Santa Anita: Closer Looks for January 26, 2013

Race 1

Airfoil

Forest Boy beat him at today's distance 3-back when rallying too late; figures to save every inch of ground for this then make 1 run trying to turn the tables; his co-field-best Beyer speed figure was posted at 2F longer than this on a synthetic surface; exits his best Beyer since July but was outfinished.

Modern Empire

Disappointing debut when bet under 9-2 odds then was outrun throughout finishing last; cuts back in distance with superb workouts for this suggesting we will see a much-different runner with the unveiling race under his belt; high-percentage route-to-sprint trainer adds to the appeal.

Bench Press

The blinkers added likely enhances his gate speed as the one to catch; was DQ'd from the game diploma earner when racing at today's distance but on a synthetic surface; 65 days since that career-best Beyer when beating the show runner who posted a 75 speed figure in his next-out BHP-30K-maiden-claiming win.

Fancy Shoes

Sire is 7-for-44 with 1st-time starters; is out of an unraced dam who produced 1 winner from 2 other foals to race (1-for-9 Arosehasitsthorns 30K); would have to be scratched from a Monday-TUP event to race here; has working well on BHP synthetic for today's dirt unveiling.

Forest Boy

Has clearly been at his very best on dirt; the main knock is he's had 10 chances already without winning; posted a co-field-best Beyer speed figure at today's distance on SA dirt December, 2012, rallying from midpack; the 3-back runner-up Beyered 87 in his next-out BHP-MSW win.

Private Access

Sire is 118-for-855 with 1st-time starters; is out of a Grade 1-stakes winning dam (8-for-19, 1M) who produced 3 winners from 7 other foals to race including full-G1-placed Dunkirk (2-for-5, 393K); posted a steady worktab for a capable-1ster trainer.

Grand Humor

Bench Press easily handled him in the debut at shorter over the track; he Is the one to catch dueling through hot fractions in last; owns an improving-Beyer pattern but stamina is a big issue tiring at shorter in last while 2-back fading at today's distance.

Mank

Long layoff after a good-show finish on SA dirt beating the 5th and 7th-place finishers; they Beyered 84-63 in next-out SA-SUN-MSW wins; steady worktab on display off the long layoff noting his best race was in his 2nd start so may need one to see very-best form.

Race 2

Include the Cat

The last win was in this league here; nice; Miller is adept at bringing back the long returnee and mare has a solid steady work pattern; cozy slot now, could see he saving a little ground, hope there is an honest pace, and then making the last run; respect.

Yahilwa

Never been a big fan of the weight issue but she did carry 131 successfully in the last victory; miss has never won on the conventional dirt but she seems to have taken to this surface; she only beat one to the wire in that return effort last April; may need an outing.

Proud Vixen

She was in the hands of some good horsemen back East; far from disgraced the first time vs. winners and she seems comfortable with this surface; troubled in the SAR finale and the place horse in the maiden breaker cashed next out, beat N1X right after, then was 2nd beaten less than a length in a $50K Big A optional on Jan. 10; this gal looks live.

Branding

Mare has trained fast for this and she did graduated off the layoff; lack of speed is a legit concern and even if she gets the right kind of pace to close into, this bug will need to time the move to perfection; Proctor has been sending out nothing but live stock; look for her in the picture late.

Rhodium

This is the speed component of the Millers; got to expect ride to be gunning from the sound of the bell; miss is proven at the distance locally and connections thought enough of her to try the Starlet back in the day; long gone?

Melanistic

These are her friends as she proved last time; proven locally, fried in a duel two back and the show horse that day cashed next out in an N1X fray with an 80 Beyer; should be right there when the smoke clears.

Race 3

Murmansk

Gelding is working ok for his debut at the level for an outfit that is profitable with his newcomers; sire gets 13% first out winners from his offspring and the SP dam won 4 sprints and all 3 of her foals to race are multiple sprint winners including one who scored first time out; wouldn't need to be all that much to have a say in here.

Slight Edge

He's a 13 time loser who didn't have much to say from the outside slot when stretched out at the level a couple of weeks back; gelding has run ok on dirt in the past and he doesn't face a very promising bunch; maybe he has a little more to offer late on the turn back and is able to rally for a share.

Copote's Royalty

Adds the hood for his return to the scene of his debut try in the fall; gelding makes his first start for a new barn that has won with its lone starter at the stand; dam's was winless from 3 starts and this guy's lone sib also failed to score from 2 sprint starts so don't know that he'll be set to show a lot more today.

