Santa Anita for Saturday 30 September 2017
Rail bias to some degree yesterday especially in the stretch. Leaned that way some today but not too much when making my selections.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â average clarity
10 Pubilius Syrus  talk about being on the right end of the learning curve......decent race at GP followed by a solid MSW route in his 2nd lifetime start and 1st in S Cal......and then he nearly graduated in Stakes race.....back in a MSW today.....should be a ton he he holds form.....and you never know as he might be up for even more today if he continues his upward trend
5 Martin Riggs  two-year old maiden exits the same Stakes race as our top choice with a Santucci fig earned that is 2.5 lengths less than that what our top choice was assigned.....and now he gets a rider upgrade to Gary Stevens
8 Inscom  pounded at the windows in his MSW debut which was on the dirt.......attempts the turf for lifetime start number two and his grass breeding is better than his dirt breeding.......definitely deserves another shot as he cost a cool $850K and his trainer and rider are both having terrific years
6Â Treasure Hunter
Long-shot consideration:  3 Impeachableoffense  very good drills since an unimpressive MSW dirt debut in early August.....like this colt's pedigree for the grass and Scott Hansen is a rather decent trainer when it comes to getting a given horse ready for his 1st ever on the sod and at a route
race 2Â Â average clarity
2 Supreme Venture  3 of 4 lifetime races are solid in this spot and two of the races are disguised........Talamo seems likely to sit behind the leaders saving ground in a race that should produce a lively set of fractions....such a deal
7 Bolster  nice strong layoff race in his last to graduate and he did it in style with a hand ride by Prat in the late stages......that hints the sharp jock left something in the gelding's tank for today....that and the four-year old responds to ample time between starts and his trainer shows patience and gives it to him
5 Handful of Stripes  seems likely to benefit from his layoff run in latest.......speed getting over to the rail had good day yesterday and if we get a similar strong rail again today Maldonado and his ability to grab the lead will in all likelihood be a plus
3Â Quiet Dude
race 3Â Â below average clarity
10 Mourinbo  went for $625K for in March and is working as you would expect for a Bob Baffert first time starter .........speed and endurance put into him.......with the 10 post I obviously like his chances better if the track plays more even/fair than yesterday
9 Peace  Richard Mandella appears to have his two-year old colt ready for his debut with a prolonged tightly spaced work regiment.......and he gets Prat to ride who handles two-year old runners awfully well
6 Instilled Regard  million dollar colt showed ability in his MSW debut and might have graduated at 1st asking with a little better trip.....but he might need more versus today's bunch...... but...... with his debut under his belt and the fact Smith stays put he seems likely to provide it
3Â Alternate Rhythm
Long-shot consideration:  5 Tizona  showed powerful route speed in latest and just worked a bullet 3F drill 5 days ago......speed inside bias yesterday so if that is the case again today this fellow might be tough to reel in if he gets loose on the inside
race 4Â Â average clarity
5 Big Buzz  how did our top two selections do in the 1st race as this baby maiden exited the same Stakes race as they did and today gets to compete in the 2nd division of this split MSW route turf race for two-year old runners
9 Rockaway  another exiting the aforementioned two-year Stakes race........in the race he predictably had the trip from you know where having to break from the impossible 14 post in a mile grass race........he did should plenty of life on the grass despite being beaten by 10L....not out of this by any means with a better trip
8 Pitching  nice forward move in his 2nd lifetime start and 1st at a route......likely needs another move in the desired direction in lifetime start number three and considering his connections he has a decent shot at proving one
4Â Formal Dude
race 5Â Â above average clarity
4 Paradise Woods  Mandella three-year old filly loves Santa Anita and she been working brilliantly since switching her training from Dmr to SA......all that and her rider Flavien Prat knows her well having been aboard for all 5 career starts
1 Faithfully  very consistent sort in routes as she has never missed the board in a route race......regressed some in her latest but ample time to recover and rebound to her lifetime best which was run 2 back.......and her mid pack style should benefit from what likely will be a solid pace up front
6 Shenandoah Queen  John Sadler can be quite dangerous the 1st time he places a given runner in a Graded race which is the case here.....five-year old mare is 3 for 3 racing in dirt routes......tall task this afternoon.....but.....stranger things have happened
