Santa Anita: Closer Looks for February 23, 2014

Race 1

Ryderroo

Turns back from her first route attempt over the main where she launched a fair middle move before fading; the drop to the claiming level for the initial time is significant and she should receive an honest early pace to set up her up; consider.

Fast Moka Too

On the shelf a long time but she could be the main pacesetter in light of some fair workouts during the last month; dangerous if able to put away Jetbird in the opening stages and the trainer has established a fine win percentage at the meet.

Jetbird

In her only start since April, she was doubly compromised when racing between rivals and being involved in a lengthy duel; if beating Fast Moka Too to the lead and rail, she will prove very tough this afternoon.

Marina Martini

Quit early while giant odds in her last assignment; most unlikely to get the jump on the speed rivals to her inside; third start off the bench angle may not apply and she cannot be given the main vote.

Hollywood Icon

In that September getaway race, she stayed on well until the final furlong; worked today's distance twice during the last month, a sign of good intent, and is one of 4 in this short field making the powerful descent from the special weight class; respect.

Swiss Heart

She is an alert breaker who suffered through wide trips in the last pair; the same fate may await here but she could be lurking just to the outside flank of dueling leaders, an excellent position; worth some follow-up if the price is right. - Jim Kachulis

Race 4

Right On Schedule

He showed improved early speed at second asking and he might not mind getting a chance to see what he can do routing; if anyone in here is going to lead this field every step of the way, this might be the one to do it.

Curious Spy

He's starting to look like the type that might hang around the maiden ranks for a while, but this really doesn't look like a bad spot for him to make his first start at Santa Anita, and it looks like he got over the surface pretty well in a six-furlong workout on February 15.

Roman Tizzy

He ran fairly well in a couple of starts over the main track here to begin his career, and perhaps he'll be ready to produce a sharper performance while making his third start back from a layoff; winner from latest won next out at SA on 2/15 going 1m vs. starter alw. rivals with an 81 Beyer.

Angel Charge

His better Beyer Speed Figures have been earned racing over turf and don't like to see that he hasn't recorded a top-three finish through his first 12 starts; prefer to give the nod to others in here.

Satch

Maybe there's something to be said for the fact that he's making just his second start for the Sadler barn, but he's obviously going to need to show up with a much improved performance in order to contend.

Warren's Casper

He took a step in the right direction along the Beyer Speed Figures scale while making his first start over dirt in his latest outing, and he boasts the best last race figure in this field; Warren-homebred looks like a good fit with these.

Fearsome Charisma

He finished behind today's rival Angel Charge in his latest outing but that rival doesn't appear to be his biggest concern in this spot; perhaps he can be ready for better while making his second start back from a long layoff, but going to look toward others. - Brian Pochman

Race 5

Proud Vixen

Draws the fence for her second start back from the break and she'll remove the hood for the first time in nearly a year; she wasn't beaten much in her first crack over the track and she has a right to move forward this time; pace in front of her does figure to be solid; consider.

Legacy

Seventh time proved the charm as she really responded to the move back to dirt in the last out maiden breaker; filly will tackle winners for the initial time in this spot, but she has been working well in the interim and maybe she has another move forward in her now that she's figured things out.

Buckingham Bull

Steps up for the surface switch after failing to factor on the local lawn off a popular score over starter allowance runners on that surface; filly's lone crack on dirt was not very good and the barn has had no recent luck with runners coming off the green; pedigree suggests she should be able to handle the dirt now that she gets the game, but don't know that she's good enough to go with these.

Melanistic

Front runner cuts back a half panel after setting a solid clip prior to fading against a notch better last time; she owns a local score at this level, one of 4 she's earned on this track, and she does have the speed to be involved from the bell in this short field; presence of the gal drawn next door means she'll need to hustle, but expect she'll make the lead and look to take them as far as she can go.

