Daily GamePlan gives you some of the best betting opportunities of the day from DRF experts, including Closer Looks , Spot Plays, Vulnerable Favorites, and Live Longshots.
Closer Looks by Mark Ratzky
Race 1
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Jean Edward |
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Made debut down the hill at Santa Anita a month ago, flashed speed and then called it a day after making the dirt crossing; drops into a claimer and Hofmans has won with 3 of last 15 making 2nd start with a nice ROI; interesting. |
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Runningwiththelute |
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The other member of the cast showing up with a claiming tag for the first time; did show sharp speed in the two Arcadia efforts, she gets an easier assignment this time around and will be racing over the track where she's training smartly for Koriner. |
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Inherit the Throne |
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By far the most missed chances here as this gal is making her 14th stab; has tried a little bit of everything, dirt and turf, short and long, and the recent work doesn't exactly get the pulse racing. |
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She's a Given |
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The only new face and the Melton barn struck with a similar-looking beginner in Leedstobeaver on last Friday's program, with Baze also guiding; daughter of Point Given turned in a bullet half since coming in from Dixie Downs in Utah. |
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Warren's Tricia R. |
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Been stuck on show finishes while doing all her recent racing at about this same level; should be in stalking mode from the cozy outside slot with apprentice Van Dyke getting his first chance. |
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Race 2
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Astuzia |
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All runners in here were claimed from their most recent tries and this is 1 of 2 now under the watchful eye of Miyadi; been doing all her recent work going long on the turf, making some mild late impact the day she was taken; hasn't hit the board in 4 dirt tries, but be be finishing well. |
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Lady Vivien |
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Did the stalk-and-pounce to perfection going a mile at Santa Anita in late May and was promptly haltered by Freeman; nice to see Desormeaux taking the call again and if the outside trio decide to do some serious dueling up front, they could be setting the table for this gal. |
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Ya Wanna Hug |
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Dueled hard to the stretch and was no match for today's rival Eltoninadress when push came to shove; claimed by Treece, who put a local bullet half-mile into her last Friday; trainer and jockey win them in bunches around here when the sun goes down. |
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Eltoninadress |
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Claimed from last 3 appearances and continues to go from good barn to good barn with Miyadi now calling the shots; battled it out early with Ya Wanna Hug last time in Arcadia, disposed of that one at the head of the lane and won convincingly; Baze gets along great with her and lots of respect right back. |
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Suicide Curves |
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Invades from Golden Gate and new conditioner Gonzalez decides that the blinkers should go back on; a couple of works over this track since the red-tag to get acclimated and the outside slot gives Pereira some options; will need to come up with her very best to reach. |
Race 3
Vulnerable Favorite
ROYAL STACK (#6, 3-1) is the ML favorite as he’s been working nicely for a sharp barn and dropping in class. That being said, he was no factor in his only start (7th)…and that came nearly 2 years ago at Fairplex (Sept. 2012). So, he has a very long layoff to overcome and there’s no way to tell from his only start whether he has the requisite talent to topple even these suspect foes. -Michael Hammersly
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Eleven Zip |
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Needed that first start off the bench, then wheeled back in 13 days and lost best chance with a stumbling start; drops to the lowest level now with Tyler staying put and has to be considered. |
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Dark Timbers |
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Still looking for the first snapshot in his 22nd outing; on the plus side, he's reteamed with Kent and the only time he rode this guy just missed at Santa Anita two back, albeit in a rather slow affair. |
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Marv |
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Hasn't been seen December, when he was continuing his streak of 2nd-place finishes up and down the state; has been prepped in Utah and no surprise if this one finally gets the job done. |
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Quick Timber |
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The only new face in the cast and not much to encourage pedigree-wise; a series of modest local moves and looking in other directions. |
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Kaepernick |
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First of 2 in here who have already raced at the meet; was a bit rank early on going a mile last Friday and had nothing left for the drive; cuts back to one turn while shedding the blinkers; had to do a little better. |
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Royal Stack |
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Made only appearance 22 months ago in one of those abbreviated affairs at Fairplex Park, took a little bit of money and failed to threaten while wide; have to respect anything sent out by Miller barn. |
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Warren's Sunny Boy |
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Shown some early interesting in a couple of those starts but has been merely a bystander at the wire; a bit of traffic troube in the most recent, but has to pick things up. |
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Primal Revival |
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Been going off at long odds while failing to threaten and would be a surprise here. |
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Fast Mast |
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Idle since December and returns at the lowest level of his career; gets to race over the track where he's been training all along for Harrington and he's defnitely returning in a soft spot. |
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Angel Charge |
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The other with an outing at the meet as he was trying to make some late headway after trouble on the turn while chasing home the favorite; lots of missed opportunities, but figures for at least a share. |
Race 4
Spot Play
