Santa Anita
Santa Anita: Closer Looks for April 10, 2014
Race 2
| Tiz Champ |
| Returns from 16 months on the shelf to try dirt for the initial time; filly didn't do much in either of her 2 juvenile turf spins and though she's been working regularly over this footing for her return, the barn boasts weak numbers first time back; dam's best foal was 1 million earner and G1 SW turf router Champ Pegasus; just watching her in a race she figures to need. |
| Dancinginthestreet |
| She's had a handful of chances thus far but from a figure standpoint her last was her best yet; filly hasn't shown much early interest so the sharp blowout last week suggests she may be able to secure a better spot from the bell in this one; nice to see Bejarano take interest but this outfit has had a pretty rough stand; still, given the added trip today she looks to be the one they'll have to hold off. |
| Bev's Summer Song |
| Showed improved early foot when stretched out upstate in her second career spin but she saved little for the drive; like the way she's been working for her first crack on dirt and her dam was a champion juvenile router so maybe there's some ability here; barn has had a rough year and off what she's done thus far this gal has a lot of improving to do. |
| Rutile |
| Profitable debut barn unveils this daughter of a 10% first out sire and a multiple sprint SW dam who dropped 7 winners including G1 Kentucky Derby winner and 2.5 million earner Giacomo and local G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Tiago who banked over 2.3 million; works are solid and she is kin to a couple of sprint winners as well. |
| Mum |
| Twice beaten chalk was given a little extra time to prepare for the turn back to sprint in this spot; she'll get Lasix here and her solid journeyman pilot sticks with this 400K yearling buy who us kin to G3 SW and 300K earner Hightap so she has a right to improve quickly. |
| Courageous Call |
| Outside drawn filly showed sharp early foot while pressing the pace and holding second money in her first start since the summer; she boasts a couple of solid interim drills for the slight stretchout and catches a field without much speed; with an aggressive send she may prove to be the one to run down. - Steve Grabowski |
Race 3
| Woodmans Luck |
| He shares the best last race Beyer Speed figure in here with a couple of others and like to see that his career best figure was earned racing over the main track here; multiple stakes placed gelding has every bit the look of a top contender; winner from latest returned to win next out at TuP on 4/5 going 1 3/8m over turf in a 35k stakes with an 87 Beyer. |
| Honduran |
| All three of his starts racing over dirt with Lasix have been solid performances and this gelding has a pedigree to suggest that he can handle today's 1 1/4m assignment; he's eligible to be involved in the running throughout while making his first start wearing blinkers. |
| Ashtar (CHI) |
| He's won two of his three starts racing over fast dirt surfaces but his recent form hasn't been anywhere near strong enough to suggest that he's about to produce a competitive performance against these; third-place finisher from latest won next out here on 3/22 going 6f vs. 16-14k claimers with a 92 Beyer. |
| Perfect Set |
| Not wild about what he showed in his one dirt start prior to this, and he was beaten by today's rival Seeking the West in that race, but he ran well at today's distance over turf in his latest outing, and he didn't finish all that far behind today's rival Woodmans Luck in that event. |
| Footbridge |
| It's interesting to see Smith aboard another in here, and he's aboard the one that beat this runner two starts back, but this colt loses nothing with Bejarano taking over; his form has been strong enough to suggest that he can get himself into the mix against these. |
| Seeking the West |
| Have to respect the form that he's displayed since being returned from a layoff at the end of December and he's being reunited with Smith who has been aboard for a couple of his better efforts; he owns excellent tactical speed and that can prove to be a key in a race that seems likely to have a slow early tempo. - Brian Pochman |
Race 4
| Betty Bing Bing |
| Decent try on the cut back in last and she caught the wet/fast trip two back; 2/7 winner repeated in a $20K optional here with an 82 Beyer; nothing but winners in the family including the 2 for 2 Bettys Bambino; due to hit paydirt. |
| Wild Optimism |
| Off poorly in the debut but the Beyers are going in the right direction and she shows for the tag; dam was 0 for 5; all 3 siblings won, one was a double winner at 2 and all earned over $66K; surprise package. |
| Ryleigh Ruler |
