Santa Anita
Santa Anita: Closer Looks for April 6, 2014
Race 1
| Classic Candy |
| Tough to endorse her in this spot when looking at her two most recent races, but when seeing that her two best Beyer Speed Figures were earned racing over turf, maybe the surface switch can serve as a little bit of a wakeup call. |
| Rosso Bellezza |
| She was outrun at every point of call in her career debut after going to post at over 46-1 and she's obviously going to need to produce a much improved performance in order to prove to be a player. |
| Majestic Gem |
| Sire wins with approximately 8% of his turf starters and G2 stakes placed dam won 4 of 8 turf starts for 190k; this filly is a 1/2 to multiple stakes placed Easton Jack (2-20, 96k, including 1 of 7 turf starts for 42k); third-place finisher from latest won next out at LA on 3/22 going 4 1/2f vs. 3.5k MCL's with a 47 Beyer. |
| Hey Pretty Girl |
| She ran well against maiden claiming competition in her career debut and this will be the first time that she's faced maiden claimers over turf; look for her to be more involved in the running early on than she was in her first route attempt after a layoff in her latest outing. |
| Sable in Silks |
| Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and dam was winless from two starts, and she didn't make a turf start; winner from latest won next out here on 1/12 going 6 1/2f vs. N1X alw. rivals with an 83 Beyer. |
| Money Plays |
| She wasn't able to get much going in her career debut, but note the success that this barn has had with horses making their second career start in maiden races; her dam was a multiple graded stakes winner while winning 6 of 14 starts for 339k, including 5 of 11 turf starts for 307k. |
| Scene Queen |
| She has turf in her pedigree and she looks like a good fit at this level of competition; winner from latest won next out at SA on 3/13 going 1 1/8m over turf vs. N1X alw. rivals with a 73 Beyer; note that she beat a couple of today's rivals in her latest outing. |
| Kissin Lucky Lips |
| She was beaten by today's rival Scene Queen in her latest outing but that was a step in the right direction for her second career start and her first start over turf; she's out of a G1 winning dam who won 8 of 28 turf starts for 435k; winner from latest won next out at SA on 3/13 going 1 1/8m over turf vs. N1X alw. rivals with a 73 Beyer. |
| Birthday Surprise |
| She hasn't made much of an impression in her first three starts and she finished behind a couple of these in her most recent start; she looks like more of an outsider. |
| Little Unusual |
| She has a little bit of turf in her pedigree and her best effort is fast enough to get her into the mix against these, but when seeing that she's seeking her first win in career start number 37, it's tough to back her for the top spot. - Brian Pochman |
Race 3
| Sea John's Spirit |
| The patience of Ellis is paying off; mare was on the wrong surface three back and show horse in the last win cashed next out in a MSW, then took a $40K starter with an 87 Beyer; she has enough speed to get some kind of position from the fence; shorter trip could be just what the good doctor ordered. |
| Yes She's Unusual |
| Toss the wide debut and the form brightens; off the fence, Baze got a clue as to what's under the hood and she drilled okay since; these are her fiends. |
| Copperopolis |
| Nice bit of training to have this miss roll after taking 2013 off; also like the way she extended late; put through her motions with 3 spins since including the eye-catching move on the 29th; homebred has some upside. |
| Adriatic Skye |
| Pushed into the stakes after graduating and it may have taken a toll; like the spacing of these drills and you can never dismiss sub :22 speed; show horse in last cashed next out in a $32K optional, lost next several; needs very best. |
| Twelve Folds |
| Four times as many slices as wins makes her a tough on top only ticket; she regressed in the Beyer department in the last 2nd off the layoff run; backers have to hope the drop shakes her up. - Brian Mulligan |
Race 4
| Insideondoutside |
| Changes hands again while removing the hood for the cut back to sprint down the hill; gelding does have sprint experience and there does look to be a lot of lick signed on to set up his run; expect he'll be doing his better running in the lane; consider. |
| Victory Pete |
| He's offered for a tag in his first start back from nearly 21 months on the shelf; 9 year old was facing graded stakes foes the last time he saw the hill so he should appreciate the class relief and he has been working regularly for the comebacker, but it won't be easy to return from so much time off in sharp form. |
| Atta Boy Pete |
| Speedy gelding drops again after his second straight beaten chalk effort; he figures to again be on the front end in this one, but there's plenty of early foot in here and that won't make it easy for him to go on; don't think he'll prove a big threat late. |
| Great Friends Rule |
| Goes for a new barn while stepping up to face older in his return to the green; gray has plenty of early foot and figures to again be rolling from the bell, but there's other speed in here and that won't make it easy for him; prefer others. |
| He's a Dance Star |
| Brings fresh speed to the table with a sharp recent drill in tow; 7 year old has had plenty of chances without sealing the deal late since his last score 2 years to the day and he'll face other speed in this spot, but he does face a much easier bunch on the drop today; contender. |
| Xuang Feng |
| Just missed on the dirt against cheap claimers and now he'll move to the lawn; gelding didn't do much in his lone spin down the hill and though the barn does well on the surface switch, don't know that he'll have much more to offer in this spot; passing. |
