
Santa Anita for Friday 26 March 2021
Florida Derby Day is usually one great day of racing at Gulfstream Park and this year's addition is no exception to that to say the least. Good weather all week so the track should be fast and firm. Purchase for our special publication covering the 10 Stakes races carded for Florida Derby day at Gulfstream Park on March 27th is now available. As in the past the selections will be sent in your email Friday afternoon at approximately 5 p.m. central.
$21K SHF carryover in race 3 today at Santa Anita
Best of luck as always !
race 1Â Â above average clarity
5 Beyond Brilliant  very solid MSW debut for this John Shirreffs three year old colt who ran a solid 2nd and doing so with a very fast 2nd quarter.......and one of the trainer's better stats is "2nd career race" especially so when it is a 2nd time grass race........rider upgrade and a good 5F drill put in just 6 days ago........all systems go
2 First Class Dad SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE colt regressed in his latest but today he gets a mega rider upgrade especially for a turf race.......and the fact that Prat and his agent want the ride hints that this three year old mounts a rebound this afternoon.......if that is the case he should be a major factor in the outcome of this race
4Â Cherubic Factor
race 2Â Â average clarity
3 Fursace SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE par like race for today's MSW level despite being beat by 9 3/4L as she debuted in an alw race and a fast one at that........solid work tab since.........cut back of 1/2F seems like a plus........hungry jock remains up in Valdivia who is riding better than his 5% win percentage suggests
2 Starship Defiant  Hess has two 1st time starters in the race so my guess is one of them entered to make the race go and obviously I believe it is this one.......filly is ridden by J J Hernandez and almost everything J J rides for Hess has been live
5Â Miss O'Brien
race 3Â Â above average clarityÂ
$21K SHF carryover in race 3 today at Santa Anita
1 Starship Sky  vastly improved mare since Hess took over the training duties and put the blinkers on this five year old......her two races in MC50K affairs with Hess as the trainer are her two best since Bob took over.......MC50K today and Hernandez stays put.........good post to boot with the rails out 30 feet
7 Acoustic Shadow  both lifetime one mile grass races fit well at today's MC50K level.......just claimed by the red hot D'A who is getting the job done on the turf at an exceptionally high rate of success at the SA meeting........away since 15 Jan but 7 works put into his newbie since.......likely more than ready despite the 2 1/2 months off
9Â Unbreakable
6Â Amiko Chow
4Â I Give Up
race 4Â Â average clarity
7 Itsthattime  outer-most post might hurt some but this gelding takes a significant drop in class for his new trainer Doug O'Neill and gets a jock upgrade........best racing two turns on the SA dirt........work series is impressive hinting his new trainer has a good insight into what this fellow needs
3 Justin's Quest  very good history when Flavien Prat has been in the saddle especially in one mile dirt affairs like this one........and Prat has never been hotter and that is saying something..........and like our top choice he drops down some albeit not as much as our top pick
2Â Seiche
6Â Causeididitmyway
race 5Â Â average clarity
1 Astronaut  one of three lifetime turf races fit solidly here and it was run 3 back in April of 2020 at GP on very firm turf.......turf should be very firm today at SA.........recent a.m. work is vastly improved and Prat wants the mount both suggesting we will see that effort run at GP last Spring
6 On Easy Street  poor effort in his latest but his effort 2 back at today's 9F turf distance is solid as he nearly won the race despite sitting dead last in a paceless race.......if he rebounds he should fit well in this spot and lately (over the last two months or so) when Gallagher legs up Cedillo his horses have been very live
4Â Cosmo
2Â Still in the Game
8Â Phantom Dance
race 6Â Â average clarity
6 There Goes Harvard  very strong forward move in his 2nd lifetime start running 3rd in an effort where he broke a little tardy and ran too wide even for a day the rail was kind of dull......blinkers go on and just what you want to see as in a nice 4F speed work......trainer has been chilly but might get his 5th win at the meeting here with the same effort as his last and a better trip
3 Fenway  nice race 2 back and then he had little chance in his next start as he set a blistering half mile and did so on a rail that was a little dull........it will be interesting if Smith elects to stalk our 3rd choice because if our 3rd pick is as fast on the dirt as he was on the turf in his debut Smith might have no other option if he wants this guy to be around when it counts
2Â Circumvent
race 7Â Â above average clarity
4 Translate  Falcone four year old turf filly has been competitive in every start (5 1 4 0) and also improved with every start.......her recent races stand out in this field and this afternoon she gets the best turf jock on her back that she has had to date.........filly has to slip off of form not to be a major player in this race with only 5 foes
1 Shes'a Perfectlady  nice improvement in her latest which led to an easy graduation day as in a going away at the wire 3L win.......3 reassuring works since.......Prat stays put.......likely needs another move in the desired direction and if she provides it she might overcome our top pick-a-rue
3Â Bella Chica
race 8Â Â below average clarity
6 Agata  Gaines is (at least) 0 for her last 32 making the MSW to MC move.........but the owner of this filly is also the breeder so there is more financial incentive to risk this filly for $50K........and........after two solid MSW races this filly tossed a clunker so it is a good time to drop with some doubt put into the minds of those looking to make a claim
1 Allergic to Logic  par like MC50K debut but she was up the track in her 2nd lifetime start........3 nice looking preparatory 4F drills put into this three year old filly........rebound to her debut run seems like a good possibility......we shall see at about 4:30 Pacific
7Â Sugar Kisses
3Â Our Little Tiger