Santa Anita for Saturday 27 February 2016
NOTE:  On Tuesday we will post our racing calendar for 2016 which is slightly different from past years. We will also put up a tentative list of our special publications for 2016. Highlighted of course by Kentucky Derby day at Churchill where our results have been good to stellar for the past 5 years.
Decent card this afternoon. Be back with you n Sunday.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
2  Classico  best ever (two back) and disguised by a semi-tough trip was his lone race run at today's distance of 6 1/2F......should sit in a nice stalk position with the meets top gun in the saddle
3  Nusret  never better and placed well to win.......hot rider/trainer combo of late........most likely to snatch the lead........definitely appears to be a "force" in this race
6  Nicaradalic  best of the late runners........positive rider change to brother Desormeaux.......very subtle improved work last week.........rather sure moves forward today
race 2 Â Â average clarity
1  Ashley's Sassy  nice sprint turf tune-up for today's turf route and a rider upgrade especially on the grass.........seems highly likely to get a nice mid pack ground saving position.......Eurton continues to be one of the more reliable S Cal trainers around these days
3  Kiss At Midnight  last two wins over a seven race span were the only two times this filly raced vs. non-Stakes competiton.......not a Stakes race here........1st on the sod but owns some turf blood......and Richard Baltas is as stout as anyone in S Cal 1st on the lawn
2 Â Dressed to a T Â hard to argue with 2 wins and one 2nd in three lifetime races all grass routes.......still........she likely will need her lifetime best today.......the fact she has been a smooth looking runner to date is always a plus especially for someone a little short fig wise
8 Â Bert's Melody
race 3 Â Â below average clarity
5  Journey by Sea  SCRATCHED OUT   like the 6F endurance building drill put in by Baffert for a speed horse who flattened out in his last after setting a decent 1/4 & 1/2......combine that with a cut back of 1/2F...... and presto......you get a top pick
2  Indavidualist  sure seems ready to roll off of a bullet best of 93 5F work to finish off his a.m. preparation........Mulhall is rather poor with 1st timers but this one is working well enough to break the mold
1  Steady Jack  Sherman 1ster is also training as if he is meant and ready to roll in his debut......showing hints of some early gas in his a.m. work and look who Sherman gets to ride......Maldonado
race 4 Â Â average clarity
5  Adair  all three lifetime races are better than par when you take into account the bad trips this colt has had.......due for a good one and still might win with a bad one unless of course he picks today to go off of form.....doubt he will with D'Amato as the trainer
2  Profound Visionary  last was OK but what we want is his effort 2 back but with a better trip........was wide on a rail bias up on the pace in that effort 2 back......Kruljac is often at his most dangerous 3rd out after a layoff which is the case today
7  Jury Dodger  away almost 15 months but drops from MSW racing to MC 20K for 2nd lifetime start......went off favorite in that MSW debut which is saying something for a Kory Owens 1ster in S Cal.......mom has tossed 5 winners from 7 starters and might make it 6 here
9 Â Rock 'n On Home
race 5 Â Â average clarity
3  Tripski  talk about losing all respect for an East Coast trainer I have always liked and found dependable.......can't remember anything anywhere with any trainer like he is doing with his claims........that said here we go again.....drops 5 claiming levels to the bottom.......what's new?
5  Bluegrass Sight  Hess is doing his Jacobson imitation.....claimed for 16K.....drops to 8K 7 weeks later.....maybe it's contagious.......S Cal racing at it's best
11  Red N Black Attack  better on conventional dirt so it might be a sharp claim by Martin who happens to be dynamite 1st off of a claim trainer......would have rated higher if he had drawn a better post for a mid pack runner
9 Â Love de Car
Long-shot consideration:  8 Sidepocket Champ  best at SA and his last 3 6F sprints fit OK and he didn't get the best of trips in all three.......yes the trainer has a dismal overall record but not when he drops a given horse multiple levels.......a win and a 2nd in his last three with such a move
race 6 Â Â above average clarity
7  Forest Chatter  5 for 5 down the SA hill and all with M Smith aboard........has been successful from off of the pace or on the pace in those hill races.......rare versitiltiy down the hill thus giving Smith options
9  Alert Bay  fig/effort wise this gelding owns the best figs in this affair when producing his best.......question is.......is his chances of running his best down the hill......lone race down it isn't bad but likely needs a little more to beat our top pick if he runs his race........sure like the shorter work put in by his trainer......a nice 5F bullet at GG
5  Lucky J Lane  by far at his best on very firm turf and the turf was very firm yesterday..........needed layoff last.......more seems very likely today.....smart speed work put in by Baltas in preparation for today's 1st ever down the SA hill
10 Â Boozer
race 7 Â Â average clarity
7  Tannersmymuscle   SCRATCHED OUT   strong layoff race in latest breaking very poorly and running a touch wide and it was in a fast heat ..........and the works since are improved.....better seems likely today and combined with a decent trip can put this Ellis runner into the circle of joy
10  Pray Hard  SCRATCHED OUT   re-claim by Hollendorfer is usually a dangerous propositon.........bad trip two back or would have beaten better.......sat close to a brutal pace in last and rightfully tired........good shot to get a nice stalking position behind the 3 whose good health seems suspect
6  Too Fast To Pass  running lines suggest this gelding is on the decline......but......recent 3 straight bullet works don't......Sadler might have figured something out about this fellow in a big way.......we shall see
4 Â Where Y'at Joe Joe
race 8 Â Â average clarity
4  Lakia  3 for 4 at the distance and the one miss was a wide trip 3rd in her latest.......switches jocks to Gonzo who is easily the best rider on her back to date.......high percentage trainer in Wong at the helm.....should be solid here
9  Alwazabridesmaid   proven fresh as she won her debut......fresh today and with some preparatory works that suggests that it is all systems go for Hollendorfer 1st time blinkers four-year old filly
7  Madame Mousse  decent forward move turf to dirt in 2nd lifetime start to graduate........fits fine if she improves again back on the dirt which she is bred just fine for.....top gun stays up for the 3rd straight time
race 9 Â Â average clarity
6  Audacious Angel   on the right end of the learning curve and her latest is quite disguised by running wide on an inside biased day and the route race was a fast heat for the given level.......pedigree for the grass is good.....and the cut bred in distance is often a plus in these 6 1/2F grass races
2  Really a Gem  big wake-up in last albeit in the slop......but she owns a solid pedigree to handle the hill.....two reassurring works since her improved last.......trainer could use a win
11  How Unusual  50 to 1 in MSW debut in a race down the hill and she out ran her odds in a big way and that is hidden some........might not have been all that cranked up for her debut.....if that is so......lookout today
9 Â Newcome
3 Â Firelight
7 Â Blushing Bug