Santa Anita: Closer Looks for February 9, 2014

Race 3

Beauty's Self

Only a modest work tab for this daughter of Rock Hard Ten who won a G1 and 1.87 million (his progeny have scored in 32 out of 254 debuts); the dam was without a victory in 5 attempts; winning siblings include 52K earner Wellington Beauty.

Kool Kat

Finished midpack in her maiden voyage, a race that comes up fast; her sire won multiple G1s and 1.33 million; the dam involved never raced; among the winning sibs is 45K earner Brian the Brave.

Dirty Blonde

Deceptive rally first time out when breaking slowest of all; her sire won 2 of 5 and 393K while the dam scored in 4 of 11 starts banking 62K; winning sibs include Birdrun, a pure router, who won a G2 and 622K overall.

Greenfield d'Oro

A clear-cut second in her unveiling behind an impressive winner; her sire won multiple G1s and 5.75 million while the dam won 9 of 28 and 1.33 million; there are no winning sibs to mention; obvious true contender whose odds plummet today.

Shared Image

A fine try against claimers last month but she makes the difficult ascent to special weights now; her sire won 5 of 24 and 236K while the dam won 2 of 9 and 57K; winning siblings include 69K earner Truckin; might be tested early again.

Faith Hope Love

Two solid efforts over various surfaces; her sire won a G2 and 495K; the dam won 3 of 10 and 20K; winning sibs include 201K bankroller Awesome Son; draws a particularly favorable post here and can achieve fine stalking position.

Sweet Profit

Upbeat workout tab for this new face; her sire is the undefeated Candy Ride who compiled 749K and whose descendants have won 52 out of 398 initial starts; the dam won 1 of 6 attempts and 16K; there are no winning siblings to mention.

Empress of Midway

Beginner shows a superior drill on the morning of 1/26; her sire won multiple G1s including the Belmont Stakes while amassing 1.98 million (progeny of Empire Maker have won 42 out of 375 debuts); the dam won 3 of 20 and 155K; sib to 56K earner Bayona. - Jim Kachulis

Race 4

Heat Du Jour

Not sure that she's quite capable of a top try at today's one mile distance and she can't afford to show up with anything less than her best if she has her sights set on something more than a minor award; respect the presence of Bejarano, but prefer to keep looking around in here.

Four Better (GB)

She's shown the ability to jump up with a performance that is strong enough to get her into the mix against these, but having a tough time giving her a favorable push for the top spot when seeing that she's winless in 13 starts since arriving in America.

Mom Nana Petrie

She's stepping up to take on tougher today, but she was a sharp winner over this turf course while making her first start in a turf route, and if nothing else, it looks like she's heading in the right direction at the moment; this filly is a 1/2 to G3 stakes placed Dubai Gold (15-57, 537k, including 2 of 11 turf starts for 79k) and Tizsilk (11-34, 237k, including 3 of 10 turf starts for 41k).

Woebegon

She's making her first start for a new barn after claim, but to this point in her career, not only has she been better off sprinting, but all of her wins have been earned racing over dirt and synthetic surfaces; can't ignore the impact that her early speed can have on the way that this race shapes up, but going to look toward others.

Bertie

Have to be at least mildly concerned when seeing the sub par performance she showed up with after a long layoff in her latest outing and it does look like she's going to need to produce a career best effort in order to get over on the top contenders in this one.

Gittel

This mare is going out for a barn that has been live with limited starters at this meeting and she might be ready to give a good account of herself after a useful performance off of a layoff in her latest outing; she's still seeking her first turf win, but she's run well enough over turf in the past to suggest that she can sneak her way into the mix against these.

Bas

She equaled a career best Beyer Speed Figure in her latest outing and both of her attempts routing over turf can be viewed in a positive light; however, she probably needs to see a slow early pace develop to have her best chance against these, and that doesn't seem likely to happen.

Smart N Dreamy

She sports the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here and all three of her turf attempts since moving into this barn have been strong enough to suggest that she can prove to be a serious player in this spot while dropping in class; must respect. - Brian Pochman

Race 5

Exotic Behavior

Callaghan is 0 for 2 first-time off the claim over the past five years, but is 2 for 4 at the meet when he's given top jock Bejarano a leg up; well-bred daughter of Giant's Causeway is a good fit here Beyer-wise off a determined maiden win going six and a half; for exotics.

