Santa Anita: Closer Looks for February 8, 2014

Race 1

Hello Frankie

Moves back to the hillside course after a wide trip kept him from hitting the board in her return from the break over the local main track last time; gelding has a little bit of early foot so expect he'll find himself close again early and he did run pretty well over the course in this fall; with a sharp recent drill in tow he's one to consider.

Cinco de Mario

Last out runner up returns to the green over which he just missed the last time he stepped on it in the fall; he's settled for second money in 4 of his last 5 starts and does boast plenty of minor awards on his page which is a concern, but he returns in a protected spot so expect another solid effort is on tap; contender.

Advisory

Makes his turf debut in his second start since the summer after tiring in his first crack over the local dirt; sire gets 14% winners from his initial surface starters and the dam won 3 times on the green including the first time she stepped over the stuff prior to dropping this guy; has a right to take to the weeds.

Yankee Rebel

Runner up in his last 2 turns back to sprint in his return to the hill over which he's run quite well without winning; gelding has burned plenty of money of late, but he's clearly an excellent fit at this level and the barn excels with its runners moving back to a sprint trip; he should get a solid clip to run at and with Bejarano returning, figures tough to hold off.

Crimson Giant

Statebred returns to the level of his 2 back placing after getting beaten less than 3 lengths for all the money with restricted foes; gelding has lost 44 races and his most recent effort at this level was the lone time that he's hit the board in 13 course spins; barn won just once all of last year as did his returning pilot.

Fighting On

Gets back on the green for the first time since encountering trouble in his career debut around this time last year; gelding tries better following a decent try on the main track last month and he is kin to 5 surface winners including G1 SP, G3 SW turfer and 445K earner Somali Lemonade, so maybe he moves forward some second time over the footing.

Cuneo

Recent graduate tackles winners for the initial time following the impressive maiden score on the main track; he showed he can handle the green while routing at Del Mar last summer and is kin to both a 2 time surface winner and G1 SP, multiple G3 SW and 933K earner Gottcha Gold whose 8 wins all came on dirt so maybe he's got more to offer now that he's figured things out; price should be right. - Steve Grabowski

Race 2

No Ma'am

Sire gets 10% first out winners from his offspring and the SW dam won first out and banked 95K prior to dropping a limited sprint winner from 2 foals to race; they did shell out 150K for this guy last spring and he worked ok at Los Al for this earlier in the week; bug named helps him get in late from this intimidating draw.

Party Time

Sire hits with 12% of his debut runners and the dam was a G1 SW sprinter and 671K earner who dropped winners from each of her 7 foals to race including G3 SW and 281K earner Happy Hunting; 330K yearling buy skipped through 3/4s from the local gate the other day for a barn that always has them ready; expecting he's set to come out running.

Little Curlin

Offered late kick in each of his starts and now he'll go second time back from 3 months on the shelf for an outfit that does well with the move; he did get hot fractions in front of him in his first local start, but he'll get some added ground to deal with today and though his dam was a G2 SW turfer she did drop G1 SP, G2 SW and 322K earner Via Villaggio whose 3 wins all came on the main track; consider.

Act

Sire gets 10% debut winners from his offspring and the dam banked 154K while earning each of her 3 wins either on turf or going long prior to dropping this guy; he's worked well and the barn hits at a nice clip with its newcomers; nice to see Stevens take the call on this 310K auction buy.

Shackleford Banks

Sire gets 11% winners from his first out runners and the dam was a limited turf winner who dropped 3 winners from 5 foals to race including multiple SW sprinter and 220K earner King Henny; barn is capable of firing right out of the box and this guy's drills certainly suggest he has some ability.

Pimpernel

This guy's dam was a killer and she's dropped a couple of SW sprinters, but he hasn't been able to carry his speed all the way while getting defeated at short prices in each of his 3 starts; barn's second runner in here will move back outside for this and catches a bunch of inexperienced foes so maybe he's able to take it to them early and not look back; Smitty gets off an he'll have an added half panel to negotiate here, but they'll probably again have to run him down to win. - Steve Grabowski

Race 4

Nashoba's Gold

Sire wins with approximately 14% of his first-time starters and with approximately 14% of his turf starters, and dam won 3 of 5 starts for 97k; this filly is a 1/2 to multiple G1 winner Nashoba's Key (8-10, $1.2 million, including 4 of 6 turf starts for 600k); this is a very interesting first-time starter.