Alsace

Made a nice run to get third money at the trip and level on New Year's Day; he's had plenty of chances, but he is a quick breaker and has run ok over this track a couple of times; another minor award is certainly a possibility.

Exclude

They paid 550K for this guy as a yearling and he's yet to do much of anything; now they'll drop him in half in claiming price while switching to a little known pilot; the number he earned in his lone dirt start was actually pretty good and it came against much better than he'll tackle today; colt worked sharply here last week for a barn that excels with its fresh stock; they'll have him to beat.

Statman Jerry

Sire gets 20% first out winners from his offspring and the dam's 2 wins came routing and on the lawn prior to dropping this guy; synthetic drills aren't very quick but the tab is steady and the barn is capable of firing with a newcomer.

Best Ransom

Made a solid run from a wide spot but it took its toll on him and he came up short late; lightly raced gelding has a right to be better second time back from the long break and he is kin to 4 winners, 3 of whom did so sprinting.

Silver Love

Hood comes off for his dirt debut after 3 terrible tries on synthetic footing; gray's lone sib was winless from 2 starts; tough to make any type of case for this guy getting in the mix off what he's shown of late; looms a big price.

Karaiskakis

Seven year old starts from the outside slot in his return from the break; he's yet to get back to the big number he earned first out over the local main track and maybe the return to this venue does help to perk him up some.

Race 4

Black Spirit

He's a Grade 3 winner racing overseas, and even though he's going to have to step it up over what he showed in his first start in America in his latest outing to beat this field, the move to Smith might be a sign that his connections are expecting a sharper try this time around.

Den's Legacy

He's a Grade 3 winner racing over turf and it looks like he regained some of his better form in his latest outing when recording a sharp runner-up finish after contesting a fast early pace over the main track here; don't like to see that you have to go back 13 starts to November 2012 to find his latest victory, but going to respect his chances regardless.

Horizontalyspeakin

He's capable of putting together a pretty sharp mile over turf on his best day, and if anyone in here is going to lead this field every step of the way, this would be the one to do it; he's being reunited with Bejarano, and he was aboard for the sharpest performance of his career three races back.

American Act

His two starts over turf haven't been bad performances, but he does look like he's sharper racing over dirt or a synthetic surface, and viewing this as being a tough spot for him to try turf again; winner from latest won next out here on 12/26 going 7f in a G1 with a 93 Beyer.

Artic North

He has a strong pedigree for turf, and it's really difficult to knock anything he's done since moving into this barn, but it remains to be seen if he can be as effective at today's one mile distance as he has been in longer events.

Pure Loyalty

He earned a G2 stakes placing when finishing right behind today's rival Den's Legacy back in August, and that was the last time he raced without blinkers; it might be worth noting the presence of Bejarano aboard another in here, but if he feels up to one of his better performances, he can prove to be a threat.

Imperative

He earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure in his first start for this barn after a claim in his latest outing, but this looks like a tough group for him to be meeting up with, and a career best effort will be required to beat these; note that he's yet to record a victory racing over turf.

Race 5

Q' Viva

Considering the slow start, she turned in a fine debut run on New Year's Day; her sire won 2 of 4 and 77K while the dam scored in 10 of 47 appearances earning 302K; among the winning siblings is 146K earner Stalking Gold.

She's Flush

Keeps earning checks and she equaled her best Beyer when running at this course and distance a month ago; gets some post position relief from recent starts and should be able to stay within striking range as a result.

Council Talk

Unlucky lass encountered troubled in her most recent test, her first outing with blinkers; the early fractions of that event were above average in quality and perhaps she can hit the board here with a clean trip.

Top Pegasus

Pulled up in her only attempt but that was a different surface; her sire won the Kentucky Derby and 1.99 million; the dam won 6 of 24 and 118K; there are no winning siblings to mention; intrigued by the latest workout from the gate.

Roman Express

Quit early in her first assignment after a so-so getaway; her sire won a G1 and 1.22 million; the dam won 3 of 16 and 36K: this is her only foal to make it to the starting gate; shows a modest work tab of late.

Writer Fever

Surface switch, first time for a tag, moving off the fence; that combination of factors can be the catalyst for a sudden turnaround in her performance levels today; seems worth inclusion if the price is right.

Warren's Salute

Rallied after the fact in her recent unveiling when burdened with the outside slot; her sire was zero for 4 lifetime while the dam won 3 of 19 races and 219K; there are no winning siblings to report; latest half-mile drill was average.

