Santa Anita for Saturday 2 January 2016
Slightly below average card today. Let's call it a 5 of the 1 to 10 scale of things.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â below average clarity
3  Anxious Times  consistent sort on the dirt has been away since June but drops and the only time he was up for a tag he won for fun.......and you have to like Gary Stevens remaining aboard in a 25K claimer.....and it appears as if Mandella is in "drop mode"
1  Nahem  pulled up in last and walked off.....looked OK to me.....good time to drop and Hollendorfer does just that
6  Roman Tizzy  best at today's one mile distance....race sets some for his late run
7 Â A Colt Following
race 2Â Â average clarity
2  Iambic  40 to 1 in MSW at Aqu suggests Motion didn't have this youngster all that wound up for his debut and yet he ran awfully well at 1 1/16th on the grass........and the way he finished up at 1 1/16th hints the extra 1/2F will be a plus
4  Gio Mio  state-bred stepped on the grass in his last and liked the new surface........decent pedigree to get the extra furlong........barn must have appreciate what they saw as he attempts open company.....lured by the distance and/or the added money
3  Aztec Warrior  showed life in dirt MSW debut.........and has a stout grass pedigree......retains Bejarano......likely a major player
6 Â Cleanup Hitter
race 3 Â below average clarity
7  Pretty N Cool  Baffert filly has won 2 Grade 2 races already and is a perfect 3 for 3 racing at 6 1/2F or less....that'll do
3  Decked Out  sure like the work regiment since returning home from New York.......lone race at SA was a powerful debut over coming a tough trip and still winning  by 3 1/2L.....should be motoring late
6  Code Warrior  plenty of talent for sure.......done everything right going 3 for 3 lifetime on the GG AW.....1st on conventional dirt is the ? mark as is the jock
8 Â Forever Darling
race 4 Â Â average clarity
3  A Lucky Carry  brutal trip in MSW debut.....broke slow and ran wide and still her stretch run was very strong......same effort/energy with an OK trip this time around......and........the circle of joy seems likely
6  Spread the Joy  turf debut was poor......2nd lifetime start which was on the dirt was not......and the effort is somewhat disguised by a poor trip....broke slow - checked- ran slightly wide.....and like our top choice if she has remained fit and gets a better trip she is a major player
8  Dancing Sunset  solid race in 2nd lifetime start.....likely needs another forward move today......not impossible to provide it
5 Â Desperate Chick
race 5Â Â average clarity
1  Little Treasure  filly out ran her odds in both lifetime starts overseas which were run vs. the boys.......faced a combined 31 foes in those two races and only lost to 3 of them........1st at a route but bred to run all day.....Cecil is 3 for his last 11 1st time at a route
6  Evo Campo  lone lifetime win in the USA was at SA at 1 mile on the turf......draws Bejarano for the 1st time.....signals she has held her form (and may feel even better) which is decent
5  Foolish Ways  has responded well to 5 or 6 weeks between starts......so 9 weeks since her last might be a good thing.....good history with Talamo on her back
9 Â Tiz a Clasy Lass
race 6Â Â average clarity
6  All Run  3 for 3 for since Baltas took over with an average winning margin of 4 lengths......seems likely to get a nice stalk of mid pack position behind what should be a very lively pace
7  Salutos Amigos  six-year-old gelding has earned over a million bucks the last 2 years racing out East.......bad trips in last two efforts hides his stout form to some degree........6 1/2F appears to be a good fit for this late running fellow
3  Distinctive Passion  5 for 9 at SA......2 for 2 at the distance......should be on the front end as he always is......at what cost is the ? mark.....right guy for the job in Maldonado
2 Â Sam Onofre
race 7  average clarity
5  Black Tie  gelding has a decent history running off of short rest which is the case today.......best lifetime race (and hidden some by running 3 wide on a good rail day) was his last and his 1st dirt race with Lasix.......jock has struggled since losing his bug......come on Nicolas
3  Warren's Wesley  hidden awakening in last.......inside on an outside condition......does tend to hang but sure seems to appreciate 6 1 /2 furlong and gets the red-hot Gonzalez in the saddle
13  Peace Arch  massive drop is somewhat suspcious.....but I sure like that Desormeaux accepts the mount.....very dangerous drop down
8 Â Player's Charm
race 8Â Â average clarity
7  Bal a Ball  shocking to me that Mandella has put this Brazil superstar marathon runner in short two turn grass races.....at least he is going a 1 1/8th today.........should finish strong.....13 for 17 lifetime on the grass
3  Poshsky   trip horse here........seems likely to get 1st crack at our 3rd choice who should be very loose.....that makes him dangerous
8  Obviously   toss out 2 efforts in 2015 as he needs firm turf and didn't get it........obviously loose but can this one mile turf star last a 1 1/8th......tough call.......we shall see
4 Â Texas Ryano
Long-shot consideration:   9  Wanstead Gardens  3 wide / 3 wide / 4 wide and only got beat by 3L in a 3 turn Grade 2 marathon.....Stevens will be out to make amends and at a handsome price in all likelihood
race 9Â Â average clarity
5  Architop  as I stated earlier it appears to me that Mandella is in drop mode........drops this five-year old maiden who is training awfully well for the given mc level
6  Radio Silent  takes the ever dangerous drop from MSW racing to the bottom mc level......and draws the services for the 1st time of Mr Bejarano
12  Magic Moon  very wide run in last and still only was beaten 1/2L for the win.....would have been to pick if he hadn't drawn a miserable post......jock needs to get clever.....have doubts he will
1 Â Travel Bound
11 Â Alltheleavesrbrown
10 Â Where's Bubba