Sweet as a Rose

She showed up with a much improved performance at second asking while being given more distance to work with and she commands respect as a top contender off of that performance, especially with Bejarano at the controls.

Star Act

This filly has a good deal of quality to her pedigree and the move to turf seemed to agree with her in her latest outing; like to see her being reunited with Stevens as he's won with 5 of 11 (45%) mounts for this barn at the current meeting.

Russian Silk

Sire wins with approximately 9% of his first-time starters and with approximately 12% of his turf starters, and dam was winless from 11 starts, and she didn't make a start over turf; tough to give her the nod over the other firster in here.

Live for Now

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his turf starters and stakes placed dam won 4 of 17 starts for 117k, including 1 of 4 turf starts for 36k; this filly is a 1/2 to multiple G1 winner Point Given (9-13, $3.9 million, no turf starts).

Nazareth

She did well in outrunning her odds in her career debut and this filly is out of a dam who won two of nine turf starts for 74k; winner from debut won next out here on 1/31 going 1m over turf vs. N1X rivals with a 73 Beyer; must consider.

Scene Queen

Full sister to G3 winner Codoy (3-29, 184k, including 1 of 17 turf starts for 100k) hasn't been able to get much going in her first two starts and she was beaten by today's rival Star Act in her most recent outing.

Exclusive Girl

She deserves some respect for what she showed in her one start over turf, and even though she's going to need a sharper performance to get the better of this field, this lightly raced filly is still eligible to have some room for improvement. - Brian Pochman

Race 5

Willyconker (IRE)

His 15 minutes of fame came when he captured the G1 Kilroe on the grass in 2012; competed with a high tag in each of his three scores last year, and has been idle since toppling $40K opposition across town Dec. 6, from which the third horse exited to beat $50K claimers; veteran is questionable on the dirt.

American Blend

Late bloomer cleared the second allowance condition in a recent optional event--the 88 Beyer he put up then simply wouldn't be good enough to get him in the frame here in his stakes debut; Talamo is 1 for 2 at the meet for this capable conditioner; outsider.

Blueskiesnrainbows

Front-runner notched a pair of graded stakes since ending up second in the G2 BC Marathon, including the G3 Native Diver traveling nine panels at Hollywood; hasn't done much wrong under Pedroza, who figures to have him winging it early, with Game On Dude in close proximity; logical for the bottom of intra-race wagers.

Majestic Harbor

Raced wide when second to Blueskiesnrainbows while returning from a long layoff in the G2 San Pasqual, from which Drill exited to get drilled in a restricted turf stakes down the hill; Baze, who rode this barn's lone winner at the meet, retains the mount; definitely a candidate to round out one of the exotics.

Game On Dude

The Dude romped in this G2 fixture in each of the last two years, with Beyers of 102 and 116; seven-time G1 winner has been a model of consistency in recent years, if you ignore his two subpar showings in the BC Classic; can lead the way or track Blueskiesnrainbows for a while, before going in for the kill.

Blingo

Was rank early before finishing well behind two of his current rivals when he returned to SoCal in the G2 San Pasqual; his upset score in a 100-grander Oct. 14 at Belmont contained one next-out winner, Praetereo, who took a $100K optional event at the Big A with a 102 Beyer; will have to bring his "A" game to make an impact here, and the odds are against that happening.

Imperative

Placed in a pair of optional claimers here on the grass, since he was haltered for $50K at Hollywood; adds blinkers for the move to the dirt, over which he bombed here in a G1 stakes at 2 in his lone start on that surface; Kent D recently won a stakes here on a longshot, but he has his work cut out for him on this son of Bernardini. - Ron Gierkink

Race 7

Slim Shadey (GB)

Multiple graded stakes winner regained some of his better form in his latest outing when splitting a couple of today's rivals and he might find himself sitting a pretty comfortable trip on the rail behind the early speed of Bio Pro and Dubai You X Y Z.

Vagabond Shoes (IRE)

Have to respect the form that he displayed after being returned from a layoff back in July, including recording a graded stakes win at Del Mar, and he was last seen giving a fine account of himself in the BC Turf; he has every bit the look of a top contender in this spot.