Ruff Proof

Posted a 28-1 upset when she came from a stalking position to graduate at first asking Jan. 5, in a $30K tilt which has already yielded four next-out winners; the 58 Beyer she got that day is low for this caliber of competition, but some improvement is anticipated; longshot possibility.

South Sound

Disposed of the other speed before giving way to a closer who enjoyed a good trip in a recent $50K seller; her overall form is more appealing if you ignore her three stakes starts on two different surfaces; Reddam runner may take some catching at a chalky price.

Glorious Rebecca

Only got a 50 Beyer when she parlayed a wide/stalking trip into a victory over $50K Cal-bred maidens after a fall layoff Jan. 1; her new rider Nakatani is 1 for 2 at the meet for this capable conditioner, who's won at a 10% clip with horses exiting a maiden win during the last five years ($1.10 ROI); outsider.

Mia's Storm

Earned a Beyer in the mid 60s in two of her three attempts, which featured a daylight tally over $50K maidens following a layoff three weeks ago; closer has some speed to chase here, and could be along for another high placing after working two half-miles of late.

Time for Angie

Notched a pair of $25K claimers from off the pace in her last two appearances on Cushion Track and the dirt, which is arguably her preferred surface; she's moving up in class in this optional starter, and figures to be no more than a minor player.

E Equalsmcsquared

Just missed in a longer sprint at this level Jan. 2--the winner came back to disappoint in an N1X, but the sixth horse subsequently won a rich restricted stakes at 65-1, receiving an 80 Beyer; her 2yo stakes form wasn't bad, and it included a lapped-on second in the six-furlong Landaluce; the one to fend off. - Ron Gierkink

Race 6

Backintheacademy

Her better races have been run over synthetic surfaces and she's been beaten by a number of today's rivals in her recent starts; prefer to keep looking around in here.

Tanquerray

She's been in good form lately but it looks like the winner of this race will earn a Beyer Speed Figure in the 80's and that's something this miss hasn't done in her first 13 starts; perhaps a spot underneath in the exotics is the ceiling.

Passionate Diva

She's looked good the last two times she's raced over turf and she beat a couple of today's rivals in her latest outing; like the idea of her turning back in distance for this and her dam was a multiple graded stakes winner while winning 7 of 15 starts for 487k, including 6 of 11 turf starts for 441k.

Clear Pearl

Connections might have just been looking to get a conditioner into her for her first start in America, and have to respect the rider switch to Bejarano for this; she's by a top turf sire and feel that it might be a good idea to look for a sharper try from her this time around.

Melanistic

She's the only one in here with 10 wins next to her name, but all of those wins have been earned racing over dirt surfaces, and her two turf attempts haven't been very encouraging; she's by a fine turf sire and she has some early speed, but prefer to lean toward others.

Tap the Magic

A case can be made for her being better off sprinting than routing and she's going to have to take a big step forward over what she's shown in her turf route attempts to have a say in the outcome against these.

Love Tale (GB)

Her most recent race was one of the sharpest performances of her career, and in the neighborhood of what it might take to get the job done in this spot, and even though that level of performance hasn't been the norm for her, it was only her second start since being claimed by these connections.

Ginger Tap

Have to respect the improvement she's shown in her first three starts and this filly is out of a stakes winning dam who won 4 of 10 turf starts for 133k; she's the only one in here meeting up with winners for the first time, but feel that this late running miss merits contender status.

Keldy

All of her starts routing over turf have been fine performances and she appears to be very well meant in her first start as a 4-year-old with Smith getting the call; she needs to be careful to avoid an early pace dispute, but she's an interesting option to consider in here.

Nickels Wild

It's safe to say that she outran her odds when coming up a nose short of a G3 stakes placing in her latest outing, and that level of performance can make her tough to tackle in this spot; she's shown the ability to adapt to any early pace scenario and it looks like she's trained well leading up to this race.

