Santa Anita for Thursday 2 March 2017
Nice to see that the weather looks dry for an extended period of time. That sure helps my confidence level when I handicap a given race card. Today's card seems fairly decent.
Best of Luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
3  Marchtothemusic   good time to drop off of a dismal looking race on paper.....but this three-year old  had little shot to strut his stuff as he broke slowly and ran way too wide .......blinkers on and just what you want to see as an improved recent work......seem tough versus these
6  First Class Boy  solid efforts in his last two races but both were on mud floated tracks.....so.......was it the off condition that moved him quite a bit forward or did he just get better......we should find out today
1  Proudtobesicilian  works hint this colt might be ready for his maiden debut......and mom has tossed an impressive 6 winners from 6 starters........might be dangerous
5 Â Silver Jester
race 2 Â Â average clarity
3  Princess Roy  on the improve which each and every grass race and her last turf race is disguised be a tough trip......she was wide following a slightly tardy start and did so close to the pace........stout work series since.......race shape seems to favor her near to the front running style.......high percentage rider/trainer combo in Nakatani and Baltas
2  How About Zero  blinkers off in last led to a strong rebound effort......like her chances if her rider uses her small touch of tactical speed to keep her fairly close to our top selection early
1  Mi Pi Romancer  a little short of our top two selections fig/effort wise.....but Prat and his turf magic with young horses sticks around to find out if Keith Desormeaux can squeeze a little more out of this filly
race 3 Â Â average clarity
1  Spicy Blonde  very solid history competing at SA especially at today's 6 furlong distance on the dirt.......and her latest is quite a bit better than appears in print........and even in print her effort was none too shabby
4  Stealth Drone  five-year old mare shows signs of hurting which includes a vet scratch for 32K on 2 Feb........but......if she is still in relatively OK health she should be dangerous at the 25K level
3  Little Bit Lovely  needs a little more pop in the late stages.......cut back of 1/2 furlong and dropping one claiming level might help provide a better finish in the very late stages of the race
race 4 Â Â average clarity
2  Hill Four Eleven  obviously has some physical problems but drops significantly and does so for a trainer who is not afraid to lose a horse...... and...... I like the rider switch especially considering the weight break of 7 lbs for the bug boy
5  Bolitar  so so effort 1st out following the Knapp claim......but.......I believe we will see more today as her work since her 9 Feb. race is much improved......seems likely to produce a move forward.......to what degree is the ? mark
7  El Tovar  very dangerous trainer upgrade to say the least......and this eight year old is working on the dirt as if he might welcome a return to it after numerous races on the turf
4 Â Curly Road
Long-shot consideration:  3  Boompa  runs well with ample time between starts and gets it today.......late runner gets plenty of pace up front to flatter his late run......might be the "last one standing"
race 5 Â Â average clarity
5  Conquest Smartee  showed plenty of life in his lone lifetime start which was in Oct. at WO on the AW for Mark Casse.........turf today and is he ever well-bred to take to it......and it appears as if John Sadler has him fit and ready fresh off of the bench
3  Rafter One  big effort with about 7L of trip trouble as our 2nd choice in his MSW debut way back in August at Dmr on the dirt.....OK grass pedigree and he is training as if he is ready "fresh" once again today
4  Tybee Island  another whose only start was in August in a Dmr dirt race.....good works......good breeding for the sod......Baltas is quite dangerous with these kind of returnees'
1 Â Kopitar
race 6 Â Â average clarity
8  Air Force Cadet  1st timer appears ready as he put in a series of endurance building works in Dec and Jan and then put in some speed drills.....and he finished with a solid gate work.....endurance and speed......such a deal
1  Justonetimebaby  showed brilliant speed on a very sloppy track in his latest.......if he can show as much early foot on a fast track he should be very dangerous and maybe should have been the top selection
4  Wondering Ways  claimed way back in March for Koriner and friends and the time off and/or the new conditioner appear to have done him a world of good as his a.m. prowess appears awfully good for Cal-bred maiden claimer
7 Â Wild Lando
Long-shot consideration:  6  Blix Curve  been away since the 1st of May..........returns with a new trainer.........gelded......blinkers off........and a work tab that strongly suggests he has returned as a vastly better runner
race 7 Â Â average clarity
7  Calculator  hard to believe this very talented individual is still eligible for a nw of 2 other than.......away since July but sure appears ready to rock and roll especially considering how hot Peter Miller is these days
2  Hawkedon  solid history on the SA hill and nobody else in this field can say that.....not much speed in here so even tough he really isn't that fast early he still will be able to sit close up here
1  Cautious Giant  only race on the hill wasn't bad and is he ever training as if he is going to bring his "A game"......not impossible if he does
3 Â Hollywood Don
race 8 Â Â average clarity
8  Gypsy's Rule  suspicious drop but her recent works hint she can still compete at this lowly level.......seems likely to stalk the leaders and do so behind a live enough pace to soften them up
5  Mis Big Stuff  diminishing ability for this Miller four-year old filly so the crafty trainer takes a big plunge in claiming price today to take advantage of what is left of her before it is too late......her history says she needs the lead to win and the mare just outside of her might have something to say about that
1  Amazing Lady  might get a perfect stalk position in what should be a solid set of fractions........lone win was the only time this filly ran on a fast rated track at 5 1/2F at SA.....and she stalked the lead starting from the 2 post.....1 post today.....hmmm
3 Â I'll Tell You What
9 Â Warren's Tricia R.
4 Â Oleanderpolarbear