Santa Anita for Saturday 6 April 2019
Tremendous 11 race card on Saturday at Santa Anita with not one claiming race carded. There are 7 Stakes races which includes three Grade 1 races, one Grade 2 and one Grade 3. Mandatory payoff for the 20 cent pick 6 today with a prediction of a final pool being over 3 million.
Our special publication for Saturday 13 April 2019 covering the 7 or 8 Stakes races at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland is now available for purchase.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â average clarity
6 Lemoona  sure acts like her 1st racing as far as 9 furlongs of turf today will be a plus and gets the right jock to help her along in Rosario.......last turf race run which was two back is much better than it appears in print as she was given an insanely wide ride albeit from a difficult post......rider upgrade & better post.......such a deal
1 Mirth  barn has been awakening of late and might keep the good times coming here with this filly who just won at SA on the grass at today's 9 furlong distance.......and she is 4 for 5 overall on the grass........she earned a number that is par for today's level in that race with a wide trip adjustment of 5L
3 Spy Ring  sprint-sprint-route scenario for this Cassidy five-year old who should be able to get the lead in this spot.......acts like 9 furlongs is longer than she wants to run but then again she sure is bred-well to get the distance
4Â Pulpit Rider
2Â Kodiak West
race 2Â Â average clarity
6 Sneaking Out Hollendorfer filly appears tons the best in this field unless she doesn't take to the SA surface in her 1st race on it.......should be in the hunt from the opening bell
5 Lippy  filly has done little wrong in 5 lifetime starts and today gets a rider upgrade.......that and she might feel really good coming off of a route grass race.......as in muscled up with more endurance
4 Naughty Tiger  yet to run well following two nice wins (with blinkers on) in a row with the blinkers coming off following those wins........whats with that......they are still off but she is working as if a rebound is imminent........we shall see
9Â Dr Wysong
3Â Violette Szabo
race 3Â Â average clarity
5 Bellafina  5 wins in 6 Graded races all of which were Grade 1's or 2's........her lone failure was a bad trip 4th in the Breeders Cup........and Prat knows her extremely well having been aboard for all of her lifetime starts
1 Flor de Ls Mar  toss out her last as she disliked the off going......her MSW debut 2 back was something special as she lived up to the 1 to 1 hype as she won in a 3 wide duel on a rail bias day and still drew off by 5L is solid final time......big step up today but Baffert is at the helm and has her training as if she is more than ready for the challenge
2 Chasing Yesterday  Baffert three-year old filly is 5 for 6 lifetime including a Grade 1 win but she really hasn't faced too much......still she is working as well as she ever has and draws Mike Smith........dangerous sort
race 4Â Â below average clarity
10 Royal Trump  very consistent sort continues to work as if he has held form off of the 2 month break........1st after the Glatt claim is often a positive especially when he gives his new shooter ample time off........and the fact he draws the attention of Pratt and his agent only supports the notion he is ready to roll
8 Make It a Triple  a good portion of this gelding's career fits solidly in this softer spot (kind of amazing he still fits the race condition) and if the connections named a better jock to ride he would be the top pick........come on Vinnie B
9 Captivate  Puype won two yesterday so his barn might be in full "go mode"..........Van Dyke has a good record on this five-year old (4 2 1 0 1)........gelding ran very well in his last off of a 4 month layoff.........2 1/2 month layoff for today's race.......should be a major player
3Â Italiano
7Â Super Terrific
4Â Coil to Strike
race 5Â Â above average clarity
1 Vasilika  ultra consistent Stakes mare has been "lights out" at Santa as in 9 wins and a 2nd in 10 turf starts......good post and regular jock up in Prat.......no brainer to put on top
5 Raven's Lady  talented GB invader ends up in the Cassidy barn and Jim appears to have her meant and ready for her U S of A debut.......she has mostly sprinted overseas but her pedigree says she might be capable of running all day........dangerous new shooter
3 Meal Ticket  might get a very good trip stalking the 2 horse who usually flattens out in the late stages of her one mile turf races.......upset is not totally impossible if the pace is slow enough
2Â Miss Bad Behavior
race 6Â Â average clarity
7 Lieutenant Dan  last two races sprinting on fast tracks (his last and 4 back) are slightly better than par for today's level........Miyadi three year old should sit in a nice stalk position just as he did in running his lifetime best in a 6F sprint at SA in mid January
6 Foster Boi  impressive MSW debut (and pounded at the windows) for this D'Amato colt down the hill at SA........3 drills since the 1 March race and the last drill is very fast indicating he will handle the SA dirt just fine........very dangerous 2nd time starter
5 Listing  only runner in the race to have won two Stakes races and he gets a jock upgrade to Rosario who is having a dynamite 2019......Ben Cecil colt should be closing late
8Â Tap the Wire
9Â Principe Carlo
race 7Â Â average clarity
5 One Bad Boy  sprint-sprint-route maneuver for this 3rd time starter who should appreciate his 1st on the sod and 1st around two turns........his a.m. work hints he has never been more fit...........retains Rosario who is riding the turf beautifully at this meeting
2 M Town Gem  trainer Mike Puype just won with a MSW 1st time starter yesterday paying 15 to 1........and he sure is working this colt as if he wants him to produce a peak performance in his debut......mom has tossed 3 turf winners from 5 starters.........Gryder up and these days that's a plus.......good post........upset in the making?
