Santa Anita: Closer Looks for January 17, 2014

Race 2

Onyx Be Good

Had plenty of chances to be sure, though at least she's done some good work in that time; trouble is, her best work came on turf, at GG, and was last spring; after a summer/fall vacation she came to SoCal and has been no factor in 3 starts; yes, she did finish 3rd in a race like this at BHP Dec. 13 but heck, she got beat 21 1/2 lengths so it's not like she was a player.

Kylee's Star

Perked up of late so maybe the freshening helped and certainly the move to this level did so as well; those 2 improved outings came sprinting and we're routing today but she showed some route ability vs. tougher striaght maidens on turf last spring; nice :47.80 move here Jan. 7 encourages.

Winninginfashion

3rd sprinting at this level here Jan. 9 but she was beaten 7 3/4 lengths so it's not as if she was a real factor in the lane; first time routing today and she's shown some speed sprinting so maybe that will translate to her being more prominent early on here; Pender making the most of his starts so far this meet.

Rsweet Serendipity

Just the 1 3rd in 9 starts but at least it came in a race like this, albeit 2 months ago; has shown much more tactical speed with the addition of blinkers so that may mean she can be prominent from the start; surely will have to hold on a lot better but it's not as if she's facing any monsters here and the pace might not be all that fast so if she's up close early she may be in the right spot to take advantage if the others get weary late.

Just Dancing

No match for big winner Lake Maracaibo here Jan. 3 routing at this level but at least she ran on decently to get 2nd; that was an encouraging run after chasing much tougher in her first 2 starts, which also sandwiched a 6-plus-month hiatus; handles this track, the level suits and she can route, no surprise being by a Ky. Derby winner, and it's also nice to see Mitchell saw fit to dive in and claim her (24% off the claim).

Visions of Candy

2nd in a race like this at BHP Dec. 13, though she was no threat to a runaway 11 1/4-length winner; however, she was far clear of the others as well (10 1/4 lengths ahead of the 3rd finisher); has some versatility and her 2 prior starts on this dirt track weren't too bad (4th in each); probably won't get many chances better than this as she faces a pretty weak bunch. - Michael Hammersly

Race 3

Love Tale (GB)

She ran well in her first start for this barn after a claim in her latest outing and she finished right behind one of today's key rivals in Highly Rated; a little concerned that the shape of this race won't favor her late running style, but she's clearly a good fit at this level of copetition.

Lilly's Perfect

She's another late running type to consider in a potentially paceless race, but she fits right in at this 25-22.5k claiming level, and she's making her first start after a claim for a barn that can move one forward.

Bas

She's outrun her odds in her first two starts over turf and her early speed can prove to be a key for her as she might find herself sitting second off the early speed of Highly Rated, and the early pace might not be very demanding.

English Crossing

She's one of two signed on in this spot for the O'Neill barn, and not only can this mare produce a competitive performance at this level of competition on her best day, but she owns the positional speed to keep herself within close striking range early on.

Tebowing

She's been a stone-cold closer since moving into this barn and she is going to need to be careful to avoid falling too far out of it through the opening stages, especially if Highly Rated is allowed to set a comfortable early pace.

Lethal Miss

Relatively lightly raced 5-year-old is a 1/2 to multiple stakes winner A Jealous Woman (8-22, 458k over turf) but this miss has yet to run a race that is anywhere near strong enough to threaten the top contenders in here.

Highly Rated

She's tough to ignore in this spot while making her second start after a claim for Hollendorfer, and unless Bas decides to be overly aggressive early on, it looks like this mare will be able to set a comfortable early pace; Bejarano has won with 8 of 18 (44%) mounts for this barn at the current meeting. - Brian Pochman

Race 5

Flexiplus

He's been a pretty consistent performer but this does look like a tough spot for him to get over the Santa Anita turf course for the first time; runner up from latest returned to win next out at TuP on 1/14 going 1m vs. N3L alw. rivals with an 87 Beyer.

Vibrato Jazz

Stakes placed veteran shares the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here with Boyett, and he routinely runs races that are strong enough to give him a competitive look against these; on a negative note, he has just a single victory after 18 starts and hasn't been shy about settling for second and third place finishes.