Scooter Bird

Late running filly goes out for a barn that has been unlucky to have not posted a few more winners at this meeting, but they had this miss ready to run a good one after a layoff in her latest outing, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see her take a step forward over that performance today.

Moulin de Mougin

Her two most recent races have been sharp performances, and when considering that her latest start was her first beyond 6 1/2f, she probably deserves a little extra credit for the effort; she's out of a multiple graded stakes winning dam who won 9 of 18 starts for 522k, including 9 of 16 turf starts for 521k. - Brian Pochman

Race 7

Road Ready

Gray is offered for the optional tag while making his first start back from a year on the shelf; he'll make his local debut with a handful of bullets on the worktab and this outfit certainly knows how to get them ready; concern is that even on his best, don't know that he's fast enough to go with some of these guys; prefer others.

Omega Star

Cuts back a panel after coming up short first time in blinkers; statebred ran quite well sprinting here last year and he figures to get a solid pace setup in front of him; late run can get him involved for a share of this one.

Chief Lion

Colt was given some time after the popular score first time on the lawn at Hollywood a couple of months back; he's got speed and he showed it in his first crack over the footing and he does draw inside what appears to be his main pace rivals; with a sharp drill in tow for his first with winners he may have to be run down.

Battled

Broke his maiden on opening day of this stand and he showed a lot of guts to get the job done; he'll try winners for the first time here but he does have a lot of early foot and should be in the thick of this one from the bell; concern is the presence of speed drawn to his immediate inside, but he clearly can run; contender.

Wine Stock

Fresh colt makes his first start for a new barn in his return from nearly 8 months on the shelf; he broke his maiden over the local main track last spring and he certainly worked well for this earlier in the week, but they are willing to risk him for the optional tag in this spot so have to wonder if he returns with his best.

Xuang Feng

Adds the hood for his first crack over the local main track while returning from 11 months on the shelf; gelding did show some speed down the hill earlier in his career, but don't know that the equipment change is going to do much for him today; just watching him here.

Camp Victory

G1 SW returns from 3 months on the shelf after proving little threat against better on the Hollywood lawn; gelding earned a triple digit Beyer in his local score but his level of performance dropped off noticeably since claimed by this hot outfit in the fall; he'll get pace and he's run well fresh in the past, but don't know that he's this good anymore.

Boompa

Gelding enters this fresh with a series of solid recent drills in tow for a barn that's had some luck here; he did break his maiden first out over the local main track so we know he's capable of firing off works, but he's yet to run fast enough on the main track to go with the best some of these have to offer.

Door's Open

Four year old starts from the outside slot in his first start of the year; gelding is a 3 time local winner and he does have a right to move forward second time back from the freshening; he draws a great post from which to track the front runners and should be in position to pounce on them in the lane; giving him the nod to beat these home. - Steve Grabowski

Race 8

Birdlover (GB)

Scored from an undesirable inside post in a recent optional claimer going down the hill under money rider Smith, who's 2 for 6 at the meet on O'Neill charges; she took the one-mile China Doll Stakes here last March over this course that she adores; could be the main threat to the dropping Purim's Dancer.

Sky High Gal

Paddler set a lively pace before weakening when fourth off the shelf in the G3 Senator Ken Maddy, from which victorious Pontchatrain exited to land a G2 stakes with a 97 Beyer; those gaps in her past performances are cause for concern, but the addition of superb turf rider Nakatani is a plus; consider for the bottom of vertical wagers.

Royal Empress (IRE)

Irish import hasn't shown much on this side of the pond, although she wasn't expected to make her presence felt against the likes of Egg Drop in the G2 Yellow Ribbon; trainer won at a 7% rate with turnbacks coming off a 61-180 day layoff in the last five years ($2.08 ROI); could be prepping for a longer engagement.

Fanticola

Nearly won her first stakes in a recent listed race traveling a mile, which came on the heels of an N2X allowance triumph at Hollywood; daughter of leading Ontario sire Silent Name notched an N1X down the hill in October under regular rider Talamo, who's mastered this course; Mitchell hit with 29% of his turnbacks on turf going back five years ($3.06 ROI); beware.