Bert's Melody

Beginner hails from G1 speed merchant Bertrando who banked 3.18 million and whose descendants have won 95 out of 775 debuts; the dam won 1 of 6 starts and 71K; winning siblings include 178K earner Brilliant Melody.

Everheart

Closed with a flourish to barely capture the place last time out; her sire won a G1 and 727K while the mom won 7 of 27 and 225K; sib to 20K earner Hot Roxx; dangerous if finding a way to break more alertly this afternoon.

Race 6

Morning Star

Sky Mesa about 12% with first-time turfers in a 227-runner sample; sire was unbeaten in 3 juvenile starts, took the G1 Hopeful, earned over $600K, never turfed; dam's lone win was a dirt sprint; this is her first to race; never thrilled with rail on this course unless runner has clearing speed.

Tizmiss

Tiznow about 7% with debuters in a 601-runner sample, about 8% with first-time turfers in a 371-runner sample; sire did not race at 2, took 8 of 15, earned over $6.4 million as a double BC Classic hero, never tried grass; 2 for 13 dam earned $90K, was grass only; lone sibling won thrice on grass; love the spacing of the drill accentuated by the blowout on Thursday; that's a go-go pattern.

Divine Way

The race down the hill can't hurt; dam 0 for 3; 5 of 8 siblings won; the one that cashed on grass once banked over $150K; respect.

Passing Shower

War Pass 1 for 17 with first-time turf performers; sire was unbeaten in 4 juvenile outs including BC Juvenile, earned over $1.5 million, never turfed; Grade 2 placed 1 for 5 dam earned nearly $75K, was 2nd twice on grass; this is her first to race; homebred has to hurry.

Veronica Bay

Vronsky 6 for 64 with debuters; 4 for 36 with first-time turf performers; sire took 3 of 11, all on grass, banked over $135K; dam was unraced; this is her first to race; may need experience.

Comealongwithme

Grand Slam has hit with about 11% of his first-timers in an 935-horse sample and with about 11% of his first-time turfers in an 537-horse sample; precocious sire won juvenile debut at BEL by 11 with a 94 Beyer; earned just under a million; Group 1 placed 2 for 37 dam earned over $140K, handled grass; 2 of 3 sibs won, one tried grass to no avail; trainer spotted them just fine last year with limited starters.

Bird In Love (GB)

Byron 1 for 3 both with debuters and first-time turfers; sire took multiple Group 2s, earned nearly $300K, was turf only; dam 0 for 6; both siblings won including full sister, SW, double grass winner and over $150K earner Birdlover; interesting.

Taylor Lane

Parading 1 for 14 with debuters, 0 for 5 with first-time turfers; sire didn't run at 2, took a Grade 2 banked over $500K; dam took G1s in S. America, was dirt only; both siblings won, one tried turf by failed on grass; steady moves in Inglewood.

Diversy Harbor

Curlin 12 for 100 with debuters, 9 for 51 with first-time turfers; sire didn't race at 2, won a ton Grade 1s as a Horse of the Year, banked over $10 million; dam was unraced; 6 of 8 siblings won including multiple G3 grass winner and millionaire Keertana; could be any kind.

Kantina Kowgirl

Promise early in the career but he tends to get late; at least he got a taste of the grass; connections would like to see her start acting like top kin and grass winner Roi Charmant, who earned nearly $350K; can't fault those that are a bit gun shy here.

Pragmatical

More Than Ready about 12% with debuters in a 690-horse study, about 16% with first-time turfers in a 185-runner study; sire won debut at 2, earned over a million; 2 for 18 dam lost 6 times on grass; this is her first to race; clever move on the 12th.

Lamazone

Lemon Drop Kid about 15% with debuters in a 145-horse study, about 14% with first-time turfers in a 528-runner study; sire won twice at 2, banked over $3.2 million, never tried turf; SW 7 for 29 dam earned nearly $400K, won 5 times on grass; all 3 sibs won including triple grass winner Lama Chant; clever barn due to get rolling.

Nothing to Hide

Run Away and Hide 7 for 56 with firsters, 2 for 19, with first-time turfers; sire raced 3 times, won all those juvenile starts, earned nearly $225K, never turfed; dam 0 for 6; lone half bro took 3 sprints, never turfed; don't ignore.

Race 7

Chelios

Debut-exacta finish is a field-best Beyer speed figure noting most runners improve 2nd-time out and if he does the rest may be running for 2nd money; the workouts for this do not entice but the added half furlong helps while the barn does well winning with 2nd-time starters; the 37%-SA win rider for the trainer stays right here.

