Santa Anita: Closer Looks for February 7, 2014

Race 3

Caribe d'Oro

Sire wins with approximately 12% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from a stakes winning dam who won 7 of 25 starts for 241k, including 0-for-2 over turf; Stevens has won with 5 of 11 (45%) mounts for this barn at the current meeting.

Puligny (IRE)

She looks like she did some decent work in three of her five turf starts racing overseas and this doesn't look like a bad spot for her to make her USA racing debut; going to give the nod to others for the top spot, but wouldn't consider her a shocker if she gets the job done.

Little Unusual

Her most recent start was one of the better races of her career, but it's tough to envision her landing anything more than a minor award when seeing that she's seeking her first career win in her 34th start.

Majestic Minister

Not wild about Majestic Warrior as a turf sire, but her two most recent races have been in the neighborhood of what it might take to get the job done in this spot, and it doesn't hurt to see Bejarano aboard again.

Another Sky

Lightly raced 5-year-old hasn't run well in two of her first three starts, but she deserves some respect for the sharp effort she showed up with at second asking after a long layoff; winner from latest won next out at BHP on 7/14 going 6f over turf vs. starter alw. rivals with an 81 Beyer.

Lakota Road

She sports the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here and this has to be considered a favorable spot for her to try to go after her first career win while making her first start for the O'Neill barn. - Brian Pochman

Race 4

Unstopper Topper

Strictly a first gear type and with the rail advantage and sharp drop down the ladder, the old grey can prove tough; he will be especially dangerous if not pestered by the stretchout sprinters; adds 6 pounds for this test but has won under higher imposts in the past.

Twin Six

Made 2 moves in the last placing behind a repeat winner; could receive a dream trip here if Coo Cachoo, who has some significant back class, goes on an immediate mission and enervates Unstopper Topper; betting value will certainly be there.

Only the Gold

Consistent rallier finished strong to defeat weaker company last month; ran deceptively well 3 back when defeated by Twin Six at a distance which is simply not his best; son of Medaglia d'Oro should be flying late if all runners remain in attendance.

Coo Cachoo

He has extensive route experience, including an appearance at the G3 level, but that was much earlier in his career; received an ideal tune-up sprint recently and that may enable him to make first run on today's presumed pacesetter who enjoys inside position; worth follow-up here.

Romeo Royale

With only one lifetime victory on the main oval to his name, he will likely be viewed as the rank outsider in the wagering; blinker addition did not help much in the last outing when trounced by Twin Six; cannot endorse until he returns to his preferred surface.

Joe Carl

Warhorse is a stone closer who would certainly appreciate a heated pace; he was doubly compromised in the last venture when he got away slowly and then was unable to seriously gained because of the soft, even fractions that unfolded; should fare better this afternoon. - Jim Kachulis

Race 5

Cernobbio

Statebred is offered for a tag in his first start of the year after overcoming a tough draw and trip to get second money at Hollywood in his first crack on the circuit; runner up in each of his turf routes moves to the fence here and if they are a little more aggressive with him early he could be able to work out a ground saving trip; contender.

Oso Smart

Drops in for a tag in his return from more than 3 months on the shelf after failing to factor in his return to the lawn; colt ran ok on the Del Mar lawn last summer and he has been working ok of late on the main track for a barn that's had recent success with its returnees; class drop should help.

Distillery

Tries a route of ground for the first time in his initial start with claimers after failing to go on from a wide spot in his second crack down the hill; gelding may bring some speed to the table on the stretchout for a barn that is profitable second back from the break, but note his pilot does side elsewhere.

Brimstoned

Sire gets 9% overall debut winners and 12% first time surface winners from his offspring; his unraced dam's lone foal to race was winless from 13 main track sprints; low percentage outfit isn't known for its work with newcomers and the worktab is nothing to get excited about.