BOLD DECISION (#7, 3-1) found straight maidens way too tough last summer. However, she returns now with the most important drop in the game (straight maiden to maiden claiming) and has been working lights-out on dirt at SA. If those works are any indication she’s ready to come back firing, and she doesn’t face much strength here at all. -Michael Hammersly Race 4
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Diamonds Dena |
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Only start came just under a year ago at Del Mar and she failed to threaten while taking on a tougher group; a steady string of Santa Anita works in tow for Glatt and he could well be a player off the bench. |
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Bar Car |
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First of 2 new faces in the field; Silver Train has connected with 9% of his first-time starters; had a nice half-mile gate drill at SA to complete preparations for this for Kruljac and a post parade and toteboard check is in order. |
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Swiss Perfection |
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A nibble here and a nibble there so far, now she moves down another notch and gets the first chance to race over the track where she resides for Harrington; should appreciate the softer cast. |
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Papa's Dancing |
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Been testing deeper waters in the last couple for Koriner, most recently showing the way going a mile on the Arcadia sod before faltering in the final furlong; trains here and will be very much at home under the conditions. |
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Baligah |
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The other firster; sire 1-for-3 with beginners and the works over this layout have been on the slow side; siding with others. |
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Dark Cloud Lady |
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Saw action once at Barretts last September in one of those abbreviated dashes and finished evenly in a compact cast; likely to need one. |
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Bold Decision |
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Idle since Del Mar, when she was chasing home fillies that would dominate this group; a pair of bullets showing across town, the cozy outside box and Tyler Baze to add to the positives. |
Race 5
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Happy Deisy |
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Always outrun in the May 18 unveiling across town, now she dips into a claimer; runner-up from that debut race came back to score and show finisher clicked here opening week |
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Bullet Chaser |
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First of 3 beginners in the field; Awesome Gambler hits at 10 percent with his debut 2-year-olds; those Arcadia works don't exactly get the pulse racing, but she won't need to be a beast to make an impact with these. |
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Wacky Miss |
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Just nibbles to this point, but she gets an easier assignment for her fourth attempt and she has displayed some early interesting in a couple of those outings. |
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Feisty Swiss |
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First of the Harrington representatives drawn side-by-side; Lucky Pulpit, now famous as the sire of California Chrome, has clicked with 8 of his 46 2-year-old firsters; attracts Baze with a modest local tab in tow. |
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Don't Tell Abbey |
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The other Harrington; took some money in that debut last month at SA, took the short way around and failed to make an impression; blinkers go on and now she gets a shot to race at her home track. |
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Don'tmesswithness |
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Dueled and faded when backed to 7-2 for the first try at Golden Gate, then went evenly in another compact cast 16 days later at Anita; another who does her training here and finds a fairly soft spot. |
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Is This Georgia |
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scratched |
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Wackett |
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Left at the Gate in the debut up north and beaten double digits in the two Santa Anita efforts, including the most recent as the chalk when she had some early trouble; Van Dyke, who had a four-bagger Sunday, willing to give it another shot. |
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The Good Luck Cat |
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Surf Cat is for 1-for-11 to this point with his debut babies; so-so drills showing over in Pomona with Trulillo guiding from the cozy outside slot; would want to see a good appearance and some tote support. |
Race 6
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Versye |
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Showed some grit in the debut win at 13-1, was asked too much routing and taking on stakes foes off the bench in the Melair and then dueled hard from the inside and paid the price late when last seen in May; freshened a bit by O'Neill and given a much easier assignment. |
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Miss American Pie |
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Took a suspicious tumble in class across town, sat close and came up empty while chasing home a repeat victress; up in class despite being out of jail with one slow local work showing and blinkers for the first time; tread carefully. |
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Rich in Tradition |
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After 27 failed attempts, she finally got over the hump at Santa Anita while taking the measure of a bottom-level crew; outrun in the starter spot five weeks ago, now shows up in a more realistic spot at the track where she does her training. |
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Daugava |
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Found a cozy spot for her return in mid-May up at the Gate and never gave them a chance, then flopped at 9-5 when making the next logical step up there; will have to pick things up for the new connections. |
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Bodie Girl |
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Once-promising distaffer makes 3rd start following a long vacation for local conditioner Craigmyle; took money and no threat in the return, then tried a mile here opening day and stopped; back to the short game now and down a notch in class. |
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Silic's Valley |
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Treece has taken over the training; you have to go back to Del Mar two years ago for the lone victory and she hasn't sprinted since her debut in May of 2012; will have to do much better. |
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Musical Arts |
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Would appear to have plenty of things in her favor; her 6 wins are four more than anybody in the field, she hails from the high percentage Ellis barn and a repeat of either of her two efforts since joining the shedrow and returning from the Bay Area should be good enough to get job done under Delgadillo. |