3 Polar  set a brutal set of fractions in his MSW debut which was in the slop and rightfully cashed it in.......bred for the turf and if he takes to it he might open up an insurmountable lead
8Â Mo Reserve
11Â Proud Pedro
race 8Â Â above average clarity
6 Game Winner  should be undefeated but for an uncharacteristically bad ride Rosario gave this stout colt as he was given a way too wide of a trip in his last which was at OP.........that and the 9 furlongs to travel should be a cake for him and might not be for many in here........Rosario will be out to make amends
1 Roadster  solid races in all three lifetime starts and he might get a perfect trip stalking the 5 horse who I obviously believe might have trouble holding it together for the 9F........and with money Mike in the irons this Baffert colt has a shot to upset his barn mate
3 Nolo Contesto lifetime best and somewhat disguised was run in his 2nd lifetime start run off of 34 days rest.........he won a one mile affair despite running wide on a rail bias day........today he runs 2nd out after a 2 month break off of 36 days rest.......lifetime best might be in the cards........dangerous
race 9Â Â average clarity
2 Lady Prancealot  Baltas filly acts as if she will run all day and she is on the improve.....but maybe more importantly she is working as if her lifetime best will occur this afternoon.......Rosario sticks around to find out
3 Truffalino  filly is the lone individual to have competed at the 9F distance in this field and she won in a race run in late December.........and she won at the 9F distance with not the best of trips.......Mandella is having a solid meeting and might add to his 20% win percentage here
7 Maxin Rate  shocking 28 to 1 debut win for this Simon Callaghan filly with a jock who struggled at SA while he was here in Atzeni........Prat up today.......back to back wins might be in the cards but she won't be a "price" today
6Â Colonial Creed
4Â Lakerball
race 10Â Â above average clarity
1 McKinzie  four-year old colt could be a perfect 4 for 4 at SA on fast tracks if not for a ? able DQ on 10 March 2018.......kind of strange that nobody has ever won on the dirt at 10F or further in this 2019 version of the SA Hcp and two horses in here have never run that far.......so I am not going to worry too much about this well-bred horse getting the distance
6 Campaign  this filly runs all day as witnessed by her 2 wins on the turf at marathon distances further than today's 10 panels.......won her latest in the slop in a race that wasn't fast but somewhat "key"........gets in light here........might be the last one standing because the final time most likely will be very slow as deep as the SA track is right now
4 Gift Box  did beat a nice horse in winning her last which was a Grade 2.....but she had a perfect trip stalking a fast pace while wide but wide on a day the outside was biased.......but .......on the other hand her a.m. work since has been exceptional......so still dangerous for sure but maybe a little over bet
race 11Â Â average clarity
3 The Hunted  solid par like race in his last at 9F......and it sure appears that he is at his best at today's one mile turf distance.....very sharp work tab since his last on 7 Feb.......retains Prat......hard not to but this fellow on top
7 Rumpus Cat  double barrel action for Baltas as he also trains our top pick.......colt is 2 for 4 in turf routes including a win run sprint turf to route turf.......nice 6 1/2 furlong turf effort in last......and Rosario stays put......dangerous
6 Jungle Warfare  gelding has yet to win on the grass in 8 starts on it but he has run some races that fit fine here......and he has a good history when Bejarano is on his back.......not impossible to upset
8Â Inscom
9Â Shaky Alibi