Santa Anita for Monday 15 February 2016
Interesting card this afternoon. Good to be back in action. Thank you for your patience.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
1  Almost Reality  should be in this race from the opening bell with the blinkers back on......almost beat the boys in latest and today she isn't facing the toughest field of her own sex
2  Stylistic  away since August of 2014 when she ran a par like effort sprinting on the dirt at Dmr.........1st on the sod but bred adequately enough for it.....more concerned about her getting the distance off of such an extended hiatus from the game.......rider is coming off a good day of riding yesterday
4  Lucy De  beat 1/2 of her foes in latest her 1st on the grass and 1st at a route......will need to build off that effort to graduate this afternoon.......trainer is struggling but the rider is not.......not impossible to win but definitely an easy horse to place as 3rd choice
race 2 Â Â Below average clarity
8  Adios Princess  drop seems somewhat logical following 4 attempts at the MSW level......should fit very well here if her health as remained intact.......rate it 60/40 in her favor that it has........Puype could use a win
1  Ghostly  debut fits but her last might not.....cut back in distance does appear to be a plus.......as does the fact Mr. Baffert is rather hot at the moment
2  Rockantharos  very suspicious drop........last was quite bad considering her debut was stellar and would absolutely crush this group......needs a rebound and not necessarily a significant oneÂ
7 Â If You Believe
race 3 Â Â average clarity
2  Moonlight Drive  French invader who has faced some good fields (especially in his last two grass races) and had decent success winds up in the Baffert barn and with 1st time Lasix......sure seems dangerous off of only a 3 month layoff
7  Rare Candy  tossed a clunker with 1st time blinkers in latest.......off as you would expected........and.........his whole career without them fits solidly here
4  Basinca  continues to train like a happy healthy individual with 1st time blinkers today.......so returning off of short rest for the 1st time in his career seems to be very doable and likely will lead to her lifetime best
5 Â It's The Ice
race 4 Â Â average clarity
2  Lieutenant Colonel  no shot whatsoever in latest.......dueled in stout pace on a dull rail........nobody survives that......training fantastically since...........should be able to get loose in this spot and with 1st time Bejarano
3  Doyouknowsomething  nice job of training by Avila since he took over the training duties of this fellow following the 27 August claim........strong layoff run in latest........impressive bullet 4F work since.......seems to be sitting on a strong effort
1  Second Summer  only route on the dirt is decent and it was run at SA at today's 1 1/16th distance.....1st time gelding today and a recent bullet 5/8ths work since.......guess the surgery was a success........should be flying come stretch time
5 Â Storm Comin Thru
race 5 Â average clarity
5  Exaggerator  never sharper in the a.m. and for a trainer that really doesn't push them too hard........should be flying in the the stretch at a distance that appears will be a very good fit
1  Nyquist   would have been top choice if he hadn't drawn the one hole......still he is not easy to place 2nd with his gaudy 5 for 5 lifetime record which includes a Grade 1 win at today's 7 furlong distance
6  Sheikh of Sheikhs   will need lifetime best........and maybe a little more.....right guy for the job in Bejarano to get the out of this Wesley Ward GP invader
race 6 Â Â average clarity
1  Boy Howdy  best set of preparatory works for a Bill Spawr 1st time starter in many a moon.........mom has tossed 2 winners from 2 starters......rather sure this Boy Howdy is a runner
4  Awesome Image  solid forward move in 2nd lifetime start which was at GG.........and vastly improved a.m. work since.......1st on conventional dirt but bred just fine for it......last fits and better seems to be in the cards for today if he takes a liking to the SA dirt
3  Cee the Preacher  showed plenty of run following a brutal start in his MSW debut last July......hurt and seemingly disliked the blinkers being put on.......away almost 1/2 year but returns as a 1st time gelding and with the blinkers taken off.........and his works scream.......meant and readyÂ
10 Â Righteous Ruler
Long-shot consideration:  7  River Hoss   set a brutal pace in MC debut and gassed himself.....went off 18 to 1 in only a 7 horse field.....likely surprised his connections.......nice bullet 3F work since....steps up and Maldonado gets the mount.......likely loose and only 5 1/2 furlongs to stick......that is a dangerous propositions as well as Maldo in riding right now
race 7 Â Â average clarity
7  Filly On Fire  in too tough in latest and did not embarrass herself........and she finished with something left looking strong galloping out........works since support the notion.......bit of a goof at times but lookout if she runs a smooth race today
5  Vocalist  exits the same 25K claimer as our top selection and actually beat her by 1/4 length.........and like top choice she looks quite dangerous with a good journey as her last 2 endeavors were not
2  Mighty Mouse  seemingly at her best turf to dirt and that is the case today.......last race on the dirt two back is vastly better than appears in print........ran 2nd running wide on a strong inside day
8 Â Flexible Ethics
race 8 Â Â average clarity
2  Butterfly Soul  wide trip in last and still managed 2nd at 2 claiming levels lower........claimed by Kruljac out of the race and he makes a monumental rider switch.......might be worth about 3 or 4 lengths of improvement.......mix that with the incentive of being ready 1st out after the claim and.......lookout
6  Little Bit Lovely  invader out of Florida seemingly fits today's level just fine and gets a good spot to utilize her early gas especially with Maldonado up......does need to avoid a high-speed duel with the only other speed in the race in the 10 horse
5  Intoxicating Move  might be a good claim by Peter Miller in that this six-year-old mare seems to be turning her form around......and I like that Miller places her up multiple levels because the crafty trainer isn't afraid to lose a given runner placing them where they can win
4 Â Doodetta
Long-shot consideration:  10  Shh She's Ours  4 total races so far........both lifetime races run "fresh" are good.....the two that are not are not good......and......they are both down the hill.......but she appears to stride nicely on the sod......so lookout today and at a price running down the hill "fresh" for the 1st time
race 9Â Â average clarity
2  Silver Chrome  exits a fast heat where snatching a distance 3rd with a somewhat bad trip wasn't all that bad......very positive rider change to Gonzalez whose agent sure gets his fanny on live mounts.....seems like a player and at a price
7  Crushing Candy  vastly improved effort in his last 1st time as a gelding........jock/trainer are an impressive 4 for their last 8 over the last couple of months as a team and with 2 others in the money
9  Ubettereconizeson  very wide trip in last and rank some.......drops.......same effort and an OK trip and the bug girl should get her 1st SA winÂ
5 Â Holiday Mousse
14 AE Â Da Brooklyn Kid
1 Â Bobby Z
10 Â Materialistic