Santa Anita for Saturday 9 January 2016
Decent card today at Santa Anita. Let's call it a 7 on the 1 to 10 scale. California Chrome appears to be a free square single if you are playing the pick 6.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
7  Pageant Material  only one of two runners in the field who is proven in a dirt route......hot trainer and a hot jock too.......blinkers on to help focus......shot at graduation day this afternoon
4  Shakti  here is the other filly who is proven long on the dirt......does tend to flatten a little in the late stages.......works seem to be improved lately hinting she might provide a little bit more in the late stages when push comes to shove
2  That's A Lady  poor in latest routing on the grass......debut 2 back also routing on the grass is decent and hidden by a poor trip.......1st on the dirt today with a pedigree that is OK for it
1 Â Moon Full Of Gold
race 2Â Â average clarity
5  Courageous Dave  claimed by Baltas 8 weeks ago and the now firmly established in the S Cal trainer adds blinkers and has put in copious drills into his new shooter.......lifetime best and a fit here was his lone race at SA.....believe that or better has a decent chance of occurring today
3  Loyalist  impressive 2nd start lifetime win getting squeezed back at the start and overcoming a total lack of pace up front to close and win from dead last albeit in only a field of 4........nice works since.......sure seems like a player in this spot
4  Classico  nicely improved in his latest dropping down to the maiden 30K level.......and it seems like a good sign that O'Neill steps him into a spot he can't be claimed and gets Bejarano and his agent to stick with his colt.....needs only a small forward move and the signs are there that he might provide it
2 Â Redneck Crazy
race 3Â Â average clarity
5  Acceptance  both lifetime sprints are very strong winning efforts......both were run at SA.......and one was on the lead and the other off the pace.......hard not to like
2  Lieutenant Colonel  laid up colt and 1st time under the guidance of Jerry H. is working as if he is totally ready to rock and roll off of a very solid work regiment.......trainer/rider are 4 for 8 over the last couple months as a team
4  Mischief Clem  so much at his best on the SA dirt.......off pace runner when sprinting seemingly gets what he needs as in plenty of speed types signed up for the race
7 Â Rock Shandy
race 4Â Â average clarity
3  Rim Nick  useful looking MSW debut.....drills since suggest he benefited from the race.......cut back of one furlong seems like a plus.......retains top gun at the meeting to date in Bejarano (what's new?)....should be in the hunt from the get go
11  Triple Clown  tough post unless you have an abundance of quarter-mile speed which this colt has......Miller/speed type and only 5 1/2 furlongs to stick......should be a major player especially with Gonzo on his back
5  Opportunistic  solid work regiment and the fact Smith is up for Hollendorfer hint this fellow is ready for his debut into the wonderful world of thoroughbred racing
7 Â Cupid
race 5Â Â average clarity
5  John's Success  smart claim by D'Amato and company as this four year old is eligible for today's Alw40,000s level.....rider upgrade to Bejarano........like his pedigree for the dirt more than the turf
7  All Star Parade  solid work regiment for the McAnally colt who was very impressive when last seen on Nov. 20th both final time wise and pace wise......lone win came on the SA dirt..........should be a major player from the opening bell
3  Broken Up  very hard to count on the trainer these days but this fellow fits fine if he can manage to repeat his latest effort
6 Â Big Tire
race 6Â Â average clarity
2  Dressed In Hermes  SCRATCHED OUT   ultra impressive grass runner is training on the dirt (and ran OK on it in MSW debut) as if the transition won't be a problem....and if that is so he is the one to overcome here......Mike Smith wisely sticks around
6  Lauban  still a maiden but ran a very impressive race at Lrc in his last setting a blistering pace and doing it on a dull rail .......did well to hang on for 2nd.......solid in the a.m. since.......only seems to have to shake off our 4th choice (to get the lead) who has to cope with the outer-most 9 post
7  I'malreadythere  out ran his odds in his last two.......rider upgrade to the meetings leading jock......dangerous especially considering he is a three yr old out of the Hollendorfer barn
9 Â Collected
Long-shot consideration:  8  Sorryaboutnothing  big effort two back and the race is disguised by a bad trip.....blinkers on today to help settle down and sit closer.....not impossible at a big price
race 7 Â Â average clarity
3  Ground Rules  has fired good efforts all three times he has been in fast rated routes dirt races..........both lifetime races at SA fit fine .....trainer considered and passed on a $200K Stakes on opening day........1st time Mike Smith
5  Rockport Kat  Baltas should have very ready fresh as this gelding needs ample time between races.....so it is wise not to waste any starts.....right up the stout trainer's alley
6  Follow Me Crew  last three races routing on the dirt fit quite well here........seems to respond to Quinonez very well including a powerful 5L win at Lrc in 135:1 in his latest......not out of this by any means
2 Â Motown Men
Long-shot consideration:  10  Little Jerry  Baltas knows this fellow well having him for a very long time so the equipment change of blinkers off seems significant........as does the fact Baltas has had him ready fresh off of the bench in the past......and last but not least he is working up a storm in the mornings
race 8 Â above average clarity
4  California Chrome  hard to fine very many efforts that would lose this race especially at his favorite track which happens to be Santa Anita.......should be ton
8  Imperative  scratched yesterday out of an easy spot for today's race......has steadily improved for Baltas since he took over the training duties.......and he continues to train impressively.....dangerous if the "Chrome" has a bad day
5  Hoppertunity  2nd best overall credentials in the race but he carries 2 more lbs than the heavy favorite......will need lifetime best or the top choice to have an off day
3 Â Point Piper
race 9 Â Â average clarity
6  Justonemorething  consistent sort likes the distance and the track.......and ran his lifetime best 3rd out after a 5 month layoff ......3rd out after a 2 month layoff is not quite the same but will do
5  Sir Barclay   Knapp is hot and he just claimed this five-year old gelding who is 3 for 7 at the distance........dangerous
4  Love De Car  nicely improved since the blinkers were taken off and/or Gonzo took over the riding duties........drop bothers me some but not too much
3 Â Half Dome Dude
2 Â Shame On Alex
1 Â Gotta Get Paid