Dan Illman

QARAABA looks like a mare to watch in the early portion of 2013.  The talented daughter of Shamardal took her second start since being imported from England with a last-to-first flourish in the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita on December 30.  A useful handicapper overseas, Qaraaba has been extremely impressive in both stateside appearances for trainer Simon Callaghan.

This week's HandiGambling exercise is the second race at Santa Anita, an entry-level allowance for fillies and mares at About 6 1/2 Furlongs on turf. PAST PERFORMANCES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PREVIOUS BLOG POST. REMEMBER, IF YOU ARE DECLARED THE WINNER OF THE HANDIGAMBLING EXERCISE; PLEASE CONTACT FORMBLOG@DRF.COM WITH YOUR DRF LOGIN AND PASSWORD IN ORDER TO ACCESS YOUR PRIZE PACKAGE. IF THE WINNER WOULD LIKE TO SELECT THE NEXT WEEK'S RACE, PLEASE SEND YOUR RACE SELECTION NO LATER THAN TUESDAY EVENING.

Let's get back in the swing of things by catching up with some data. *** Here are the top 25 WINNING Beyer Speed Figures (12/10/12 - 12/16/12):

Workout analysts reported that FLASHBACK was the real deal and the juvenile full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Zazu didn't disappoint first-out on December 8.  Trained by Bob Baffert, Flashback went off the even-money favorite going seven furlongs over the Hollywood cushion track and drew away by 3 1/2 lengths with a 93 Beyer Speed Figure.  A $260,000 weanling purchase, Flashback looks destined for stakes competition sooner rather than later.

This week's HandiGambling exercise is the ninth race at Fair Grounds, a $25,000 claimer for non-winners of two races at 1 1/16 miles.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS RACE IS OFF THE TURF. PAST PERFORMANCES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PREVIOUS BLOG POST. REMEMBER, IF YOU ARE DECLARED THE WINNER OF THE HANDIGAMBLING EXERCISE; PLEASE CONTACT FORMBLOG@DRF.COM WITH YOUR DRF LOGIN AND PASSWORD IN ORDER TO ACCESS YOUR PRIZE PACKAGE.