Santa Anita for Thursday 7 January 2016
Plenty of F & M races many of which are low level races - an off track and an off track that might not stay the same throughout the day as the storms come and go - fairly large fields for an off track day as SA smartly eliminated the turf races that were in the condition book = one wild card for the pick 6 syndicates to cover with their spread out tickets.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
5  Sweet Invention   seems like an OK claim by Sadler and company of a filly who didn't receive the best of trips yet was able to salvage a 3rd place finish.......same effort+ decent pedigree to handle the off track + better trip = top pick
4  Adrian's Girl  1st starter is training as if he is ready to roll and owns decent breeding to take to an off track
1  Patience Lady  nice win (but disqualified to 2nd) in her 2nd lifetime start and 1st with the blinkers......two solid works since......smartly steps up a couple of MC levels........another with a decent pedigree for the goo
race 2 Â Â average clarity
3  Howdy  strong 2nd especially considering this colt produced it off of a 7 1/2 month hiatus from the game........reassuring 4F work since.......last fits and might move forward 2nd out following the extended break
7  Toledo Eddie  consistent sort is 4 for 8 at SA and 1 for 1 on an off track and it was run at SA........jock will likely try to clear all or most of the field by turn 1 and return with clean silks
1  Wings of Mojave  flashed some strong sprint speed in his lone off track adventure and it was at  SA.......Pedroza will likely try to get loose and wire with this inconsistent but dangerous competitor
5 Â It Is Living Water
race 3 Â Â average clarity
8  Darling Water  SCRATCHED OUT blinkers on for today and assuming her last two (very strong for this lowly level) works were run with the blinkers on then a rebound in form should occur this afternoon.........if of course........ she handles to off track
7  Miz Graycee  nice race off of the year layoff and like our top selection this filly is training exceptionally well for the F & M mdn20K level
1  Bolt Up  did blow an easy lead to run 2nd in her latest which was her 1st out following the Wong claim.......but........ might move forward this afternoon as Wong has popped with 5 of his last 11 2nd out following a claim
6 Â Appealing Lady
race 4 Â Â average clarity
1  Touched by Autism   on the improve with each and every racing endeavor on the AW at GG including a solid 1st ever at a route in latest.......decent pedigree to run on the conventional dirt and trains on conventional dirt at Pln......and Bejarano and his agent see fit to take the mount
8  And Then Some  smartly steps back into a protected MSW affair following a 2nd in a route open MC50K affair........best ever was on a good rated track at SA and the effort is disguised by about 4 lengths of trip trouble
3  Wondering Ways  SCRATCHED OUT36 to 1 suggests his MSW debut was a tune-up.......like his pedigree (especially for a Cal-bred) to handle a route and an off track......Kruljack is more than capable at popping at a price and might here
7 Â Sammy Wonder Stone
race 5 Â average clarity
7  Audra  woke-up with the addition of blinkers to break her maiden in her last.....claimed by O'Neil and he makes a rider upgrade to Bejarno......another with an OK pedigree to cope with the off going.......sharp bullet 3F work just 4 days ago
1  Ponder Lea  on the improve with every start with her latest being better than par for the level......same level today.......OK off track pedigree.......trainer Richard Baltas has won with 35% of his last "beaten favorites" which is the case today
3  West Mid   very low % trainer in John Cortez but he sure seems to have a handle on this five-year old mare......been away for 2 months but she is working as if she appreciated the break........last fits and 4 lbs less to carry today
5 Â Just Got Lucky
race 6 Â average clarity
1  Amberella  impressive forward move 1st at a route in latest running wide on the 1st turn up on the pace........and it is reassuring that she won her only lifetime race at SA by 7 1/4 lengths.......sure seems tough here is she takes to the goo
8  Bayonet  strong win in last but obviously has her problems as she was a voided claim.....but then again Eurton gives her plenty of time to recover and that might give her a shot to make 3 straight visits to the winners circle in a row
4  Backintheacademy   SCRATCHED OUT   did not get in from the AE list on the 19th and the 30th of December....both races were allowance races......16K today.........hmmm
3 Â Vegas Bound
race 7 Â Â below average clarity
6  Awesome Luck  back to Raffy who owns the lone win on this mare who seems at her best at SA and appreciates sprint race longer than 6F which isn't the case for many a Cal-bred sprinter.....and her off track pedigree is outstanding
1  Zuzu's Petals  six year old mare seems to be on a rebound of sorts since claimed by Koriner 5 races back.......rider upgrade for today and her last fits decently.......only raced 20 days ago and was still able to put in a sharp 4F work at LA
11  Behest   easy win vs. softer in last was a weak adjusted for trouble fig.......but......her debut also vs. easier was not.......and the bad trip impressive win was run at SA.......trainer/rider the last 2 months: 4 for 12 win with 6 others in the money........yikes
4 Â Desert Thief
Long-shot consideration:  7  Parasail   might not care for Dmr as her two races at the other two S Cal tracks (one of which was SA) fit and the two races at Del Mar do not.......very dangerous if that is the case
race  8   below average clarity
9  Mybabykim  our top selection in her last and our comment that day also applies for today "often when a trainer (especially a Hall of Fame trainer in Hollendorfer) agrees to take over a cheap claimer they do so under an agreement with the owners to place the horse where he has a very strong chance of winning.......that appears to be the scenario here"
10  Warrensdollarsigns  Knapp is off to a good start at the meeting........his mare seems at her best on the SA dirt track.......last two endeavors at 6 1/2F are better than appear in print
7  Melanie Rose   trainer is often at his best 1st out following a claim and that is the case here........1st ever at 6 1/2F but I believe it will be a good fit as she finishes up well at 6F......her ability to handle the off track is a tough call
4 Â Racing for Chasen
5 Â Fiesta Express
6 Â I'm No Patsy