Santa Anita for Saturday 31 December 2016
Rain is likely coming. Like Friday I hope it doesn't mess with the racing surfaces too much. Be back with you Sunday and Monday.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â below average clarity Â
(if taken off the turf  12-1-3-6-9-10)
7  Scarlet Honey  consistent French invader can handle a grass course with some give to it and seems to be working well enough to be ready......Powell is an impressive 2 for his last 6 with overseas invaders
2  Place des Vosges  last 5 outside of the goofy KD turf course fit fine here......decent pedigree for a good turf course
1  Always Believe  poor trip in her 1st on the grass hides that she likes it.....1st long today and the work regiment put into her suggests she is more than ready for the challenge........and one of Sadler's better stats is 1st at a route as in 21 for his last 100
3 Â Shazara
race 2 Â Â average clarity
1  Good N Naughty   her lastest which was her 2nd lifetime start with Lindsay aboard is very solid vs. this group......Bejarano is aboard today.....still needs to prove herself at SA as her debut at SA was dull
4  Sly Humor  takes the plunge from MSW racing down to mdn 30K for Callaghan.....1st ever on the SA dirt but SA has been her home and she owns some decent works on its surface
9  Sassy Rose  last isn't bad but what we want is her effort two races back......we likely have a decent chance of seeing it as it was her lone race at SA
2 Â Gogoula
Long-shot consideration:  3  Ministers Curl  unimpressive works.....but......Chew can show very little with a MC 1ster and still pop......4 wins with his last 13 MC 1st starters......dangerous
race 3 Â Â average clarity
3  St. Joe Bay  ultra impressive in his latest which was his 1st ever at today's 6 1/2F......deserving of a shot in a Graded race.....trainer can do no wrong the last couple of months
4  Navy Hymn  scratched out of a $300K Grade 1 race on opening day for this spot......5 for 7 at Santa Anita......seems like the speed of the speed.......won his only lifetime effort at 6 1/2F quite easily
5  Jimmy Bouncer  not muck of a worker so his last two "decent" 4F works catch me eye more than they normally would......2 for 2 at SA......dangerous sort
race 4 Â Â average clarity
(if taken off the turf  6-2-5-3)
4  Aries  both races run in the good old U S of A are very strong and today's rider Rosario was aboard for both of them.....and if the rain softens the sod some I doubt that it will bother this German bred filly
3  Frenzified  seems better suited for today's shorter distance and like our top choice this filly should handle a turf course with some give to it
6  Ryans Charm  not too shabby 1st run in the States at 51 to 1 in the BCFMTrf........beat 7 of 12 foes........might be rated too low if she builds on the effort......she sure was extremely consistent in Peru
2 Â Keri Belle
race 5 Â Â average clarity
9  Rockantharos  obviously has some physical problems but her last fits and her a.m. work since suggests she will bring even more today.....and her trainer Peter Miller has been firing on all cylinders
5  Darling Darling   suspicious drop in last but she ran just fine and the effort is disguised some.......broke slow and made a rail bid on a day the wood was dull.......sharp improved drill since.....not out of this by any means
7  Amazing Lady  yet another who might have some physical problems but Truman seldom wastes Bejarano's time with a horse not capable on winning.....dangerous
10 Â Yavrig
race 6 Â Â average clarity
3  Sonneteer  very solid effort in his latest on a "good" track at Del Mar.......and he has even worked on a good track since.......believe repeat of his last makes him the one to overcome and with moisture in the racing surface likely for today I like his chances
10  Irap  repeat of his last obviously fits very well in this spot.....but not the best of posts and 1st on an off surface (most likely)......and shows only one work since Nov 12th.....still with all that.......very dangerous
2  Sunrise Sunset  bet hard in MSW debut and ran a solid effort but was compromised by a tough trip.......bred fine for a route but 1st at a route is not one of Hess's strong points.....still hard not to like
12 Â Sheer Flattery
Long-shot consideration  5  Leading Score  pounded in MSW debut off of strong works........continues to train like something special.......might be a "morning-glory" and often a morning-glory can run a big race when they get the front end.......so I like gun from the gate Pedroza on this colt
race 7 Â Â below average clarity
3  Indavidualist  both lifetime races are solid and he should feel good coming off a grass race of only 5F.....jock upgrade......trainer has come out firing on all cylinders so far at the new meeting......decent pedigree to handle an off track
10  Alley Boss  might feel really good coming off such easy wins in his last two.....should be in the mix from the get go.......just won on a track rated good......hard not to like
7  Paynes Prairie  race is loaded with speed and this colt who just woke up some with the addition of blinkers is capable of taking back and running well......and one good late running jock in Van Dyke is up
9 Â Blue Anchor
race 8 Â Â average clarity Â
(Grade 1 so I don't see this one being taken off of the grass)
6  Sassy Little Lila  proven on a good rated turf course and also proven at the 10 furlong distance.......and for a trainer in Brad Cox who knows how to ship in win......jock knows this filly well having been up for all 5 lifetime races
8  Queen Blossom  two for two (and going off at 16 to 1 odds in both) running "fresh"......so.......you know Motion will have her ready to rock N roll off of the extended layoff.......and like our top choice she can handle a grass course with some give to it
2  Stays in Vegas  not much speed in this race and she appears to have enough to control the front end.....training as if she has never been sharper.......good front end grass jockey up in Prat.....dangerous
7 Â Decked Out
race 9 Â Â average clarity
6  Gypsy Ju Ju  solid MC debut which is somewhat disguised......poor start in a fast heat......3 very reassuring works since.......same effort with a better start and she should be difficult for her competition to overcome
9  Jill Madden  tricky barn with 1st timers......like the work way back on 9 November at SA.......hasn't shown much since.......hmmmm......likely so as not to get claimed..... and..... get a good price for today's debut.....mom has tossed 5 winners from 6 to start and one was Stakes winner
11  Fair Escape  out for air in her last to put some doubt in the minds of the claiming vultures.......as this is her 1st ever up for a tag......and my guess is her best ever......we shall see
12 Â Lucky Dolly
4 Â Very Hot
3 Â Crowded Way