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Tribal Yodeler |
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Dropped to the lowest level of her career for the Santa Anita finale and lost a tough decision after battling it out gamely on the front end from the get-go; like the draw and the fact that Knapp will be giving the leg up to Baze once again. |
Race 7
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Destino |
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That June 6 diploma earner at SA came in his 35th trip to the post; actually picked up his figure when trying winners for the first time in that most recent, now it's a rare route attempt; has hands full on paper, but at least he got the best of the draw. |
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Tenkiller Kid |
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Ignited late under Trulillo to be part of a dead-heat for the win 17 days ago, with today's rival Goyan right there in the blanket finish; goes from one good barn to another with Carava reaching in and he looms large right back as he makes one step up the ladder. |
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Goyan |
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Had to settle for the show money in that aforementioned crowded finish with Tenkiller Kid after doing much of the heavy lifting in the mile and a sixteenth affair; O'Callaghan wheels back the fresh purchse and engages a hot apprentice in Van Dyke. |
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Crusher |
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Hess and Desormeaux have had some outstanding teamings over the years; gelidng left little doubt when last seen in early April in the first start off the claim and has been shopping for a spot in the interim; obviously very dangerous right back from a stalking position. |
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Trucial State |
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Difficult to get very excited about the outings that have followed the claim off a victory at Del Mar just shy of a year ago; can't see him getting much more than a slice in this spot. |
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Dr. Spin |
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They no doubt had much higher hopes for this one when he started career, but things haven't worked out; Drysdale has given him a freshening, moves him to the main track and lowers the tag another couple of notches with Tyler getting his first chance; has to be considered. |
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Warren's Casper |
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Had a slow start in the most recent and was just a bystander in the Tenkiller Kid/Goyan affair; a better takeoff than the last couple would help the cause, but still only makes him an undercard factor. |
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Ekahi |
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Been well beaten in last 10 appearances and it's difficult to say anything positive. |
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China Girl Lover |
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The other O'Callaghan representative; looks like a good fit from a class standpoint with these; makes first start on dirt, but does have a solid set of drills over this layout; Steiner will need to do some fancy footwork from this post position with relatively quick run into a tight first turn. |
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Race 8
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Unstopper Topper |
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Speed and fade in a trio of outings since being claimed across town in May; now he dips a notch while returning to the sprint game; looking in other directions for the first couple of placings. |
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Youonlyliveonce |
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He's been on fire her over the smaller night oval, rattling off three straight under Charlton while working his way back up the class rung; earned a teriffic figure doing the track-and-attack to perfection under the lights in that last one and has to be respected. |
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Search Overload |
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Has been dwelling at the lower levels over this track over the five-eighths oval and it's been some time since he's been a threat; hard to make a case. |
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Octane |
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Had been away a long time when he surfaced in one of those 870-mixed races here, he stumbled away from there and was never a factor; race under his belt now and a drop in class, with question being how much does he have left in the tank. |
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Private Bounty |
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Hasn't really been a player in any of the four tries since changing hands; freshened for this and will be racing over the track he calls home; needs to step it up. |
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Truelee Scrappin |
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Never made an impact in last while chasing home today's foe Senator Bob and it's been a long time since he's had his picture taken; presence of Pedroza seems main plus. |
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Electrolyte |
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Been well-backed in the last pair but has weakened on both occasions while also being red-tagged from both of those outings; one fine barn to another with O'Neill now calling the shots and no more route experiment with Trullijo getting the call. |
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Pride of Wilshire |
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Sports 4 wins to go with 19 place and shows; lots of nibbles showing under the lights here and that would appear to be the ceiling once again. |
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My Best Bet |
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Last couple certainly raise concerns, but if you're willing to to back a little more the Carava trainee has some appeal; been freshened and returns to the distance where he is perfect in 3 appearances. |
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Senator Bob |
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Veteran has banked 227K and showed his heart when he returned to his winning ways with a very gutsy score to close out that long Santa Anita meeting; new best friend Pereira should have him right on top of the action and he deserves the top billing. |
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Aerial Artist |
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Shows up having scored back-to-back wins here under the lights, changing hands on both occasions; barn has clicked two 2 of last 4 fresh purchases and this gelding is looking to climb back up the ladder after doing his work with much better as a sophomore. |
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Time to Go Robo |
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Golden Gate invader looks like a nice fit under these conditions with promising apprentice Van Dyke in the saddle; figures to sit a nice stalking trip and should be in prime pouncing mode when they straighten away for that long stretch. |