Velvet Mesquite

Undefeated filly looked quite good in her 2 scores against statebreds down the local hill and now she'll switch surfaces for her first crack with open company; sire was a multiple G1 SW dirt router and the dam dropped several main track winners so the new footing and trip shouldn't bother her; expect she'll find a spot tracking the gal to her inside early and if she's able to settle maybe she inherits when that one is ready to pack it in; last week's drill suggests she's ready to do more.

Include the Cat

Seven year old is back in for the optional tag after getting beaten just a couple of lengths for all the money in her first star back from nearly 8 full months on the bench; she was quite good going long here around this time last year and she figures to be tighter for this one than she was in the comebacker; with her best she's the one they'll have to beat. - Steve Grabowski

Race 6

Cinco de Mario

When considering him for the top spot, have to be at least mildly concerned that he's has just a single victory after 18 starts, but he's clearly a good fit at this level of competition and he seems likely to be a tough one to keep out of the mix.

Fable Haven

He's run well enough in the past to suggest that he owns the ability to step up with a competitive run against competition of this caliber, but he has every right to need a race while making his first start since December 2012.

Lucky Cotton

Respect the fact that he ran some nice races over turf as a 3-year-old, but he's making his first start for a new barn that has had limited experience with turf starters in recent years, and that alone might be a reason to look in another direction.

Fighting On

Feel that he's a very interesting option to consider in here after an improved performance in just his second turf attempt in his latest outing, and he's a 1/2 to multiple graded stakes winner Somali Lemonade (3-18, 445k over turf).

Wine Stock

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and dam was winless from six starts, including one turf start; this colt is a 1/2 to G2 winner Bourbon Courage (3-15, 903k, no turf starts); this looks like a good spot to find out what he can do over turf.

Pathway to Yes

Sire wins with approximately 10% of his turf starters and stakes placed dam won 2 of 4 turf starts for 71k; like the improvement he's shown since his career debut and he has a little bit of turf in his pedigree.

Hello Frankie

He's been beaten by a couple of today's rivals in his two most recent turf attempts, but his best effort can get him into the mix against these; note sure what to make of the blinkers going back on as his form did improve when they were removed after his fourth start.

Clubhouse Rock

Sire wins with approximately 7% of his turf starters and dam won 5 of 24 starts for 133k, including 3 of 14 turf starts for 71k; connections had to be thrilled with the winning performance he showed up with at second asking after a very long layoff, but he must show more to beat these in his first attempt against winners. - Brian Pochman

Race 7

W. Giles

31 days since the off-slowly-from-the-gate unveiling show finish getting an extra furlong for this; would think a 2nd-time out improvement is on the way with a sharper gate break; worked well on LA dirt for a 9%-winning fresh trainer; gets a weight break today and see some upside.

Heaveneleven

California Jade beat him at shorter in last posting a new-career Top Beyer racing without blinkers; picks up 10 pounds for this seeking his 1st-ever on-the-board finish; the 2-back winner and runner-up Beyered 70-64 in next-out SA-optional claiming and 30K-maiden-claiming wins.

Presiding Justice

Sire is 60-for-380 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 6-for-21 dam (174K) who won her 3rd-career start; most-recent workout gave the impression he could be a runner; trainer hasn't had an exacta at the current-SA meet and is 0-for-3 with 1sters since 2013.

Como Mi Padre

Ran to the 39-1 debut odds when beating 1 runner home; cuts back in distance taking the MSW-to-maiden-claiming angle the biggest-class drop in racing; trainer is 1-for-23 since 2013 with maiden-claiming starters; must show a lot more to post the upset.

Voluntary

His even-racing style at today's distance in last suggests he would want to try longer distances; finished 3rd behind a win photo 3 back on his preferred oval a synthetic surface; keeps the rider from last who wins 23% for the trainer at SA since 2013.

California Jade

Is the one to catch and beat; he has never raced this far but was nosed at 6F once; the final yards here are a serious concern; exits his best Beyer since a career-Top in September for rider Talamo who stays but is 0-for-15 at SA for the trainer since 2013.