Common Confusion

Tries both turf and a route of ground for the initial time after just missing as the chalk against cheaper in the last out main track sprint and was claimed from the effort; new barn doesn't do so well with this type but this guy's sire does get better than 12% winners with his first time turfers and the dam dropped a 4 time turf winner.

Village Kitten

Profitable debut barn unveils this son of a sire who gets 16% winners with both is initial turf starters and overall first out runners; works aren't much and the limited sprint winning dam was off the board in each of her 3 surface starts prior to dropping a limited route winner in the states who also failed to impact any of her 3 tries over the green.

Fourth Generation

Cal bred steps in with open claimers for the initial time while also giving both the lawn and trip a crack for the first time; barn has been on a poor run with both its stretchouts and first time turfers; lone sib was a 3 time route winner who failed to find the winner's circle in 5 career turf spins and the winless dam was 0 for 1 on the green; sire is 4 for 31 with his initial turf starters.

Setthebigboysfree

Tracked a solid clip while encountering trouble in his main track sprint debut and trailed the entire way; gelding goes for a slumping barn that's moved them up of late second time out; sire is 0 for 5 with his first time turfers and the winless dam lost her lone surface start prior to dropping this guy.

Friendswith K Mill

Stretches out on the drop to claimers after showing some late interest in his first crack down the hill last month; dam never tried the green and neither did any of her 3 other foals who were all main track sprint winners; sire is just 4 for 63 with his first time turfers but he was a G1 SW router and brings some distance blood to this one's pedigree; consider. - Steve Grabowski

Race 6

Battier

Four year old makes his first start out here after a decent sophomore campaign back East in which he banked nearly 300K while twice hitting the board in graded stakes company; hood comes off for his second crack with older foes and he lures a top pilot for his local debut; stretch back out to routing can help, but a minor award figures to be his ceiling.

Spud Spivens

Gelding returned from a year and a half on the shelf in an ambitious spot and didn't do much running; he has a righ tto move forward with the effort behind him and when right he was ok earlier in his career, but note that each of his 4 wins has come on synthetic footing and he's winless in 9 local main track spins.

Fury Kapcori

G1 SP colt was quite good while alternating on the front end in his New Year's Day score over 4 rivals including a runner up who returns in this spot as well; field's highest last out Beyer earner has returned to work sharply for the rise and Bejarano sticks as he again draws inside his main pace rival; looks like they'll have to run him down to win.

Batti Man (ARG)

Held second money after fighting on the front end with the guy drawn to his immediate inside in here last out; his better efforts prior to that one had come over synthetic footing and he does remain winless over the local dirt; don't think he'll have enough left late to have a serious say in the outcome here.

Longview Drive

Hood comes off this 5 year old as he switches surfaces off a weak local turf spin; he didn't have much to offer while sprinting the last time he stepped over the local main track and it has been more than 2 years since he earned his black type with a big number in the local G3 Sham; he's working ok of late for the move back to dirt, but in his current form he'll have his work cut out for him.

Majestic City

Wasn't beaten much in the G2 San Pasqual here last month and now he'll race outside the stakes ranks for the first time in 8 months; 5 year old ran big on the front end while taking the local stake last Halloween and he'll get the services of a hot journeyman pilot for this, but don't know that he'll be able to make the lead in here; prefer others on the win end.

Midnight Transfer

Outside drawn 5 year old sharpened his early foot sprinting in his first start back from 8 months on the shelf and now he'll stretch back out; he's been working sharply for this and he did earn a triple digit number the last time he was sent long on this footing; he's the main danger. - Steve Grabowski

Race 7

Veronica Bay

She was outrun at every point of call in her career debut after being sent to post at long odds and she's obviously going to need to show up with a much improved performance in order to contend.

Magic Spot

Sire has won with 1 of 4 turf starters and this is the first foal from a dam who won 2 of 23 starts for 49k, including 0-for-10 over turf; she has a live look to her in her turf debut with Bejarano getting the call, and she's already shown us that she has a good deal of early speed.

