Santa Anita for Thursday 17 May 2018
Not a big fan of race cards that have 10 or more races unless a track has plenty of other entertainment a good portion of the day as it doesn't do much to create young fans who get bored easily. 12 races at Santa Anita Saturday with only one purse (a state-bred $100K) over $60K. That is hardly living up to The Great Race Place. I love S Cal racing and hate seeing the product diminished. How about 10 races next time with 3 purses over $60K.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â average clarity
1 Raven Creek  brutal trip in his latest in a two turn grass race and that trip hides a solid forward move..........has handled the SA hill grass course just fine.......jockey knows him well having been aboard for all of his 9 lifetime races
2 Vutzak  not much in his latest endeavor but his hill effort two back fits fine.........trainer is rather hot of late so the chances of a rebound seem enhanced......we shall see about 12:30 pacific time
4 Croissant  blinkers on and the drills are somewhat improved.......equipment change might have worked........needs more than he has ever has ever displayed and might be up for it
race 2Â Â average clarity
5 Mischievous Song  lone win was in her only lifetime dirt route........with that in mind I believe her last was a sprint tune-up in a protected race to be fully fit for today's route race.....sharp bullet preparatory work at Slr supports the notion
6 Wampus  seems likely to get a nice stalking or mid pack trip so if she can manage to put in a race similar to her latest she should be a major player in this affair........call it a 50/50 proposition that she can
2 Empress of Lov  very suspicious drop but if her health is still in relatively decent shape she is rated too low
race 3Â Â average clarity
2 Settle It  ran 2nd vs. the boys in her MSW debut and still managed 2nd despite a wide trip......faces her own sex today back in short rest .......hot trainer/rider/owner......should be one tough cookie
8 Six Pack Gal  a.m. work steadily got better for this two-year old first time starter......new sire but mom has tossed 5 winners from 6 starters......seems dangerous
4 Derby Luck  dismal record for Ruben Gomez with 1st time starters but this filly put in back to back solid gate works at LA and mom has tossed 3 winners from 3 starters
3 Jellybeankristine Â
6Â Awepollomia
race 4Â Â below average clarity
6 Reinahermosa  fell off in her latest but she has been in an every/other mode of late and she is on the positive end of the pendulum today......race two back is strong and it was at today's 1 1/16th distance
1 Princess Leia  turf to dirt is often a good thing as is a private change in trainers.......not out of the win picture by any means
4 Dizzy Diva  seems very sharp right now and would have rated higher if she didn't have to race another 1/16th today as her pedigree for it is not good and she might have lasted the 8F in her last only because of such an easy set of fractions
race 5Â Â average clarity
7 Move Over  significant improvement in his latest which is disguised by 5 or 6 lengths of trip adjustment.......that and he has shown that he can handle the unusual race configuration of the SA hill turf course......believe he has finally found his solid overseas form of last year
2 Axelrod  good 1st ever on the SA hill in latest especially considering it was his 1st out since October.......and the works since strongly suggest a significant move forward will occur this afternoon
1 Armour Plate  away since November but training very well for her new trainer Bill Spawr......race two back run in Oct. was very solid for a two-year old nearly breaking the 1:34 flat barrier...........seems dangerous if she takes to a turf sprint
6Â Calexman
4Â Heartfullofstars
race 6Â Â average clarity
3 Jest a Princess  one lifetime race in the slop at Belmont for Chad Brown tells you absolutely nothing.......returns one year later on the West coast for another world-class trainer in Bob Baffert.......works that Baffert's new shooter is ready to rock and roll in her return to the race wars
7 Tandalicious  very strong work regiment for this D'Amato 1st time starter.......trainer means business in her MSW debut with 3 of her last 4 drills out of the gate
1 Smart Dorie  sure like the pedigree for this filly to handle an abbreviated sprint of 5 1/2 furlongs in her debut.......and the works suggest Hess has her fully fit as does the fact Desormeaux rides for his buddy
4Â Now Blessed
6Â Mojgan
race 7Â Â average clarity
4 Time and Chance  blistering works at GG and SA in preparation for this mare's layoff run.......1 for 1 at Santa Anita and the race was also off of a long layoff........trainer has had one nice SA meeting and has a decent chance to boost his win percentage in this spot
6 Revenue Virginius  last win came turf to dirt in a race run in April of 2017 and the effort was her lifetime best.......and her top race in 2018 was also run turf to dirt and was a key race........turf in last......turf today.......it's not rocket science
2 Cioppino Pasadino  last appears to be a tune-up up sorts to tighten up - drop down and make a significant jock grade......5 for 11 at SA......seems a little dangerous
1Â Scathing
8Â Tangled Up in Ju
race 8Â Â average clarity
2 Navajo Dreamer  Baltas is one the better trainers when he sees fit to take the blinkers off a given horse....that is the case today for this three-year old filly.......as in winning with 1/3 of his last 35 with the move......and the improved works for this filly hint he might add to the gaudy stat today
9 One Upper  trainer Ryan Hanson sends out very few but he often dangerous with his limited starters........works for this 1st timer are good.......young trainer might be ready 1st out of the box with his new addition to his barn
6 Ladybug  filly has run multiple races that fit solidly here......but the best she has finished is 2nd and only one time.........might be developing into a hanger of sorts
5Â She's Legit
7Â Gia Lula