Santa Anita for Friday 1 May 2015
Santa Anita selections for Saturday will be posted sometime on Friday night as I know many of you leave for the track or OTB early on Saturday morning.
For those of you planning on purchasing our special ($33.95) full card selections for Churchill Downs on Derby Day, May 2nd please don't procrastinate as logistically it makes in easier on yours truly setting up the emails that will be sent at about 6 p.m. central time on Friday night, May 1st. Thank you.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
1  Oil  either of his last two races fit well in this spot.......recent decent reassuring work........one of Cal's top trainers in Peter Miller to get the job done
2  Papa's Playboy  trainer has awoken in a big way out of the abyss the last couple of weeks and the works are hot for this Cal-bred dropping out of MSW racing to maiden claiming.......Gary Stute runners that have worked stoutly are firing........46:1 is a stout work
4  Ladies Man  works seem good enough (not great) for this 1ster to possible be ready to roll
race 2 Â Â average clarityÂ
5  She's a Big Winner  best turf credentials in the race and has never trainer better for Peter Eurton.........and Blanc knows this filly well having been aboard for her last 4 racesÂ
1  Avenge  on the improve since switching to the grass.......has a shot to make it 3 in a row down the hill if she can manage to move forward once again this afternoon
4  Ethan's Baby  crushed foes last summer in both lifetime races in Washington.....tries turf for new conditioner Craig Dollase.....filly has an average grass pedigree......not impossible but Dollase is only 1 for his last 22 1st on the turf
race 3 Â Â average clarity
5  Xingontothebone  Walter Solis often wins a his fair share and then some in these early MSW races for the two-year old runners.......works are decent......speed rider named.....likely ready
7  Swiss Minister  same as above with Harrington as the trainer (often wins his fair share and then some in these early MSW races for the two-year old runners.......works are decent......speed rider named.....likely ready)
8  Star Express  good results for Sherlock with his babies last couple of years as well........not crazy about the breeding or would have rated higher
1  Tumbleweedprincess  from pinhooking to training.......interesting transition.......works are decent for new conditioner
race 4 Â Â average clarity
4  Lucky Jay Lane  3 for 3 on the sod running in one mile affairs..........Richar Baltas is having the best SA meeting of his life.......good work series......the one to overcome by my book
3  Street Maven  love his last but Baze lands elsewhere.......and now he has a 2 for his last 50 on the grass jock up......still like some but not as much without the hot riding T C Baze up
6  Somethings Unusual  sprint - sprint - big 4F drill - route........dangerous scenario 3rd out after the Michael McCarthy claim
7  Horizontalyspeakin  Baze lands here.....Sadler runner is rebounding but lucked out in his last couple with gift like early pace loose on the lead......still.......dangerous somewhat as he might feel really good off of such stress-less efforts
Long-shot consideration:  5  Weewinnin  3rd out following the extended hiatus from the track........another with the sprint - sprint - route scenario.......solid works series.......won a $250K State-bred grass race 3 back which was his last at a route
race 5 Â average clarity
5  Book Thirty Four  both lifetime dirt route races fit.......gets back to the main track today following a clunker trying out the sod for the 1st time....toss it out totally as his pedigree for it is poor
4  Stormin Trick  improving both in final time and early speed.......1st at a route today but very well prepared in the a.m. for one......highly likely to be loose here and will have to be caught
3  Fight Thru  Miller (who is not afraid to lose a horse as most trainers are) must have liked what he saw in her layoff last to step up into MSW racing.....move forward seems likely
2  Over Par   two useful sprints one of which was on the sod.....might be dangerous 1st in a turf route in 3rd lifetime endeavor
race 6 Â Â below average clarity
1  Warren's Goldenugget  vastly improved since the blinkers were removed 3 races back........given a small break and freshened up with a decent work series and draws T C Baze for the 1st time
7  Carrick Bay  faces slightly easier this afternoon.........in fact the last time she was in a 25K nw2 she just missed at the wire in a one mile grass
2  Nicegirlsfnishlast  pulled up - walked off - trainer is dyniamte 1st time up for a tag with grass runners......hmmmm
4  Mango Reward  ran so much her best the only time this mare was loose on the lead.....truf sprint in last to help her speed and a good speed work since.......might get the front end......danger city if that occurs
race 7 Â Â below average clarity
8  The Cleaners  laid up fresh speed with a decent post to size up the field.......clear......and try to go gate to wire........seems more than ready with a solid work regiment......the negative is that he best get the front end as he has been a lead type only so far in 11 lifetime races
6  Endless Cruise  5 of 6 lifetime SA dirt races fit in this spot......definitely has some health issues to deal with but if Spawr can get another decent race out of this fragile gelding he should be a major player here
2  Surf N Ski  last two races fit......not the healthiest mare when you examine her running lines.....but....... might still feel good 2nd out after the layoff and only her 3rd race since 4 Jan 2014Â
3  Celtic Moon  clunker in last.....drops.......needs a rebound.....solid if he provides one.....tough call
race 8 Â Â below average clarity
3  Morning Coffee  not my favorite grass rider but this girl's form is good and she just popped a strong (esp. for the level) 5/8ths 58:2 bullet work.......likely siting on a big effort
6  Belle Et Bete  effort/fig earned 2 back in a turf route fits........last down the hill was poor.....but...stopped and worked back into shape.....showed she can sprint overseas in GB & Ire with 3 wins
5  Vow Me Over  not much bad to say about this filly but she loses Bejarano to Talamo who is only 9% win over his last 100 turf mounts....likable jock seems overdo to start winning at a higher rate
8  Pankhurst  lead type only likely needs to shake free from the 7 horse who doesn't necessary have to show the same early speed in his 1st ever grass raceÂ
Long-shot consideration:  1  Miz Penelope  improved in last to break her maiden.......and galloped out nicely with today's rider Valdez up........toss out route grass race two back......dislikes two turn racing.......race down the hill prior to that was funky looking ride........improved works of late.......should be a big priceÂ
race 9Â Â average clarity
2  Secure Dividend   key last race as 2nd and 3rd came back in their next start to break their maiden convincingly.......this fellow ran 4th.....his turn today.......major league rider upgrade.......sharp recent drill........all systems go
4  Hit a Homerun  good par like effort in his maiden claiming debut......Myadi is having a solid SA meetings especially with his maidens.....stout here with a logical forward move
7  The Gold Monkey  away for 10 months but training fairly well......2nd lifetime fits........needs that effort and maybe a little moreÂ
1  Win Wish  rebounded some in latest.....still likely needs more today like his effort run 3 back
3  Illybilly Boy  only one lifetime race fits and that effort was run in Jan 2014.....but......trainer can be tricky and the recent works hint a strong race might occur
8  Conspirator  eased in debut off of decent works......set up to drop and go? ......have my doubts but it wouldn't be the 1st time an ugly winner left the players shaking their heads