Seraphic Slew

Sire wins with approximately 14% of his turf starters and dam won once from six starts for 6k, including 0-for-1 over turf; this filly is a 1/2 to multiple stakes winner Seatllespectacular (7-26, 433k, including 4 of 7 turf starts for 191k).

Warren's Empire

Sire wins with approximately 10% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from a dam who was winless from two starts, and she didn't make a start over turf; she must show more in her first turf start in order to have a say in the outcome.

Ay Ay Ay

She enters this race after a promising career debut and she's out of a dam who was multiple stakes placed racing over turf; she eligible to be ready to take a sharp step forward now that she has experience to draw from.

Euroclydon

Her form has improved since being placed over turf two starts ago, and even though it might be worth noting the presence of Bejarano aboard another in here, Nakatani was aboard for the near-miss performance two back.

Betty Bing Bing

Sire is 0-for-4 with his turf starters and dam won 4 of 12 starts for 150k, including 0-for-2 over turf; like what she did in her career debut, but her two most recent races haven't been as sharp, and turf is a question.

Unusual Style

Full sister to multiple stakes winner Lennyfromalibu (6-21, 442k, including 5 of 18 turf starts for 405k) took a step in the right direction at second asking with a move to turf and it looks like they tightened the screws in her latest workout.

Inherit the Throne

She's been beaten by a couple of today's rivals in her two most recent races and she will need to step up with her sharpest performance to date to have a chance at getting the better of these; she looks like more of an outsider. - Brian Pochman

Race 8

Dream Baby

Not much to on after dull Hastings debut and it must have been a pretty serious thing for her to take 2013 off; Grade 3 placed 4 for 16 dam earned nearly $175K and she won at 2; lone half bro to race by Giant's Causeway lost 6 times; nothing wrong with the spacing of the drills and the move last Saturday was solid.

Rich in Tradition

After 22 defeats, it's just hard to find any upside; the place horse 2 back returned to handle Unique Suances; best thing about the pedigree is there is a $100K earner in the tree; would think long and hard before taking too short a number here.

Unique Suances

Mare walked out of the game and that was that; sire won second career start, took a Group 1, was turf only banked over $400K taking 8 of a dozen; 2 for 6 dam earned nearly $90K; this is her first to race; backers have to hope the new blinks shake her up.

Sargentina

Roar about 12% with first-timers in a 347-runner study; sire won juvenile debut as chalk at Saratoga, earned almost half a million; dam juvenile debut in the only start; 6 of 8 siblings won; one took debut at 2; top earner Neutrality took 2 of 16, banked $60K; she has not missed a bit in the mornings.

Amina Perfect

A bit more keen to run early in last and maybe she just hated the synthetic; dam lost 5 times, was 2nd in 4 of those outs; lone half sis to race Amina took 3 of 10, banked nearly $100K; must find a way to turn the tables on the perennial maiden in the 2 hole.

More Later

Cee's Tizzy about 9% with debuters in a 513-horse sample; sire did not race at 2, won second start, got through the N2X level; stakes winning 7 for 41 dam banked $375K; the 2 siblings to race are a combined 0 for 14; drills were steady until the 3-week published gap to 1/15.

Hot Outta the Oven

Fit enough to drill a couple of times since the debut and the shorter trip could be right up her alley; dam was unraced; all 3 siblings won including stakes placed 11 for 38 performer and near $400K earner Master Chef; could improve here.

Swiss Peak

Decent debut vs. tougher but it was ages ago; SW 6 for 28 dam earned over $300K; lone half sis won only start in the juvenile debut in an abbreviated MSW at HOL with a 56 Beyer; the drop could wake her up.

Notbyemyrules

Backers got to scream for 47 seconds before reality set in; dam took debut at 2, lost only other start; lone half sis to race was out of the money thrice; could see her pushing the issue, not sure she'll be around at the end. - Brian Mulligan