| She could have phoned it in after hopping in the air but she put her head down and competed; dam out of the money 7 times; the half sis to win Our Dahlia took 3 of 9, banked over $100K; the way she closed at the beach suggests she'll take to this added distance. |
| Controller |
| Miss wanted no part of the route two back and was steadied last time; tough to pull the trigger here after the last pair of efforts; would be careful here. |
| New Nature |
| Forced to take the overland route from the marooned slot in last, miss fits on the Beyer scale and if she runs back to the February finale, she'll be in the thick of it; clever barn due to get rolling. |
| Warren's Susie Q. |
| Pushed along early on the stretch out but she had nothing in the tank; at least she has the 2 races to draw from now; decent moves since last efforts; has some things to iron out. |
| Queen Mad |
| Would have expected her to show more speed on the stretch out in last; note show horse 2 back was clear for fun; must be left in the exotic conversation at least. |
| Alice Roadtrain |
| Valid trouble in the debut, over 5 clear in last in a solid try; dam 2nd in best result; lone full sis Secret Cove was stakes placed, took 6 of 32, banked nearly $250K; drawn right, not a ton of speed in here it seems; can't fault those that project a theft attempt. - Brian Mulligan |
Race 6
| Ravens Ironwood |
| Sire is 0-for-23 with his first-time starters and dam was unraced; he's making his belated career debut and this can be a tricky post position for a firster; however, he isn't meeting up with the toughest bunch of maidens. |
| Our Trooper |
| He has a number of starts on his card that are in the neighborhood of what it will take to get the job done in this spot, and it doesn't hurt to see that he ran one of his better races over a dirt surface when last seen. |
| Nonno Tunaga |
| He has some early speed to employ but he's obviously going to need to produce a much improved performance if he's planning on getting the job done in this spot; note that he was beaten by today's rival Slight Edge in his career debut. |
| Grey Is Best |
| Best Minister has not been a positive influence as a win-early sire and this lightly raced 6-year-old has posted Beyer Speed Figures of 3 and 7 in his first two starts; his a.m. activity looks okay, but he hasn't shown enough in the p.m. in his first two starts to give him a competitive look. |
| Silectico |
| Not only has he looked better racing over turf than any other surface, but he hasn't finished better than fourth or closer than nine lengths to the winner from seven starts; he is in against a soft bunch, but others entice more. |
| Storm Bid |
| Jet West is off to a good start as a win-early sire and this has to be considered an ideal spot for this gelding to make his third career start; he has to prove that he can handle more than four furlongs, but going to look for him to be involved in the running every step of the way. |
| Neurosurgeon |
| Obviously there's some concern with regard to this being just his second start back from a long layoff, but he did flash some ability in his first four starts, and he's really going to appreciate the class relief he sees today. |
| Slight Edge |
| An 0-for-17 race record can often be used as a reason to look in another direction, but when looking around at the competition in here, it's probably a good idea to recognize this runner as a legitimate threat. - Brian Pochman |
Race 7
| Vegas Rules |
| She finished behind a number of today's rivals in her most recent start and she's going to need to produce a career best effort if she's thinking about seeing her number posted on top after this one is run; prefer to keep looking around in here. |
| Noise of the Crowd |
| She shares the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here with Mark of a Gem and those two might be getting ready to battle it out on the front end just like they did last time; she's a threat to make it back-to-back wins in this spot, and Bejarano is three-for-three riding for this barn at the current meeting. |
| Tribal Chatter |
| Like to see what she did after a layoff two starts ago, but she enters this race off of a performance that was well be low par for her, and she's probably going to have to hope that a few of these show up with less than their best to have a chance at the top spot. |
| Hollanita |
| Have to give her credit for getting the job done in nine of 17 career starts, and it is interesting to see that this will be her first start sprinting on grass, but this might prove to be a difficult step up in class for her first start sprinting down the hill. |
| Tiz a Kiss |