Mosso

Back-to-back Beyer Tops without blinkers but they come back on for this; the runner-up finisher from last Beyered 77 in his next-out SA-50K-maiden-claiming win; he defeated the 5th-place finisher a next-out 62 Beyer-SA-30K-maiden-claiming graduate.

Lay It On

Sire is 33-for-339 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 1-for-8 dam (15K) who did not win until start 7; was outworked by the other 1ster Presiding Justice while his 6%-winning 1ster trainer suggests we take a wait and see approach. - Art Gropper

Race 8

Moonshine Bay

He enters this race fresh off of a G2 stakes placing, but he did earn that placing over dirt, and it's fair to wonder if he can produce that level of performance over turf, especially when seeing that he's made 37 starts, and this will only be his second turf attempt.

Pure Tactics

Minor stakes winner ran well in back-to-back starts prior to this when finishing behind the currently razor sharp Daddy Nose Best, and it's interesting to see him making his first start for the O'Neill barn, and that they see fit to call upon Bejarano.

Zimmer

He deserves a lot of credit for getting the job done in his first start as an 8-year-old after a long layoff in his latest outing, but he loses the services of Smith, and this is clearly a much tougher test for him.

Unbridled's Note

If this multiple graded stakes winner brings his 'A' game to the table he can make it very tough on this field and it doesn't hurt to see the success that he's had sprinting down the hill; he has a very live look to him while turning back ain distance and being reunited with Nakatani.

Rosengold

Stormello has been a strong influence as a turf sire, and from seven turf starts, the only time this colt failed to give a good account of himself was in a G2 where he set an extremely fast pace going 1 1/16m; multiple stakes winner commands respect.

Sweet Swap

It might be worth noting the presence of Bejarano aboard another in here, but this 5-year-old has displayed sharp form sprinting over turf, and he was a fine runner up behind a sharp winner in his first start back from a long layoff in his latest outing.

Clubhouse Ride

There's reason to believe that he's using this race as a steppingstone to a longer event over dirt the next time around, but it isn't like this G2 winner hasn't run well sprinting over turf in his career, and he once finished just 1/2 length behind Obviously in a downhill start; runner up from latest won next out at Fno on 10/13 going 1 1/8m in a 75k stakes with an 85 Beyer. - Brian Pochman

Race 9

Stauffenberg

Toss the first route at Pomona; he hooked a repeater in the second route and was off slowly to boot; hung wide in the prep two back, runner nearly lit up the board in last; cozy slot this time, pace could be decent with a couple of sprinters in the cast; due to punch it on in.

Indygo Andy

Off poorly in 3 of 4; more experienced pilot this time and he has the several races to draw from now; he fits on the Beyer scale, comes off arguably his best race and kept his legs moving at San Luis Rey since last time; look out.

Star of America

This is a tough sell; after 14 starts, it's just hard to find the upside; he's only been in the money once and he was losing ground late that day in the sprint; not my kind of play.

Wave Catching

Educated of late up north, he has the two races to draw from and was forced to steady in the lone route try; he circled the wagons 4 wide last time and has drilled decently since; must be left in the exotic picture at least.

Tempest Rising

Homebred was in tough routing in the debut but he has the experience now and adds the shades; dam lost only start; the sibling that won once did take a route; rates upset glance.

Street Maven

He may not have cared for the yielding course in last but note he was beaten less than 3 in his debut; 2 for 18 dam was route only; lone half bro to race War Politics took 5 of 22, earned nearly $100K, won 3 routes; could be primed.

We Have Lift Off

Trainer learned from one of the best and if this guy can run at all, he figures to show it here; he got a boost when the winner of last repeated in a $40K starter 8 days ago with an 81 Beyer; dam was 0 for 7; lone full sis to race Perfect Hostess took 11 sprints, was third in best route result, earned over $150K; interesting.

Puerto Williams

Goes inside to the outside and lack of speed is a genuine concern; he seems to go wide every single time and that is not doing himself any favors; hustling bug takes call and the kid is improving; look for this in the last stages if at all. - Brian Mulligan