Santa Anita for Sunday 14 April 2019
Kentucky Derby day is less than 3 weeks away. My favorite day in racing and then some.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â average clarity
3 Jetovator  very soft looking group of Cal-bred MSW runners so it is easy to turn to a 1st timer training as if he is meant and ready for his MSW debut for Peter Eurton and company......and I like that Bejarano gets the call as the only two times he rode for Eurton over the last two mounts both runners were very live
2 Hit the Seam  there is gimme/go and then there is gimme/gimme/go which I believe is the scenario for this Freeman runner........and take a look at how well this gelding ran off of short rest in the past in his running lines.......last race 10 days ago......big rebound seems likely
5 Preaching Trainer  very bad trip in his MSW debut and a horrendous trip in his 2nd lifetime start......continues to run and work with plenty energy/ability......now Carla Gaines needs to get his head on straight.......lookout if she does
race 2Â Â average clarity
5 Wilshire Dude  four-year old gelding is (5 2 1 1) on main track surfaces and his last race at SA (run 2 back) is very strong......actually he has run awfully well in all three lifetime route dirt races........just claimed by Manuel Ortiz in his last from Bill Spawr and he gets a nice spot to race his four old in.......should make a good account of himself
1 I Can Do This  last on an off track is a par like effort for today's level......race 2 back on a fast track is about 3 lengths better than par.......sunny skies in Arcadia today
4 Bellerin  scratched from Friday's race for this spot and in S Cal that is often a very good thing..........gelding is 2 for 3 at SA on the dirt and both wins were at today's one mile distance.........seems like a player
race 3Â Â average clarity
2 Overdue  trained quite impressively for his MSW debut on Feb 28th but only ran OK in a race down the SA hill (man I miss the hill the coolest grass configuration of any grass course in the world)......continues to work well and the cut back in distance today combined with the switch to Prat should make for you tough cookie today
5 Victory Element  right there at the 5 furlong point (today's distance) of all his races which were as short as 6F and as long as 1 1/16.......1st on the sod today with an OK pedigree for it.......not out on the win picture by any means
1 Bowl of Spaghetti  race sure appeared to be nothing more than a spin around the track as Mr Miller ran one two with his other two runners in the field.......that and the works since are tightly spaced.......wound up and ready to roll.......tough call though if he will appreciate the sod or not
race 4Â Â average clarity
3 Denman's Call  last 3 races are better than par for today's slightly lower level and his latest race is hidden in its strength somewhat........and it seems like a sharp move by Glatt to go back to Bejarano who has won his last two mounts on this six-year-old
4  Facts Matter  likes the SA dirt course and the cut back in distance should be a plus......and considering he just won at 7 furlongs that should make his step up in claiming doable.....he does lose Bejarano to our top pick.......Pereira will do just fine
2 River Echo  last time this gelding raced off a long layoff he run a very strong race (maybe his lifetime best) but it was run on an off track......works say he is ready fresh.......dangerous Miller starter if he can run as well fresh off of the bench on a fast track
race 5Â Â average clarity
2 Causeforcommotion  trainer has had one heck of a good SA to date and Kruljac might keep the ball rolling here with this consistence grass mare who should be tough here if she returns ready at full bore.......her a.m. prowess suggests she will.....and she should get a great trip sitting up close to the front in an affair that seems to favor those who do
3 Love and Peace  1st two races in the USA are a little short in this spot......but the preparatory works for her 3rd start are vastly improved and suggest she will fire her best yet and with Prat up
1 Ahimsa  filly should find herself on the lead in this spot void of much speed which makes her dangerous but with two "ifs"........if Brice Blanc is capable of getting only his 2nd grass win in 45 starts (yikes!)........and if this filly is fit enough to last the one mile distance off of 9 month layoff
race 6Â Â average clarity
5 Beach View  six-year-old is well proven in marathon affairs both on the turf and the dirt.......and he is ultra consistent when he takes back early and has a target to run at........the barn seems to realize that now........and he gets 1st time Prat today.....hard not to put on top
2 Acker  gelding has been on quite a roll and just popped his lifetime best.........just claimed be the red-hot John Sadler who puts up Victor Espinoza who has been given very live mounts from John since returning from injury.......five year old has flattened out in his only two marathons but as sharp as he is and as hot as Sadler is he might not today
1 Campaign  double barrel action from Salder as he also conditions our 2nd pick.......colt can run all day but he has to come from the clouds today and with our top choice likely ahead of him by a few lengths at the top of the stretch........not impossible but not an easy task to go on by Beach View who should finish solidly as well
race 7Â Â average clarity
1 Persephone  sprint-sprint-route maneuver for her 3rd lifetime start and with a series of solid longer works put in since her last run on 18 Feb.........that and she is bred well to get a route especially on mom's side of the equation
7 Field Bet  blinkers on and also a nice switch to a 7 lbs bug boy who can really ride including on the turf which most apprentice riders do poorly on (mostly because you don't get to ride on it in the a.m. any thus having much less experience on it than the main track)........seems like a sharp claim but Sadler of a filly that beat 6 of 9 foes in her debut which was down the hill ......blinkers on and just what you want to see as in good works.......solid route pedigree........hard not to like
2 Breezy Bee  consistent sort but settles for minor awards......but she is the only 4-year-old in the field and in a route race to boot.......that might have her fighting for the win instead of batting for 3rd or 4th once again
4Â Gotta Be Lucky
race 8Â Â average clarity
4 Teacher's Treasure  as big of a rider upgrade as you will see in S Cal for this gelding today.......that and when Truman uses a top jock he usually means business........easy to make as the top pick
10 Dialed Up  our 8 to 1 top choice did not disappoint despite trip trouble in his maiden debut.......if he builds on the race he has a shot to make it back to back wins.......tough call if he will as he was very pointed for his MSW debut
11 Red Envelope  four-year old gelding is (4 1 1 2) lifetime on main track surfaces rated fast.....that and his trainer shows signs of snapping out a prolong slump.........dangerous sort
9Â Nap Lajoie
7Â Minoso