| She's looked good in back-to-back starts prior to this, and even though she might be better off routing, she still has to be considered a player in this spot after an encouraging turf debut when last seen; her dam was a multiple stakes winner while winning 5 of 10 turf starts for 254k. |
| Jade With Envy |
| Four of her six starts have been solid performances, including a couple of turf starts, and her two poor performances have come against stakes competition; she is making her first start since last April, but it does look like she's been doing some nice work in the a.m. in preparation for her return to action. |
| Mark of a Gem |
| Speedy filly was sharp in defeat in her latest outing and she was nosed out by today's key rivals in Noise of the Crowd in that event; going to look for her and Noise of the Crowd to battle it out much the same way they did here on March 16. |
| Midnight Lady |
| She's seeking her first turf victory but she didn't disgrace herself when chasing a few of today's rivals through the stretch in her latest outing and that was her first start sprinting over turf since moving into this barn; at the very least, she's worthy of consideration underneath in the exotics. |
| J and S Express |
| She's another in here going after her first win over turf, and this mare is an interesting option to consider after a late running performance sprinting down the hill in a race that saw her finish close behind a couple of today's key rivals; she usually shows up and gives a solid account of herself, and she's eligible to be better positioned early on than she was last time. - Brian Pochman |
Race 8
| He's a Real Keeper |
| Must be given legit look on the drop alone; show horse in last took a MSW, the winner repeated in a $50K optional and 2 others ran second; drill on Sunday suggests he is feeling pretty good about himself; Talamo hired, expect much better effort. |
| Even Echo |
| Youngster was inching toward the winner and he shows for a tag for the second time; 2 solid drills since the last effort; colt has the 2 races to draw from now and he should be making an impact late. |
| Gates of Zion |
| Yet to beat a runner as he tries to carry speed long; sire won 3 times in Argentina and he could run all day long; dam was unraced; this is her first to race; hustling bug got a chance to figure him out but soph has yet to beat a horse to the wire. |
| Heaveneleven |
| He has a shot to show speed on the stretch out here; he was out in post 10 in the mile effort and just never rolled; a bit more energy in the drill on the 31st; needs very best. |
| Fuzzy Logic |
| Hard to be thrilled about the other route effort when he saw all the heels; connections wouldn't mind if he starts acting like top kin Hand I Was Dealt, who banked nearly $100K; runner may not have cared for the wet/fast strip in last; could at least muddle the pace. |
| Closet E |
| Four clear in last and love the series of drills since the last effort; over 5 clear two back at the demanding distance and Diodoro, who is running away with the training title at Phoenix, has a nice eye for a claim; major player. |
| Code of Pleasure |
| Colt is due for a trip; wide in his first 2 starts, he bobbled early in last and never rolled; place horse in last cashed next out in a maiden $40K claimer with a 69 Beyer; millionaire sire was a proven router; dam s lone win was a route; this is her first to race; love the series of works coming to this race. |
| Warrensgoldenyears |
| Beyers going in the right direction as runner was over 3 clear in last; Beyers going in the right direction, Bejarano got a chance to figure him out and runner should sit a nice stalk and pounce kind of a trip; the one to deny. |
| Wicked Heat |
| Slight drop is logical for this $32K purchase; back to the original pilot, pretty snappy move on 3/16 and the last race came back live; the place horse took a maiden $50K claimer and the 5th and 6th finishers graduated at this level; sire was a proven router on grass; 3 for 26 dam earned nearly $100K; she took 2 sprints and won on grass once; 3 of 4 siblings won; top sibling and full sister Central Heat took 5 of 21, earned nearly $100K; expect much better effort. |
| Stenoa |
| Nice rebound effort in last after he broke poorly to kick it off; dam s lone win was a sprint; both siblings won; they are a combined 3 for 17 and earned about $30K combined; must find a way to turn the tables on the Gutierrez runner among others. |
| Bluegrass Fox Trot |
| Wraps added in last when he stalked to no avail; like the way he closed 2 back, and the 1/23 place horse cashed next out in a maiden $50K claimer, lost next pair; 3 clever spins since last effort accentuated by the blowout last Friday; due. - Brian Mulligan |