race 6Â Â above average clarity
9 Ritzy A. P.  seems well suited to the 9 furlongs of turf he once again faces today ........and.........his effort run in his latest vs. too tough sure fits well in today's lower level....that and he gets a major rider upgrade especially for a turf race
6 Troublewithatee  should get a nice trip stalking the lead or maybe even setting the pace in what should be a very doable set of fractions
3 Golden Doughnut  acts as if his 1st as far as 9 furlongs will be to his liking and it will not be for quite of few in here......should be motoring late
8Â Kencumin
Long-shot consideration:  10 Taki's Choice  lifetime best of three grass races is his lone effort on the SA sod.....that effort fits fine as does his tactical speed which should help Blanc get on over by the 1st turn.........and like our third selection he acts as if 1 1/8th will be a plus
race 7Â Â above average clarity
3 Moonshine Memories  Simon Callaghan sure has become quite the trainer developing young horses and that includes this two-year old filly who won a 7F Grade 1 at Del Mar in her last......and she did it displaying a solid set of fractions and overcoming a slightly dull inside.......1st at a route but bred to run all day
2 Alluring Star  exits one fast heat for the MSW level and the time was supported by significant gaps in the race to 2nd, 3rd & 4th........and she likely exited the race in good shape as she has put in 3 solid works since her stellar MSW debut
7 Piedi Bianchi  two-year old filly can rate and that should come in handy here with plenty of speed signed up......that and she just keeps getting better......and better.......and better........and............
4Â Super Good
race 8Â Â average clarity
1 Zatter  stalked and then pressed a nasty pace and paid a price late to run 2nd in a Grade 1 at Dmr.......1st around two turns today and with a two-year old that couldn't be anymore in Bob Baffert's wheelhouse......Bejarano wisely sticks around
4 Bolt d'Oro  trainer had a hat trick yesterday and might keep the ball rolling here with this baby who beat our top selection in his latest but benefited from taking back off of a strong pace.......but that might occur once again today
7 Encumbered  very solid grass win in latest and he owns a pedigree that should also handle the dirt......likely will occupy one of the last 3 positions in the 1st half of the race and make one big run especially if we get a more even playing field than yesterday
8Â Solomini
race 9Â Â average clarity
10 Goodforroses  five-year old mare has really turned into something special since Baltas took over the training duties 6 races back......and the 10 furlongs offered today should enhance her chances as the further she runs the better and her last two races which were 9F are not too shabby
7 Beau Recall  ultra consistent sort for Callaghan and company could have won two straight Grade 1 races if not for wide trips......for the 3rd straight time a new jock gets a try .......should be tough if Bejarano can save ground on at least one of the turns
5 Avenge  the best of the speed types in this G1 affair and Pratt knows this Richard Mandella 5 yr old mare very well as he has ridden her a good portion of her 15 race career......and she sure has put in some impressive endurance works to help her stamina when push comes to shove late
3Â Responsibleforlove
race 10Â Â average clarity
8 Cupid  sure appears at his very best at Santa Anita (3 2 1 0) and his Grade 1 win two races back in May was very impressive overcoming a wide trip to win going away at the wire......that and he usually makes a forward move the 2nd out after a layoff which is the case today and his last is not too shabby
3 Midnight Storm  had this fellow as my 4th choice until I saw how good the wood was yesterday......as this six-year-old is very comfortable scrapping the paint on the lead.......you might want to lessen his chances if you believe the track has changed this afternoon
5 Breaking Lucky  invader is putting in some strong a.m. work at WO and nearly won two prestigious Grade 1 races in 2016 at CD and Sar....and look who wants the mount.....as in Mr Money - Mike Smith
4Â Curlin Rules
race 11Â Â below average clarity
10 Kathy's Song  nice forward move 2nd out since Baltas took over and the works since her latest indicate she is even up for more this afternoon if of course she handles her 1st ever down the tricky SA hill grass course
11 Miss southern Miss  talented filly from the Keith Desormeaux barn ran a very strong effort/fig for a two-year old filly last Oct in her one grass race which was at one mile.......works in preparation for today are as good as you ever see for Keith D.......brother Kent wisely sticks around
1 Take A Deep Breath  seems best in turf sprints and she ran 2nd in a Grade 3 in Ireland at 7F and won a small Stakes race prior to that also in Ireland......doubt the SA hill will be a problem the way she handled two different somewhat funky Irish turf courses
3Â Kendra
5Â Storm the Hill
4Â Tapped