
Santa Anita for Friday 23 October 2020
Take note that this year's special publication for the Breeders Cup at Keeneland will cover both days but with only a comment for the top choice. (also take note that the 6 special pubs. are finished and you will need to purchase the Breeders Cup publication). Purchase will be available soon.
Closing weekend at Santa Anita. 10 races on Saturday and 11 races with mandatory payouts on Sunday.
OK card this afternoon.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â above average clarity
4 My Princess Ellie  two consecutive grass races should have this two year old filly fit very fit to finish well dropping from MSW racing to MC40K.........that and she faces one weak looking group of foes.......then there is that Prat/Miller combo who are an eye opening 14 for their last 28 as a team
1 Big Chick  sprint dirt debut is better than it appears........2nd start which was run at 1 1/16 on the grass should boost this youngster's endurance.......blinkers on and the one post should help Rispoli get a good ground saving trip
6 Take Her Temp  double barrel action from the Peter Miller barn as he also trains our top selection.........filly owns some route speed so she might get a decent close to the front trip.....still she likely will need a move forward this afternoon if she wants to see the winners circle
5Â I'M All the Jedi
race 2Â Â average clarity
2 Park Avenue  SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE back to back bullet drills at SA preparing for today's race........sprint - sprint - route maneuver for this Sadler two year old filly for her 3rd lifetime start........she owns plenty of early speed so look for Rispoli to go after the lead or at least sit close to it.........and of course the owners didn't shell out $450K to own themselves a sprinter
5 Beautiful Gift  not bet that hard for a debuting Baffert MSW 1st time starter and yet she ran a decent 3rd.......so she likely wasn't totally cranked and might be today..........like our top two picks she races in a route for the 1st time and like her competition she owns a good pedigree for one
4 Flash Magic  another making her 3rd lifetime start with the sprint - sprint - route maneuver in this case for Baffert and company..........world class trainer is 38% win with the move with his last 37..........like our top choice she should be in the mix from the get go......hard not to like
race 3Â Â average clarity
4 Rip City  won his latest off of a long layoff earning a par like number for today's race.......but his race two back (a rare 10 length win in a turf race) is way better than par for today's given level......that race was run off of 52 days rest......so 54 days since his latest has the potential of producing one tough effort to beat
1 Never Easy  just claimed by Mulhall and it might be a good one as this gelding just ran a turf sprint that is better than par for today's softer level........and he seems more dangerous at today's one mile turf distance.......that and with a switch in trainers comes a rider upgrade
6 Liberal all three lifetime one mile grass races are nice efforts and the latest one is disguised by being blocked on the 2nd turn and stretch some........Van Dyke stays put for the 5th straight time hinting this four year old has held form
race 4Â Â average clarity
4 Warren's Memorable  decent forward move in her 2nd lifetime start and 1st at a route of ground.......gets to race off of short rest for the 1st time and with a 5F work put in since her latest.......likely doing the best of her career.......retains apprentice rider Centeno who is 3 for his last 9 with 5 others in the money riding for Craig Lewis......should have plenty of endurance cutting back in distance
1 Commas Save Lives  very green race in her debut where I had this filly losing 13 lengths because of it.......blinkers on and an improved series of works........good jock/trainer team over the years in Baze & Mullins
5 Lemon Ice  bad route in her 2nd lifetime start.......better in her sprint debut but only beat one of eight foes........but........Prat wants the mount.........hmmm
race 5Â Â average clarity
6 N. K. Rocket Man just ran his lifetime best in the 2 October version of this MSW Cal-bred turf sprint......and the strength of the effort is disguised by 3 somewhat subtle points of trouble (start, run-up, stretch)........sharp rider J J Hernandez will be out to make amends
3 First Prez  O'Neill MSW debut runner has works that seem good enough to be ready.......and if he is he owns a turf pedigree that is strong as mom has tossed 5 winners from 5 starters and 3 were turf runners........Rispoli gets the call and for the most part when he rides a horse from Doug's barn they are "live" mounts
4 Count Alexei  better figs for others in here but he does appear to be lone speed in this spot thus dangerous if Gonzalez can slow things down early
2Â Master Ryan
race 6Â Â average clarity
5 Next Revolt  decent race in his latest which was his 1st following the Yakteen claim.......since the race Tim got his new acquisition to work a bullet 4F drill hinting he has put some speed into his new colt.......if that is the case lookout as this race if void of the commodity.......and Prat stays put
1 Bam Bam Again  coming off of 3 straight races that look good in this spot and the last of the three is rather disguised in it's strength........1st out following the Reed Saldana claim and with the change in trainers comes a jock upgrade
4 Conte Cavour  five year old gelding has had only one race since 20 June (30 Aug) but his a.m. work seems to be solid likely because he races at the lowest claiming level of his career and the barn wants a decent share of the purse as someone else might be taking away their horse following the race
2Â Grffindor
race 7Â Â average clarity
1 Hurly might be quite the claim by Truman as this filly ran out of her mind in her latest as she broke poorly and ran wide and still only lost by a nose at the 32K level.....the number earned is much better than par for today's 40K level......good post......rider upgrade.......near bullet drill just 5 days ago.........hard not to like
3 Lucky Peridot  Miller drops multiple levels in order to win and he is as good as it gets in S Cal with the move as he just isn't afraid to lose a given horse.........back to Prat who rode this filly 2 races back
5 Nice Ice  sure looks loose on the lead in this spot without much speed signed up.......trainer Jeff Mullins is much more dangerous 2nd out following a claim than 1st out following a claim which is the case today
7Â Kittyhawk Lass
race 8Â Â average clarity
3 Posterize  very strong race 1st out following the Doug O'Neill claim and the effort is hidden by racing wide up near a strong set of fractions ........drops a level and gets the meets top gun in Prat who looks like he can grab the lead in this field
2 Camby best at SA and and this Treece five year old should get a nice stalk position behind our top choice with a jock upgrade to Valdivia who is having a strong SA meeting......dangerous sort
5 Shane Zain  seems set up for today as Baltas put him on the grass which he hates to muscle him up and likely dirty him up to drop precipitously and go go go go at today's much lower level
race 9Â Â average clarity
6 Mensa On Top SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE poor history for the trainer with 1st time starters and he hasn't won a grass race in many a moon.......but........this girl's a.m. work is very solid and she draws Van Dyke which supports the idea she is meant & ready in her MSW
10 AE Sircat Nelly  SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE  MSW 1ster is extremely well bred to handle the sod.......mom has tossed 3 grass winners and the best of the three was a very nice grass horse and she is a full sister to this filly from the Sadler barn
9 AE Allie's Pal SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE  monster jock upgrade for this Wong filly racing on the grass for the 1st time.......if she takes to it she should show plenty of early speed as she has been sub 22 in both of her dirt sprints
8Â Westward Breeze
1Â Square Shady
4Â Flag Salute