Valtari

It would've been nice to have seen this lightly raced 4-year-old show more in his latest outing when being beaten by today's rival Boyett, but that was his first start back from a layoff, and not going to count out the possibility of him still having more to show us; his recent workouts look sharp and blinkers get scrapped for this.

Would You

He's by a solid turf sire, but he enters this race after a sub par performance, and he's seeking his first 1-2-3 finish racing over turf; prefer to look toward others.

Boyett

He has to be considered a legitimate threat to walk away with the top prize based on what he's done in his three most recent races since being placed over turf; it looks like Bejarano might have had some other options to consider in here and lands aboard this one.

Ashley's Bambino

She really hasn't run a bad race routing over turf and she earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure in a sharp winning performance in her most recent start while making her first start back from a layoff; she commands her share of respect in this spot.

Maxx the Giant

He led seven rivals every step of the way to record a victory in his latest outing, but it did take him 15 starts to break his maiden, and now he's meeting up with winners for the first time; this really isn't a bad spot for him to test winners for the first time, but still feel that a minor award is likely the ceiling. - Brian Pochman

Race 6

Big Tire

All turf during career while stretching out to his longest-distance ever today for the dirt debut; 23%-win trainer going turf-to-dirt since 2013 adds to the appeal; the 2-back winner repeated in an SA-83K stakes with an 81 Beyer speed figure; the runner-up finisher from last posted an 80 Beyer taking a BHP-MSW win next out; the one to beat.

The Admiral

Hopes to sit just off Rough Passage from the gate then get 1st run on the closers; debut-sprint on a synthetic surface represents the field's best Beyer speed figure; ran well in defeat when racing long on SA dirt in last when heavily backed by the bettors; blinkers off for this while the added distance is a concern; the debut winner repeated to make it 2-for-2 in an SA-optional claimer with an 83 Beyer; the pick.

Argentine

Trailed-thoughout unveiling at long odds in a key race 33 days ago; the show and 5th-place finishers from last Beyered 80-66 in next-out SA-MSW and 30K-maiden-claiming wins; 1-for-20 sprint-to-route trainer since 2013 does not help the cause although some runners improve dramatically 2nd-time out; sire won a G1 at 10F on dirt; dam was a multiple-SW at 9F on dirt.

Icy Ride

Blinkers off is a high-win percentage angle for his trainer trying to turn the tables on The Admiral and Rough Passage; new rider is his 3rd in as many races which is not a good-win angle; have him ranked a notch below the top contenders.

Rough Passage

Is the one to catch today with the added half furlong a major issue; most runners move forward 2nd-time out and gets a new rider trying to get him to relax up top; trainer is 0-for the last-23 with runners 2nd time back off a similar layoff; the workouts for this do not explode off the form like they did before latest; a speedy contender for win honors.

Juliet's Tizzy

Stamina is the biggest concern likely chasing Rough Passage to the lead today; 1st blinkers and his 2nd-career start produced a slight-Beyer improvement; hopes to somehow get loose on the lead then keep on going; view as a pace presence for part.

Sun of Malibu

Sire only had 2 starts breaking his maiden at 5F on dirt 2nd-time out; he is 105-for-734 with 1st-time starters; is out of a Grade 2-SW dam at 9F on dirt (2-for-12, 167K) who produced 3 winners from 3 other foals to race including 146K-earner Capitol Appeal (5-for-19) who finished 3rd in two-dirt routes winning twice on synthetic going long.

El Nino Terrible

Has not raced past 7F yet; sire's only win was at 5F on dirt; dam's lone win was at 9F on turf finishing 6th in her only dirt route; main issue is that some 1st-time Imports fire their very best race1st time in the states but he showed nothing over the track.

Day of Fury

High-percentage debut trainer has him at a tough distance to win at 1st-time out; Kentucky-Derby winner sire is 17-for-166 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 2-0-0-0 dam who did not race past 6F and only raced on turf; her only other foal to race is 2-for-16 Day of Litany (40K) who went 3-0-0-0 in dirt routes. - Art Gropper

Race 7

Rangi (GB)

Tries better in his first off the claim while giving the hill a shot for the initial time; gelding was pretty solid sprinting at Hollywood last month and he appears quick enough to stick close to the top from the bell today; one to consider.

