Santa Anita for Sunday 3 May 2015
Not the best of cards for a Sunday. Be back with you on Thursday following a much needed break.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
6  Norastone  drop makes sense as it's only one notch below where Mulhall claimed.......needed last and she was entered over her head.......believe a total gimme/go situation
4  J and S Express  back where claimed 3 back.......drop back in claiming price makes sense to me......decent distance for the eight year old mare who is fairly consistent
3  Monstro Ness  obvious physical problems but likely has a race left in her for the barn to step up one notch
race 2 Â Â below average clarity (very difficult)
2  Larocco   wide open race so I placed the most consistent runner on top...........and the jock knows this filly well........rider/trainer have hit the board in their last 8 as a team over the last 2 months
6  Prettyhotprincess  might clear which would be a plus.........but.......can rate if need be
4  Myntz Connections  away 23 months but drops and his decent works hint this isn't a tune-up
race 3 Â Â below average clarity
3  Half Past Midnight  trainer has been very dangerous this year with 2nd time starters.........and her debut wasn't bad.......and the work tab since is improved........rather sure we will see more today......to what degree is the ? mark
5  Gentle Humor  mom has yet to produce a winner with 3 starters but the works suggest  this Mandella runner has some ability and might be meant and ready for her debut
2  Never Ends  fell way off in last.....needs a rebound to anyone of her previous 3 efforts
7  Two Steps  broke poorly and ran wide in an eventful MSW debut down the hill.....fits fine if she settles down in 2nd lifetime start and handles the dirt
Long-shot consideration:    4  Moyo Honey  trainer historically wins with very few MSW 1sters......but this one is working too well to totally ignore as I usually do for the trainer with 1st timers
race 4 Â Â below average clarity
5  Unusually Green   this fellow is best (and quite good) on the SA grass and when not wearing blinkers (3 0 2 1)........re-freshened with a nice work regiment........and gets 1st time Bejarano.........seems likely to be one of the major players here
7  Lindante  tough trip in last hides a good effort on the SA grass.....very sharp in the a.m. since........would easily have made him top choice if I wasn't concerned that 1 1/8th might not be his best distance
3  Turn On Pumps  efforts sure fit but he needs to overcome a tendency to hang in the stretch
4  Durango Flyer  runs OK with ample time between start.......needs very best......recent strong 6F work hints he might produce it
race 5 Â above average clarity
9  Pocketfullofgreen  improving one small step at a time.......good speed in this spot unless one of the 1st timers shows some.......like the switch to Baze who is 3 for his last 6 for the trainer.....gate to wire shot
4  Jazzed  decent mc debut on April 10th.......and 15 furlongs of work since including a 6F work just 3 days ago.......Hendricks means business
5  Zeekid  Periban has won with 3 of his last 10 maiden claiming 1sters.......and the works hint he has this one ready......not at all impossible
6  Charlotte  16 to 1 in 2nd lifetime start which was off of a layoff.....improved work since.....move forward seems likely
race 6 Â Â average clarity
5  Persuasive Paul  lifetime best by far was run 3 back at today's 1 1/8th turf distance......overcame a wide brutal trip to win.........will be very tough here with 90% of that effort and with just an OK trip
3  Sizzlin' Joe  by far at his best at 1 1/8th on the sod (5 2 0 2)......(19 2 1 3) at other turf distances...........should be motoring late
9  Ezio  both lifetime 1 1/8th turf races are quite solid ......would have rated higher if a wasn't a little leery by the weak work regiment since he was claimed
6  Indian Nate  might snatch a soft lead and steal the race
race 7  below  average clarity
4  My Monat   solid move forward with the blinkers taken off in her latest......bullet work since.......more might occur today and if it does she is the one to beat
5  Honey Ride  good history in routes at SA........ran 4th in a Grade 1 at SA last year.......solid work regiment and handles ample time between starts
1  Valiant Emilia   not much on the grass.....so......last likely was a turf tightener....full go today on the dirt....trainer could use a win.....hard not to root for nice guy Gary Mandella
race 8 Â Â average clarity
2  Spanish Queen  impressive in both lifetime races.......can sit in a nice mid pack ground saving position just as she did in her latest.....recent drills hint she has never been sharper
6  Prize Exhibit  not the best of trips in last and prior to that had a brutal trip and still somehow she still  managed to win........seems like a ton if Mike Smith can get her to settle down to get a smoother trip
10  Singing Kitty  has out run her odds in all three lifetime grass races.....and today she gets a solid rider upgrade .......two recent nice works on the grass hints she has held form
9  Spirit of Xian  solid wire to wire Grade 3 win in last......sharp works since......and she doesn't necessarily need the lead to win
8  Entrechat  beaten by the 2 and the 9 in her last....but it was her 1st at a route and the race likely has built up her endurance......might turn the tables
5  Sharla Ray  best of the rest.....doubt a winner.......small piece of the pie is more likely