| Showme Yourfriends |
| Ships down here to try the hill again and his last score did come over this course; gelding didn't get involved in the Golden Gate main track sprint last out but that was his first start in 9 months and he should be tighter in his return to the green; with plenty of speed signed on he should come running hard in the lane; giving him the nod to beat them home. |
| Mind the Master |
| Gray makes his third start back from a long break while dropping in price today; he doesn't have much recent sprint experience, but he should have a little extra to offer late and he catches a field with tons of early zip; one to keep an eye on in the lane. |
| Mr. Ornery |
| Cal bred did little off the freshening over the course after running down restricted allowance runners 2 back; he'll get plenty of pace in front of him and maybe that helps him move forward with his last behind him; price should be right to try and get him in the exotics mix. |
| Big Note (IRE) |
| Outside drawn 5 year old has been right there in each of his last 2 starts down the hill; he enters this one off a brief freshening and gets a new pilot; worked well last week, but there's other speed signed on which won't make things easy for him and this trip may just be a pinch too far for him but he should at least be in the thick of this in midstretch. - Steve Grabowski |
Race 5
| Rich in Tradition |
| Steps up to her highest spot since April, 2013; today is her 26th chance while she posted the field's best Beyer on the DMR-synthetic surface at today's 5.5F distance; doubles the price tag noting her 3-back near-miss finish the last time sent 5.5F. |
| Irish and Lucky |
| Sire is 2-for-18 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 1-for-7 dam (31K) won her 4th start; she produced 1 winner from 3 other foals to race; 2-for-15 Real Conundrum (161K) won 2nd-time out; has the consistently best workouts among the 1sters for a capable-debut trainer. |
| Gisele At Fonz's |
| Exits a best-last-race Beyer on grass; is the one to catch and beat; just missed at today's distance 2-back when dueling every step of the way; the 3-back show finisher Beyered 55 in a next-out BHP-MSW win; going to be hard to catch if repeats her 2-back near-miss finish at 5.5F. |
| My Monet |
| Sire is 30-for-211 with 1st-time starters; is out of an unraced dam who produced 5 winners from 6 other foals to race including stakes-winner Another Bob (15-for-44, 122K) who won his 3rd start. bullet workout for this stamps as a contender for win honors at 1st asking. |
| Theatrical Cast |
| Sire is 12-for-137 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 1-for-4 dam (31K) who won her 3rd start; her only other foal to race is 0-for-1 full-Whythelongface; consistent workouts for a high-percentage debut trainer; wouldn't count out. |
| Susan B Good |
| Sire is 8-for-79 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 1-for-2 dam (11K) who won 2nd start; she produced 2 winners from 2 other foals to race including SW-Susans Express (2-for-7, 143K) who won her DMR-career debut; the workouts and the 9%-debut win trainer are the issues but seeing Bejarano listed to ride (24% for O'Neill since 2013) suggests this one might be a runner. |
| Private Marina |
| Sire is 27-for-183 with 1st-time starters; is out of an unraced dam who produced 3 winners from 4 other foals to race including 24K-earner Zees Echo (1-for-9) who graduated in his 6th start; has been outworked by the other 1sters signed on here. |
| Ryderroo |
| DQ'd winner 2 back returned as favorite then posted a career-low Beyer; which filly shows up for this?; today marks the shortest-distance test of her career; breaks outside for this after showing nothing from prior wide-gate breaks. - Art Gropper |
Race 6
| African Oil (FR) |
| His first start in America wasn't a bad performance and it's interesting to see Rosario took the call that day; however, he will need to show more if he's to see his number posted on top after this one is run; prefer to keep looking around in here. |
| Maxx the Giant |
| He's probably going to need to see a slow early pace develop to have his best chance at staying involved in the running late and it looks like there's enough early speed signed on in this spot to prevent that from happening; third-place finisher from latest won next out here on 2/14 going 1 1/2m over turf vs. 40k OPC's with an 86 Beyer. |
| Vibrato Jazz |
| Stakes placed veteran is clearly capable of making noise in this spot if he brings his 'A' game to the table, but he does have to be approached with some caution when seeing that he has just a single win next to his name after 20 starts. |
| Deep Play |
| His best Beyer Speed Figure was earned racing over the main track here, something to consider if this race gets taken off the turf, but his turf form has been strong enough to give him a competitive look against these; he likes to get involved in the running early on but he has shown the ability to tap the brakes a little bit if need be. |
| Snaps |
| Lightly raced 5-year-old can prove to be the dominant early speed in here and he's out of a G1 winning dam who won 5 of 10 starts for 384k, including 1 of 3 turf starts for 73k; he has a live look to him in this spot with Smith getting the call. |
| Presenceofagenius |
| He hasn't run a bad race to date and his form has been right in line with what it might take to win this; like to see him being reunited with Bejarano and his most recent workout in preparation for this looks sharp. |
| Counting Days |
| Grade 3 stakes placed gelding has yet to post a 1-2 finish from six starts over turf prior to this, but he is out of a G3 stakes placed dam who won 3 of 10 turf starts for 180k; respect the work that this barn does with turf starters, but others entice more. |
