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Santa Anita for Friday 31 May 2019

Belmont Stakes Day is 8 June with 13 races total 10 of which are Stakes races. Eight Grade 1 races and one Grade 2. Our special publication with full race card selections and comments is now available for purchase. 

Best of luck as always!

 

race 1    above average clarity

7  Vermeer   finally got to run on a fast track for the 1st time in 4 lifetime races and he fired he best to date.......and the strength of the effort is disguised by a wide run up on the pace.......two reassuring works since the race.......seems likely to move forward 2nd out after the layoff.......if that is the case and he gets a decent trip he should be tough

3  Outlaw  cut back in distance appears to be a plus for this four-year old who was just disqualified from the top prize in his latest in a MC25K........new rider is up today and that jock G Franco has been given mostly "live" mounts of late when he riding for Miyadi.....big 47 flat bullet drill 4 days ago on the SA training track

6  Dual Account   bombed in his debut back in December but he did have some support at the windows going off at 6 to 1 in a 12 horse field......he has been absent since but he is working well and working well as a 1st time gelding.........dangerous fresh Hector Palma runner

1  Midnight Bandit

 

race 2    average clarity

6  Breezy Bee   seems to find trouble but he has been able to overcome it to some extent like his latest race where he was blocked a long time and still won......back is short rest hints he has something in the tank for today which makes sense being blocked (reserved) so long......solid 4F work just 3 days ago supports the notion.......shot to make it back to back wins for the Desormeaux brothers

3  Take a Leap   sets up for her mid pack style as half of this field wants to be on the front end.......good to see Gryder sticking with the Manuel Ortiz filly as he sure has been giving some solid rides on the turf

2  Storming Lady   seems like the best of the speed horses in this race.......and his trainer Alfredo Marquez has had quite the 2019 with his grass runners........hot jock in Victor Espinoza stays put.........not out of the win picture by any means

 

race 3    average clarity

3  Fast Enough   Becerra 1st time starter hasn't missed a beat in the morning and he put in quite the four furlong gate drill in mid May hinting he can run some and likely has some early gas......trainer has won with 1 of his last 4 MSW 1st time starters and 2 others were able to hit the board

1  Bam Bam Again   another who is training as if he is meant and ready for his MSW debut........trainer Jorge Periban is having a breakout year putting to bed (at least for 2019) many of his poor trainer stats of the past

2  Next Flight   last two drills are out of the gate for this Miyadi 1st time starter suggesting that this is not a test drive this afternoon.......we shall see at about 2 PM Pacific time

5  Include the Tax

4  Cal's Gem

 

race 4    average clarity

6  Rumpus Cat   2 for 2 with Prat as the rider.......0 for 9 when someone else has been in the saddle.......colt has run 1st & 2nd the only two times he has been up for sale.......claiming event here........Prat up for the 1st time in 4 races........sure seems well-meant today

4  Dallas Skyline   veered out in the stretch drive or would have won at a couple of levels higher in his latest which was run off of one prolonged hiatus from racing.......drop doesn't bother me whatsoever as this fellow is a 7-year-old making only 8th career start

2  Captivate   bet hard in his latest despite plenty to prove on the grass and did not disappoint the "insiders" as he crushed the field in a 25K conditioned claiming one mile turf race.......claimed by Belvoir in the race and he sure has a good spot for him in this conditioned claiming race for 35K......trainer has had a rough 2019 at Santa Anita and sure seems overdue for his 2nd win at the meeting

 

race 5    average clarity

3  Zusha   trainer has only been in the money 3 times in 25 starts in 2019 which seems even worse than notching only one win......but his filly still warrants (with plenty of trepidation) top billing off her race two back where she ran as well as anyone in the 7 April version of this race where she ran way too wide on a day the rail was awfully good.......and it seems noteworthy that it was the only time she got to race one mile at SA on a fast track......come on kid Mandella

1  Kaydetre   rather cool as this mare who has found a home racing in dirt routes is trained by a one horse trainer in David Randall.......not my favorite jock up but he has done a decent job riding this five-year old mare

4  Sapphire Kid  seems at her best racing on the dirt in one mile races......that and I like that Chew legs up bug boy Velez to ride her as so far the bug boy's forte has been getting the most out of route dirt runners

 

race 6    below average clarity

3  Holy Ghost  lifetime best and well disguised in its strength is his lone turf endeavor racing as far as today's 9F distance.......shuffled back to the rear of the field and that put him in a tough spot as the pace up front was slow........he did well to beat half of his competition........good chance that 3 in here will want the front end.....keep your fingers crossed that is what happens

6  Malibu Music   might be poised for a strong race 2nd out following a layoff......like our top pick he seems to be at the mercy of what occurs up front.......lifetime best was on the turf at 9F

1  Acclimate   works since his latest (which fits just fine here) indicate he is about to move forward........he would have been top pick if this race was run less than 9F where he has something to prove

 

race 7    average clarity

5  Wild Bean  do not like the pedigree this three old has for the grass and sure enough he bombed on it......back to a dirt sprint where he won two straight.......and in his latest dirt sprint he ran a fig that is better than par for today's higher level......should be in the mix from the get go......best drill on the SA tr track put in just 3 days ago

3  Satrapa   four-year old who has been absent since September has done little wrong in two lifetime races.......preparatory drills look good.......trainer is usually ready with his better stock coming off of long breaks......seems like a dangerous 3rd time starter

2  Fire When Ready  four-year old gelding appreciate ample time between starts and gets it today.......last race might do the trick and today we get quite the rider upgrade......hard not to like

 

race 8    below average clarity

9  Kris' Wild Kat   at a turf distance that has been dominated by posts 1 and 2 the outer-most 9 post is no bargain.......but this good gate horse can fly and he has shown he can still break well from the outer-most post in a turf sprint on 30 Dec.........hot jock Arroyo has gotta.........go go go from the opening bell

8   An Ocala Ten  SCRATCHED OUT laid up Peter Miller four year old has been absent from the game for 22 months by returns as a first time gelding........work tab says he is ready fresh off of the bench.......like our top pick he needs to break well to help utilize his abundance of early speed

2  Taste's Legend   seven-year old seems to be the most dangerous of those who will be coming from off of the pace.......and........he should get plenty of pace up front to flatter his late run

3  Royal Song

1  Moon Juice   SCRATCHED OUT

 

Posted on May 31, 2019 at 9:41 am by richs · Permalink
In: Free Information, Selections