Geldautomat

The show and 5th-place finishers from last Beyered 80-66 in next-out SA-MSW and 30K-maiden-claiming graduations; today is 1st time racing on the main track for a trainer 0-for the last-10 turf-to-dirt; the 2-back show finisher Beyered 70 in his next-out DMR-MSW win.

Rprettyboyfloyd

Plenty of upside off his closing-exacta finish in the unveiling at longer than this; can he get up in time to graduate is the major issue; the workout for this was not very enticing but if he breaks better 2nd-time out could be very tough to hold off in deep stretch.

Commander Lute

Sire is 8-for-100 with 1st-time starters; is out of a Grade 1-SW dam (8-for-20, 903K) who's only other foal to race is full Tiz Midnight (2-0-1-1, 15K); trainer Baffert has 2 entered noting Superlooper has 27% win rider for the barn Garcia listed and is seemingy the better of the 2 debut runners.

Surfer Moon

Sire is 105-for-737 with 1st-time starters; has some bullets on the worktab but his trainer is 0-for the last-14 with debut runners; is out of a 1-0-0-0 dam who produced 1 winner from 2 other foals to race (2-for-20 Marching Orders 49K).

Superlooper

Sire is 23-for-177 with 1st-time starters; is out of a G3-ARG dam (5-for-23, 236K) who was a SW in the USA producing 3 winners from 6 other foals to race including SW-Fond (3-for-11, 113K); uncoupled barnmate has Commander Lute is also here but Garcia rides this one suggesting he is the better of the debuting pair.

He's a Real Keeper

2nd-time out Beyer speed figure regression is never a good sign but returns to dirt where he posted his Beyer Top in the debut defeat; the winner from last repeated in an SA-optional claimer with a 70 Beyer; bullet-4F SA workout suggests they want him to show better gate speed for this.

Dublin Up

Faded in the unveiling loss 57 days ago vs. the winner who is now 2-for-2 repeating in an OP allowance with an 82 Beyer; adds blinkers a 22%-win move from his trainer since 2013 however the worktab for this does not standout; know him early but unsure about late.

Sawyer's Hill

Away for a 1-for-20 second-start trainer since 2013; been working like he will fire strongly 1st time off the bench; a beaten-betting choice in the key race debut defeated by the runner-up finisher who Beyered 82 in his next-out SA-MSW graduation; he beat the 8th-place finisher who took an SA-30K-maiden claimer next out with a 52 speed figure.

Race 8

Handsome Mike

Multiple graded stakes winner has been at his best racing over dirt and synthetic surfaces and he will need to improve over his previous best turf attempt in order to see his number posted on top after this one is run.

Sweet Swap

His form sprinting over turf has been very strong, including five starts down the hill, and even though the long layoff might be a reason to be concerned, this is a barn that can have one ready to run well when fresh, and his recent workouts appear to be sharp.

Drill

Grade 1 winner is obviously an interesting option to consider in here, especially when considering how well he ran in his only start sprinting over turf, and that was against tough competition and over this turf course; the major knock here is that he hasn't posted a win since May 2012, and that was 12 races ago.

Boat Trip

Multiple stakes winner wasn't quite at his best in his latest start, but perhaps the one mle distance is to blame for that; his strong form sprinting over turf can't be denied, so the turn back in distance will likely be a welcome sight; must consider.

Di Giorgio (ARG)

Feel that this is a tough spot for his first start in America, but it certainly looks like he's done some nice work racing in Argentina; however, when seeing that his better races have been run going long over dirt, perhaps his connections are just using this turf sprint as a conditioner.

El Commodore

Have to respect the effort he showed up with in his first start sprinting down the hill in his latest outing and that was the first time he's run in a turf dash since May 2010; Stevens is aboard again and a repeat of his latest race places him squarely in the mix.

Lakerville

The next time he runs a bad race will be the first time, but his connections aren't taking it easy on him as he gets ready to make his first start since August 2012; he's a talented late running sprinter, and his recent workouts look strong, but the time off is tough to ignore.

Ankeny Hill

His form has taken a noticeable turn for the better since being placed over turf four starts ago, and he enters this race off of back-to-back wins; that said, this does appear to be a tough spot for him to meet up with stakes competition for the first time.

Ready for More

Three of his four starts sprinting over turf have been good ones, and it is worth noting that the Mitchell barn sees fit to sign him up for this after claiming him for 62.5k from his latest start; not going to be surprised if he runs well in this spot, especially with the hot-riding Smith at the controls.