| Jules Journey |
| He carries multiple stakes placed credentials with him and he's shown the ability to dial up a pretty sharp performance over turf on his best day; like to see that he's been at his best racing over this turf course and he seems likely to bounce back from a sub par performance in his latest outing. |
| Big Cazanova (ARG) |
| He's maiden eliigible, so it's interesting to his connections opt to take on winners, but judging from his starts against Indy Point, it looks like this 5-year-old does have a good deal of ability; like to see him getting Lasix for his first start in America. |
| Brother Pete |
| He's finished 1-2-3 in eight of nine turf starts and he's going to appreciate going dirt-to-turf for this; he's not out of the question against competition of this caliber and Talamo has won with 3 of 10 mounts for this barn at the current stand. - Brian Pochman |
Race 8
| Peace and Justice |
| Half-brother to G2 winner Hudson Steele (6-12, 486k over turf) has been very sharp in winning three of five starts and he's two-for-two over this turf course; with his early speed, he's ideally drawn in post one, and he has to be considered a gate-to-finish threat. |
| Dubai You X Y Z |
| Don't like to see all of the time off he's needed between starts, but he's done some nice work from nine turf starts and have to respect the way that he performed in his 7-year-old racing debut in a tough spot in his latest outing after breaking from post 11; must respect. |
| Bright Thought |
| Have to be at least mildly concerned when seeing what he's done in his two most recent starts but maybe the assignment of Bejarano is a reason to believe that his connections are looking for him to turn things around in this spot; runner up from latest won next out at GP on 1/11 going 1 1/16m over turf in a G2 with a 102 Beyer, and third finisher won next out here on 2/1 going 1m over turf in a G2 with a 105 Beyer. |
| Dr Action (ARG) |
| He won four of five starts prior to shipping to Argentina for a G1 run and like to see him getting Lasix for his first start in America; however, he is going to need to be ready for a very sharp try if he's to get the better of this tough bunch. |
| Teaks North |
| Multiple G1 winner has obviously seen faster days and feel that it's fair to question if his best effort at this stage of his career is strong enough to get over on the top contenders in this one; have to respect what he's done in his career, but leaning toward others. |
| Tom's Tribute |
| Stakes winning colt has displayed consistently sharp form, and even though this isn't a soft spot by any means, he'll appreciate not lining up against Winning Prize today; he has the ability to adapt to any early pace scenario and it's interesting to see him being reunited with Smith. |
| County Lineman |
| His one start over turf was a solid performance and he earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure while making his first start for this barn in his latest outing; however, that was against 75-55k claimers and this looks like a difficult next step for him. |
| Joelito |
| Have to respect the way that he's taken his game to another level since moving into this barn and like to see what he's done from three starts over this turf course; the outside post isn't ideal, but he commands a good deal of respect regardless; third-place finisher from latest won next out here on 3/30 going 1m over turf vs. 62k OPC's with an 89 Beyer. - Brian Pochman |
Race 9
| Rose Butch |
| Limited data on Butch, who is kin to triple stakes winner and near $500K earner Silver Season; sire took one of 4, banked nearly $50K; dam out of the money in only start; this is her first to race; only one published move at 5 furlongs and she has to go 6 and a half here; not sold on chances. |
| Nonna Reese |
| She bobbled early and never got rolling; Berrio got a chance to figure her out and maybe she was just dead short; decent move since; needs very best. |
| My Moment Too |
| Ran well despite being forced to steady but the extended layoff is a concern; at least there is a double winner in the family; with her style, she needs a hot pace and a near perfect trip. |
| Desviado |
| This is a tough sell; she was just gone for way too long; stakes winning 4 for 22 dam earned nearly $250K; lone half bro Gotta Haveitall took 1 of 11, earned nearly $30K; 2 clear moves since the last effort; can't endorse. |
| Perfect Tango |
| Considering the cut back, he could be left with some work to do late; show horse in last graduated in this league next out with a 66 Beyer; rates upset glance. |
| Amina Perfect |
| She should be fit enough by now; she may have disliked the wet/fast strip and barn has been rolling big time; needs very best. |
| Janes Ship |
| When they miss at Ruidoso, Pomona and Phoenix, not sure there is any upside; wide two back, then steadied but she can be her own worst enemy with limited speed; looking elsewhere for a key top horse. |
| Chasing Hope |
| Educated last month but she showed renewed energy in the drill last Thursday; one for 9 dam earned less than a grand a start; 4 of 5 siblings won; 2 banked 6 figures including Grade 3 placed over $300K earner Web Gem; got a feeling we have not seen the best of this one. |
| Cleverly Beverly |
| Back in a hurry after exiting the marred race; 2 of 4 siblings won; top kin Flamingo Princess took 2 of 23, banked $65K; overmatched vs. winners the last time this rider was aloft; must be left in the exotic conversation at least. |
| Splendid Outcast |
| The rail could have intimidated her when she failed to break; 2 for 8 dam banked $75K; show horse in last returned to beat rival on the direct inside; expect better effort here. - Brian Mulligan |