Mr T Bird

His career best Beyer Speed Figure was earned racing over a synthetic surface, and even though he ran well in getting the job done over turf in his latest outing, he's going to need a much sharper performance to threaten the top contenders in here.

Utopian

He's a G3 winner racing over turf, but he's been beaten by a number of today's rivals in his two most recent races since being returned from a long layoff, and it's difficult to give him a push for anything more than a minor award.

Power Foot

Four of his last five starts have been fine performances, including a couple of victories, but this does look like a difficult spot for him to meet up with graded stakes competition again.

Jeranimo

Multiple G1 winner was ready to roll after a layoff in his latest outing in a race that saw him get the better of a few of today's rivals, and even though he obviously commands his share of respect in this spot, he might be better off at distances shorter than today's 1 1/4m assignment.

Lucayan (FR)

He's a G1 winner racing overseas and he took down a G2 score in earning his first win since arriving in America in his latest outing; he's capable of putting together a strong performance on his best day and he benefits from the services of the hot-riding Smith.

Segway

He gave a solid account of himself when finishing behind a couple of today's rivals in his latest outing, but he did benefit from an ideal early pace scenario in that race, and with Bio Pro and Dubai You X Y Z signed on, the early tempo figures to be a bit quicker in this event.

Would You

Respect the fact that he earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure when given another opportunity to race over turf in his latest outing, and he's looking like a strong 20k claim for his current connections, but this has to be considered an extremely tough step up in class for him.

Bio Pro

It remains to be seen if he can be effective at today's 1 1/4m distance, and he's meeting a pretty tough group today, but this stakes winning gelding will likely take it right at this field from the bell in an attempt to lead them throughout.

Artic North

Relatively lightly raced 5-year-old has performed well in his six starts over turf, including earning a G2 stakes placing in his latest outing, but he's been beaten by a number of today's rivals in his two most recent races, and he must step it up to turn the tables on those foes in this one.

Si Sage (FR)

He very nearly pulled off a major upset in his most recent race when benefiting from a closer-friendly early pace, and it might not be a bad idea to make him prove that he can reproduce the level of performance, especially when considering that he's making his first start beyond 1 1/8m.

Temeraine

He's three races removed from the G3 victory and like to see the effort he showed up with when finishing right behind today's rival Lucayan in his latest start; this barn has been lighting it up at this meeting and Stevens has won with 5 of 11 (45%) mounts for them at the current stand.

Dubai You X Y Z

He's only made 10 career starts to this point in his 7-year-old season, but he's yet to show us that he knows how to run a bad race, and he looks like one of the two main early speed types in here along with Bio Pro; he commands respect based on his strong overall form, but this is the first time he's raced beyond 1 1/8m. - Brian Pochman

Race 8

Candy Boy

Youngster took awhile to figure it out but his trainer thought enough of this runner to put him in the CashCall and he was far from disgraced when 2nd to the Eclipse Award champ; the soph made a more in the CashCall that you don't see everyday looping the field before understandably tiring; Sadler, 3 for 31 the last 5 years with runners going synthetic to dirt in a Graded stakes and 5 ran second; his rider was pleased with CashCall, Stevens: "He got into a nice rhythm down the backside. I moved earlier than I would have liked. He's a big, long-striding colt and I'm looking forward to riding him"; dangerous.

Diamond Bachelor

Colt was a badly-kept secret in his debut and proved it was no fluke making it two in a row in the $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile Turf ; hung wide from post 11 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he was just left with too much work to do; that race came back live as 3 exited the event to win next out and the 7th finisher was 2nd beaten a head in a $100,000 stakes at Gulfstream; runner has to prove it on dirt but his sire won a $65,000 stakes routing on dirt at Belmont; dam's lone win was on turf at 7 and a half furlongs and this is her first to race; expect more speed here.

Midnight Hawk

Unbeaten showed in his first start that he has gears; rested for a month, then returned in the Grade 3 Sham and beat 3 rivals with blinkers removed; he worked with Grade 2 winner Awesome Baby 6 days ago, was caught galloping out in 1:26 2/5; he started 6 lengths behind in the 2/2 drill but finished a half-length in front; the one to beat.

