Ellis suggests that he will.......great SA meeting for the always dangerous trainer
3  Seeking the Sherif  loves SA (11 7 2 0) and likes to sit in the stalk position which he likely will......and seemingly he has never trained any better
4  Sahara Sky  only true deep closer in the field and Hollendorfer trained......and with a jock in Rafael Bejarano who is outstanding timing his move with late running sprinters
5  San Onofre  hard to argue with 4 wins and 2 2nd's in 6 lifetime starts.....and a hot work tab
race 6 Â Â average clarity
11  Ultimate Luck  lone race run last Sept. was decent which was run in a sprint at Dmr.......1st on conventional dirt today but training at LA as if that will be a good thing in his 2nd lifetime start.......very unusual for O'Neill to finish up a preparatory work series with 4 straight gate drills and good ones at thatÂ
6  Oil  Miller just claimed and it appears to be a good one as he comes out of an extremely fast heat of bottom level claimers........the time run fits here and it is likely that Miller will get the his new shooter to move forward
4  Rule He Will  Glatt picks up an invading GG four year old comes off a strong race.....danger city
3  The Last Express  2nd time starter for the hot R Baltas......rider is 3 of his last 5 for the trainer......highly likely to move forward
race 7 Â Â below average clarity
8  Kiss At Midnight  believe this Miller runner is a "healthy" drop down.......Miller and company were most likely lured by the restricted to three year old filly (only) $25K claiming race condition.....fits very well here is his filly is in good relative health
10  Private Terrace  blinkers on and now training like a different race horse.....as in a vastly better one.......horses are up and down all the time in restricted three year old claimers.......believe it is up hereÂ
9  Party Rock  seems like a logical drop for this Baffert filly who has had a tough 2015
2  Erte  last two races fit fine and that is hidden to some degree.......not out of this by any means
race 8 Â Â above average clarity
6  Go West Marie  very solid on the majestic Santa Anita grass course (5 2 0 3).....blocked a very long time in her last and still won a State-bred Stakes race......two reassuring maintenance 6F works sine....feels good
8  Heavens Stairway  5 for 7 on the SA hill and 3 for 3 for T C Baze.....average trainer (these days) in Marty Jones but not down the hill where he continues to be very dangerous
2  Home Journey  best early speed will try to hang on and hold off the Calvary charge
5  Blingismything  seems more suited to 2 turn grass races.....but.....she is one for one down the hill
race 9Â Â average clarity
8  Hit a Homerun  solid mdn3oK debut triple 2 weeks ago......and a 4F drill since.......that suggests this Miyadi colt has held form and might even move forward and a blast a home run today
2  Fexible  takes that ever dangerous drop from MSW racing to maiden claiming and gets Bejarano to ride for the 1st time
6  Keegers  last was decent.....moved forward in 2nd lifetime race.....bodes well for 2nd out after a layoff today
11  Upbeat Tempo  best ever and a strong fit here is lone 6F SA race which was run in late Jan........fits big if we see that effort today
4  Spike the Punch  Grayson 1st timer seems ready and best be because there are some proven runners in here
7  Hired Gun  O'Neill 1st timer also seems ready and best be because there are some proven runners in here