Santa Anita for Saturday 11 February 2017
Plenty of rain last night. The racing surface might be in drying out mode so pay attention to any bias that might develop. Hope they stay on the turf but I wouldn't bank on it. Be back with you Sunday.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
(if the races are taken off of the turf: Â 6-2-5-7-1)
1  Fritz Johansen  2 mounts for Desormeaux led to the only 2 wins in 2016/17 for this gelding......trainer is hot and "Fritz" appears to be in good form.....good post to work a a decent trip
6  Force  work tab screams ready for his U S of A debut.....and his trainer Ed Freeman is 1 for his last 2 with Euro shippers in their 1st start in USA.......a grass course with some give in it shouldn't hurt him and it might for quite a few in here
3  Brandothebartender  does lose Dersormeaux to our top selection but gets Prat.......consistently tries hard and just ran a lifetime best in latest........and the grass was rated "good" that day
2 Â Indygo Holiday
race 2 Â Â average clarity
6  Individual Design  seemingly needs to run outside of horses to run well.....so I like her chances in a small field as the loss of ground won't cost her as much as it would in a sizable field......and she handles an off surface
1  Allthatnmore  trainer has a solid win percentage with limited starters........seems like a good spot 1st out following the claim as the one post has been dynamite in dirt routes at the meeting and........ especially with horses that sit one or two early as this mare should be able to do
3  Veronica Bay  nice to see a trainer that often struggles sitting on a 15% win % for 2016/17.......and lookout here with the multi- level drop in claiming as Polanco has scored with 3 of his last 8 with such a move
race 3 Â Â average clarity
6  Loud Stalker  just fired lifetime best in his 1st ever on an off track......that race and the cut back in distance make him the one to overcome in my eyes......but......I am concerned that he was gelded and makes an equipment change for today......obviously it might improve him but then again it might hurt his chances..... and......I am only hoping for a repeat of his last
3  First Class Boy  big wake up in last 1st ever on an off track in a race that appears to have been a gimme as he had no business racing in a MSW affair......back where he belongs and with a major league rider upgrade.....dangerous sort especially if the track is off again
2  That's How We Roll  best that can be said about his maiden debut is "useful" .........as his a.m. work since hint that he really benefited from the race......looking for a move forward........will it be enough.........we shall see
5 Â Never Doubt Dip
race 4 Â Â average clarity
6  Vale Dori  stout multi Grade race winner keeps catching soft Grade 2 fields in S Cal making life easy for Mike Smith........needs to slip some or have a bad trip not to win her 3rd straight Grade 2 race
1  Midnight Toast  2 for 2 on an off track and she likely feels good following and easy paced wire to wire win in her latest........recent best of 48 five furlong drill supports the notion
5  Show Stealer  connections will have their fingers and toes crossed hoping that the 1 and the 6 horse bang heads early and often setting a brutal set of fractions.......might be closing fast if that occurs
race 5 Â Â average clarity
Grade 2 so the race should stay on the grass
5  Conquest Enforcer  very powerful Grade 2 one mile grass win running for the 1st time in the D'Amato barn.......solid works since and top jock in Prat sticks around......Prat will likely let the 3 horse have the lead putting him a perfect stalk position......should be tough
2  Ring Weekend  consistent off pace grass runner appreciates some give to the turf......not impossible if he gets more pace up front than I anticipate.......rider upgrade
4  Ohio  seems best racing at one mile on the sod.....still........he will likely need his lifetime best today to take down this Grade 2 affair
race 6 Â above average clarity
6  Over Achiever  bad claim so the multi-level drop makes sense...... and..... Prat doesn't jump ship........should be on or close to the lead..............best back to back preparatory works in quite some time
3  Willing to Travel  repeat of his latest his 1st ever on conventional dirt would put him in the winners circle once again......but.......his claim was voided as he looked rather beat up following the effort......can he recover.....we shall see
5  Midnight Rambler  hasn't raced since August but he has a decent history racing fresh off of the bench.......ice cold rider.....ice cold trainer......they might melt the ice here if this gelding (not eligible to be claimed) is ready to roll
7 Â Roaring Rule
race 7 Â Â average clarity
5  Last One Standing   good history when Pena rides (6 2 3 0 1).......appreciates contact with the front end of things and seems likely to get that here......four year old was just claimed by O'Neill who could use a win
2  Lilly's Finale  last three races fit fine at today's lower level and his latest on an off track is quite a bit better than appears in print.....as in wide on a solid rail day following a slightly tardy start
6  Celebrated Talent  Miller is 27% 1st following a claim with his last 180.....yikes......last race fits.......handles an off surface just fine........retains Bejarano........seems highly likely to be a player here
1 Â Pray Hard
race 8 Â Â average clarity
7  Kimbear  only dirt race albeit over at Lrc stands out as his lifetime best and the effort is disguised by about 6 1/2 lengths of trip trouble.....doubt the SA surface will hurt as he has always trained impressively on it.......should be motoring late
9  Aristocratic  both lifetime races (and his latest being on an off track) fit fine for this expensive younster......and today he gets a major rider upgrade from one who is struggling in Garcia to Mr Bejarano
8  Psychedelicat  13 to 1 odds in his MSW debut over at Lrc suggests Hollendorfer didn't have him fully cranked up yet he ran a decent 3rd.......Smith jumps aboard for the first time hinting he might be fully fit for his 2nd lifetime endeavor
5 Â The Party Factor
race 9 Â Â average clarity
(if the races are taken off of the turf: Â 1-6-7-8-4)
4  Fortune of War  blinkers on.....1st time on Lasix........good looking work tab......and some decent looking races in Great Britain.......believe Eric Kruljac has his new shooter ready to roll in his U S of A debut
1  Troublewithatee  just fired lifetime best (par-like fig) and at today's distance but on the dirt.....1st on the turf but owns a pedigree that should handle it......two wins for Talamo yesterday is reassuring as he has been off to a somewhat dull start at the meeting
8 Â Ritzy A. P. Â solid race down the hill in his MSW debut.......and his trainer Dan Blacker has won 3 off his last 5 2nd time on the grass with a given horse.......impressive
6 Â Calle Kingpin
7 Â Kitten's Royal