Home Run Kitten

Educated in his turf debut in Inglewood, he did something in his last race that is not easy to do and that's win from the rail on the hillside; Hofmans used the turf to dirt move in this very race in 2011 and his trainee Quail Hill ran third at 68-1; sire never won on dirt but was 2nd beaten a head at Belmont on dirt and did win up to a mile and a half on grass; dam was 0 for 4, lone full sister was grass only; price should be there to swing for the fences.

Cool Samurai

Checked early in the debut but came running to complete exacta; he again proved he could pass horses coming from dead last in the graduation party; sire was a Grade 1 winner routing and although his dam was a non-winner, a Breeders Cup Juvenile winner sired her; rates upset glance.

El Nino Terrible

Runner started his career running 4th on a synthetic surface in Peru; he trained forwardly for his stateside debut but bobbled early only and lost best chance; blinks and the stretch out move worked to perfection; his dam won once, at a mile and an eighth on grass at Arlington; this is her first foal; soph is looking at much more speed this time and could have a hard time keeping up.

Chitu

The other Baffert burst on the racing scene in fine fashion and then he showed a new wrinkle winning last time from just off the pace while getting his last furlong in :12.48; place horse in last was not only over 3 lengths clear but returned to beat entry level allowance runners; trainer is 18 for 67 or 27% the last 5 years with sprint to route runners in a Graded stakes; his sire took a Grade 1 but was sprint only; dam won her only start in England going a mile and a quarter on grass; one half sister won one sprint and top sibling Oceanway won 4 times in Europe from 7 furlongs on synthetic to a mile and a quarter on grass; bullet move last Tuesday was 2 ticks the best of work by Baffert student Wynhurst, a $150,000 purchase but non-winner; beware. - Brian Mulligan

Race 9

Sharp Richard

Trainer spotted them just fine last year with limited starters; protected since he was claimed, you would figure it to be an all out go here; wide from marooned slot on the hill last time, hustling bug hired for this; don't ignore.

Desormais

Apparently not much of a work horse; he is still looking for that stateside win and he has to prove it on grass; valid excuse in last when he lost all chance when the saddle slipped; first time for sale since being claimed; needs very best.

Proud Boss

Options just opened up like the sky for this guy with the grass win after graduating on the synthetic; place horse in maiden breaker graduated in a maiden $20K seller, then was 2nd beaten nearly 4 lengths at this very level; like the series of drills since the last race and the move last Saturday was pretty snappy; don't sell too short.

Swift Eagle

Runner got good for about 5 weeks in 2012 when he put together wins; this is the first time in his career he s been offered for sale; drills fast and steady for this and Bejarano enticed; tab tote action.

I Don't Care Who

Hot claim box item was hung wide in his grass debut; his tactical speed will usually give him first run on the deep closers; note all three wins came against smallish fields; drill on the 30th suggests runner is maintaining form for barn that has been firing with everything.

Accelerant

There are a couple of red flags here like the extended layoff and the slow start in last; if you figure the last was used as a prep, you have something to work with at least; show horse in the 2012 closer took an N1X, then was out of the money in the San Fernando; would be careful here.

Dreamcatcher

Here is another runner that has never been eligible to be claimed; the grass win came by a head in a MSW at Del Mar; he seemed to go off from when last in the grass marathon on 8/22; needs a turn around.

Diamondsdiplomat

Runner has been in some good barns; Spawr won a 2-pill shake to get this guy; gelding brings plenty of back class to the table and he obviously likes this layout; he doesn t need the lead to succeed, he s won several races from off the pace in his career; don t fret about the work last Sunday as trainer can get them fit without punishing them in the mornings; interesting.

Trelawny

Both Mullins students look live here; this guy has more speed than he just flashed but there seems to be enough speed to help promote the kick if closing is the strategy; 11/29 place horse took an N1X, then was 3rd beaten a neck in a $25K optional; best of 27 bullet in the holster; he seems primed.

Square Dancer

Versatility could be this guy s best asset; he can be placed anywhere and still fire; inching toward the winner last time, Beyers going in the right direction and Nakatani got a chance to figure him out; another threat in a good betting race. - Brian Mulligan