Raised a Secret

Tries the lawn for the first time while turning back in distance off a solid figure money finish at the level at Hollywood last month; sire gets about 6% first time surface winners from his offspring and the dam was off the board in her lone grassy spin; barn does do a nice job on the surface switch.

Poshsky

Didn't have much to offer going long in the Hollywood finale and now he'll try the hill; his lone sprint spin wasn't much so don't know that the shorter trip will do much to move him up; have to side with others on the win end.

Sheer Talent

Got his first crack in 14 months out of the way and should be better with the effort behind him; 5 year old returned to work well on the main track and he did run ok going long on the lawn as a sophomore, but don't know how well he'll take to this configuration; have to look elsewhere.

Somethings Unusual

Fresh gelding ran big down the hill 2 back and should appreciate the return to this course; like the way he's been working for the comebacker, but there's not a lot of early lick signed on for this one; limiting his use to underneath in exotics.

Ambitious Brew

Earned a huge number behind a next out winner on the Hollywood main track early last month; statebred got his nose down to score over this footing 2 back so the return to the course should only help him and he's had enough time to get over the big effort; one to beat.

Kochees

Gets off the fence after a solid third place finish on the Hollywood lawn last month and now he'll return to a course over which he ran pretty well 3 starts back; colt lures Bejarano and figures to sit a spot within striking range of the front runners from the outset; contender.

Sharp Richard

Outside drawn gelding returns to this circuit for the class rise after beating starter allowance runners first off the barn's claim at Golden Gate; he didn't go so well sprinting earlier in his career so don't know that he'll love this shorter trip but he does figure to have something to offer in the lane. - Steve Grabowski

Race 8

Stealth Fighter

Headley 4 for 16 the last 5 years with debuting maiden claimers and 2 ran second; Cyclotron 3 for 16 with firsters; sire took one of 4, banked almost $50K; dam was 2nd in best result; all 4 siblings won; 2 banked 6 figures including stakes placed 7 for 50 racer and over $300K earner Scofield Barracks; this trainer has been winning races around these parts for decades but he generally works his horses much faster.

Dark Timbers

Never thrilled to see defeats at Pomona and he only beat 2 that day; 10-pound bug gets a chance here but this guy has limited speed and will need tons of help up front.

Ten Tequilas

If you figure he just needed last you can make a case for a move forward but Ten Tequilas did stagger home; could see him sitting a nice trip and could easily be enticed into gimmick action.

Buffalo Hills

Gelding has some semblance of speed and this is the career cheap spot; runner has a shot to hae a useful career as full bro Bertran Hill banked over $150K in a pretty long career; plenty of races up north for this guy so it's interesting he shows here.

Omar Little

Miller great with this move; he is 19 for 62 or 31% the last 5 year when a MSW runner shows in a maiden claimer; runner took his fair share of action and must be respected on the drop alone; clever gate move last week screams off the page; 2 for 4 dam earned nearly $70K, was turf only; 2 of 3 siblings won; top kin Grumpy Small Mouth took 4 of 13, earned nearly $180K; Miller great with this MSW to maiden claiming tango.

Tasha's Courage

Steadied when possibly overmatched in the debut, he ran well in the return despite the bobble and note the show horse was well clear; slight improvement and he will be a handful.

Dehere Is Gone

Spawr 5 for 22 or 23% the last 5 years with debuting maiden claimers with a median payoff of 4-1 and the 2 that ran second were only beaten by a half-length; Dehere has popped with 17% of his firsters in a 455-horse sample; sire won juvenile debut, took first 4 starts, won multiple Grade 1s; dam out of the money twice; all 5 siblings won; top kin Golden Country took a couple of stakes, was 7 for 35, banked nearly $350K; love fact he drilled farther than this race is carded.

The Cleaners

Machowsky 3 for 28 or 11% the last 5 years with MSW to maiden claiming moves; brings a bit of speed to the table and could show more with the blinks; he s trained decently here and seems to have taken to the surface; if he can run at all, he figures to show it here.

Tommy's Kid

This guy's price last time is interesting considering he was off for 18 months; the runner opened at 9-2 on the morning line to kick off the year; the blood is solid as 4 siblings banked 6 figures including stakes placed 4 for 49 racer Mourette, a near $180K player; tab tote action. - Brian Mulligan