Santa Anita for Saturday 10 February 2018
Very nice and enticing 10 race card both in quality and handicapping wise.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â average clarity
2 Upperclassman  all three 6F sprints with the blinkers on are good races....... and the two best of those was run 6 1/2F to 6F .....6 1/2 furlongs in last......and running 2nd out after a layoff.........seems poised for a solid effort today at his favorite distance
8 Celebrate Life  the speed of 1 horse might be tough to deal with so I believe the connections will want to stalk him rather than go with him early........best effort/fig was his race two back where he stalked the lead
5 Adventurous  solid stretch runs in his last two races.........his off the pace running style of late might work to his advantage in this spot if the 1 - 2 - 8 press each other too much early
race 2Â Â average clarity
3 Kaboom  nice layoff run to win rather easily seemingly taking advantage of the new bottom level for a maiden claimer at SA in 16K.........very solid 4F work since especially so for someone like Miyadi who doesn't push them very hard in the a.m........well spotted to win .......believe this fellow moves forward......should be tough if he does
6 Gutsy Streak  another coming off a nice win and in his case it was his maiden debut.......and like our top pick the connections aren't getting overly high on their youngster and have spotted him where he has a good chance to make it 2 for 2 lifetime
7 Trapalanda  claimed for 25K 3 1/2 weeks ago and in for 12.5K today.....typical unorthodox Jacobson style......last won't do the trick but if he is up to his race two back he might be rated too low
2Â Informality
8Â Rocky's Show
race 3Â Â average clarity
4 Malibu Music  steadily improving with only a few hick-ups now and then and his latest move forward on 21 Jan. is disguised by an early bump of 2 lengths and a pace factor of about 2 1/2 lengths......add that together to his real fig and you get a colt who ran better than par for today's level.......seems likely to get good mid pack position saving ground
1 Maestro Dearte  fairly smooth runner in both lifetime starts and both were route grass races like today.........nice recent speed drill......sat closer in his last and likely will be even closer up today......good post.......good rider......hard not to like
3 Temple Keys  gelding woke up some in last and did so at a distance where he has yet to win........cuts back 1/8th today to a distance where he owns his only two lifetime wins.......gate work on 3 Feb. is interesting.......it hints Baltas wants him to sit closer which appears to be a plus here.......and I like that Desormeaux stays put
5Â Lymebyrd
9Â Rigoletto
6Â Broken Up
race 4Â Â above average clarity
4 Unique Bella  5 for 6 at SA and her loss was her MSW debut at 5F.........Hollendorfer filly has won more Graded races than the rest of the field combined and she has the fewest starts (by a wide margin) in the field......best early speed in the race and she can run well off of the pace if need be
2 Mopotism  best at SA and she owns a couple of lifetime races that are better than par for today's G2 level......needs her best and for our top choice to have an off day for her to get to the circle of joy this afternoon
5 Majestic Heat  mare has 2 lbs more to carry than our top choice......like our 2nd selection she needs the "Bella" to have a bad day to win
race 5Â Â above average clarity
3 Blackjackcat  4 for 6 win at the distance and a 3rd.......and the 3rd was in the B C Mile turf where with a better trip he could have upset at 19 to 1........away since the race but training as if he is 100 % ready......that and he sure appears to be the controlling speed in the race and with Desormeaux at the controls
2 Bowies Hero  also likes the turf distance of one mile as in 5 wins in 7 starts at one mile on the sod........and he owns the fastest one mile turf race of the meeting........does lose Desormeaux to our top selection but Nakatani will surely do
1 Next Shares  dangerous trainer in Baltas when he takes over the training duties of a given horse......last appears to be a turf sprint tune-up .....works since the 1 Jan. race are quite good......believe he will fire his lifetime best today........to what degree is the ? mark
race 6Â Â average clarity
1 Ax Man  powerful MSW debut for this Baffert 2nd time starter earning a number that is better than par for today's G2 affair.......that and this colt sure looked fantastic on the gallop out.....that suggests today's extra furlong will be right up his alley
4 All Out Blitz  on the right end of the learning curve and if his progression continues today he has as good a shot of anyone to take down this G2 7F race
3 Nero  double barell action for Baffert as he also conditions our top choice........last is quite a bit better than appears in print......still he will need to build on the race to be a "win" factor here......and why not with Baffert at the helm
race 7Â Â average clarity
2 Seau  at his best in route races at SA........could have graduated in his latest if not for too wide of a trip.......2nd out after a break and he was able to work twice since his 20 Jan race.......that hints at a gelding who is doing well.......should be tough
3 Wise Curlin  also likes to route on the SA dirt.....both races on the dirt at SA are better than par.......somewhat suspicious drop but if his good health has remained intact he has as good a shot as anyone at taking down this race
4 Is Trevor Clever  consistently tries hard but hasn't popped the figs that our top two selections have......but he also seems best running on the dirt long at SA.....and he is trained by the ever dangerous Peter Miller
8Â Black Strom
5Â Path of Exile
1Â Second Gear
race 8Â Â average clarity
6 Sawyer's Hill  very strong efforts when up for a tag like today.......laid up since April but working like the connections realize that he might be claimed.......so........rather sure this fellow is "meant and ready"
3 Mongolian Greywolf  poor start and then rushed hides an effort at 9F on the grass that is quite a bit better than it appears in print......cut back in distance sure appears to be a plus.......and likely will show more 2nd out after a layoff
1 Tartini  hard to tell if this GB invader who has been off 4 months is ready for his new trainer (and Country) but if he is he should fit fine here
7Â Tony Blackjack
9Â Incredible Luck
5Â Van Cortland
race 9Â Â average clarity
10 Quick Finish  big forward move in 2nd lifetime start and another for his 3rd lifetime start.........four-year old gelding only has to repeat his last to awfully formidable today........a.m. work since his latest hints that he will
2 Super Duper Cooper  on the improve lately and will need the trend to continue in a big way if our top selection runs the race that I think he will
9 Conqueror  nice race off of the 9 week layoff......likely up for even better today 2nd out after the break.....extra 1/2 furlong should be a plus......Desormeaux sticks around to find out
7Â Bacoli
11Â Liberty Jack
1Â Acker
race 10Â Â average clarity
10 Masked  big works prior to his dismal MSW debut as the favorite.......good works since.........maybe he doesn't like dirt in his face or something......sure like his turf pedigree.......no dirt in face today........and he won't be the favorite today
1 Jungle Warfare  there seems to be enough speed signed up to help this mid pack runner put in a dangerous stretch run........works since his latest (which was a little dull) are much improved........hinting he is up for a rebound.......race two back is solid albeit in a turf route
9 Majestic Eagle  not much in two lifetime starts both of which were on the dirt.....but his works since are vastly improved and Drysdale is hot right now.......solid turf breeding..........expecting a big wake up 1st on the grass this afternoon for this three-year old colt
5Â Frenchman
8Â Eskimo Roses
7Â Dignitaire