Miss Lucky Sevens

Was no match for Birdlover in a recent N2X/optional tilt, but she nearly got the job done going down the hill at that class in October; her stakes efforts were weak, and she would be a big surprise here, even with Bejarano back in the saddle.

Purim's Dancer

Has been chasing a sharp Pontchatrain in graded stakes, and is eligible to be the boss in this stakes for non-winners of a graded event since July 1, which she won last year; Stevens and Proctor, a combined 5 for 11 at the meet, has become one of the most powerful jockey/trainer combos in these parts; big shot.

Caraquista

Likes to lead when traveling a mile, but she can be an effective closer going short; she nearly got up in time the last time she cut back from a route to a sprint Dec. 7 in an optional event, from which the winner exited to capture a listed stakes with an 87 Beyer; the improving rival who won her penultimate race returned to double up in a G2 fixture with a 92 Beyer; prefer others on top.

Oscillator

Placed without finding the mark in each of her three races over this unique layout, but remains eligible for a first-level allowance; 5yo is clearly overmatched in her stakes debut, and can be dismissed with confidence. - Ron Gierkink

Race 9

Old Pueblo

Over 3 clear and he got a feel of the surface; dam was unraced; lone half sis Carissa took 3 of 17, earned over $70K; Talamo hired, shorter trip could be just what the doctor ordered; look out.

Dark Timbers

Once they start piling up 10 or 12 beats, the wind generally goes out of the sails; lack of speed a valid concern as new bug takes reins; can't boost.

Rapit

Tapit about 13% with debuters in a 461-runner sample; sire was unbeaten in 2 juvenile starts, banked over $550K taking 3 of 6; dam 2nd in best result; 5 for 10 dam earned over $160K; lone half bro took 3 of 20, earned over $50K; like the spacing of the drills.

Stealth Fighter

Maybe he was intimidated by the rail; the winner of the debut repeated here in a $40K starter with a 77 Beyer; all 4 siblings won; top kin Scofield Barracks banked over $300K; could improve here.

Clubhouse Rock

Steadied in the debut and it may have just zapped him as he was gone for 2013; 5 for 24 dam earned over $130K; lone half sis was third in best result; may need a race or two.

Tribal Law

Tribal Rule about 14% with debuters in a 366-runner sample; sire won twice, was never out of the exacta in 4 outs, earned almost 20 grand a start; dam 2nd in best moment; both siblings won, they cashed thrice combined in the minor leagues; he looks fit enough.

Bad Behavior

One and done in MSW land; Baffert usually doesn't fool around when they show limited talent; Grade 1 winning 9 for 13 dam banked nearly $750K; this is her first to race; 9th finisher in last took a maiden $50K claimer, 11th finisher took a maiden $40K fray and the 12th finisher beat MSW foes at Tampa next out; if he can run at all, he should show it here.

No Ez Money

Don'tsellmeshort 4 for 35 with debuters; sire won 4 times at 2, took several stakes, banked over $400K; 2 for 12 dam earned about $60K; this is her first to roll; steady moves across town.

High On Final

Never beaten to the first call; stakes winning 8 for 24 dam earned nearly $700K; 4 of 5 siblings won; top kin Super Ability took a stakes, banked nearly $150K; could get brave with a lonely lead.

Apache Ambush

Hung wide from the marooned slot in last; there are some stamina concerns as he has lost ground in the drive every time; could slip in for a section here.

Blue Cherokee

Colt has faced much tougher; considering he had the lead at the top of the lane in the June, once can build a case he'll like this abbreviated fray; don't sell too short.

Atascaderan

Lost best shot when off poorly; he could be more on the muscle with the blinks; dam won both of her races, banked nearly $70K; 2 of 3 siblings won, one earned about 13 grand; don't discount homebred.

Star of America

Spotty race record is a concern and he could be compromised by the slot; he was beaten by a clear winner; never thrilled to see the defeats at Pomona; has to hurry.

Karaiskakis

Double digits every time and is looking at a similar fate; the 1 for 14 lone sibling earned less than a grand a start; 7 and still trying, could need a circuit switch. - Brian Mulligan