Santa Anita: Closer Looks for January 31, 2014

Race 2

Shandy

Not a great sign that she posted a career-low Beyer speed figure 1st time ever on dirt; brief speed in latest so cutting back a quarter mile can only help the cause; the runner-up finisher from last graduated next out in an SA-20K-maiden claimer with a 67 Beyer; Frannie'sspirittoo beat her 2-back on synthetic vs. the runner-up finisher who graduated with a 57 speed figure next out.

Frannie'sspirittoo

Since the SR-dirt exacta finish rallying at longer she is 4-0-0-0 with last 3 defeats all double-digit length losses; her August field-best Beyer was on DMR synthetic at a half furlong longer than today's event; the 2-back runner-up finisher posted a 57 Beyer in her next-out SA-20K-maiden-claiming win; 3-back show runner graduated next out with a 49 speed figure then repeated with a 61 Beyer.

Exemplary

Has been working like a runner in a field lacking superstars; sire is 0-for-35 with 1st-time starters; is out of an 0-for-1 dam who produced 2 winners from 4 other foals to race including 208K-earner Buck's Bro (9-for-38); gives away experience to each rival but would not count out.

Truly Beautiful

Was screaming out for more distance in her 2-back SA-dirt exacta finish and gets it here; willing to excuse latest when troubled; she was sent hard to try to make the front in last which is not her preferred-stalking style; 67 days away for a high-percentage fresh trainer; the debut runner-up Beyered 85 in her next-out BHP-MSW graduation.

Am Another Lover

Today is her 1st race on dirt without a published workout on the main track; 0-for-10-long layoff trainer since 2013 does not help the confidence level that she can fire strongly right off the bench; took betting money in the debut defeat then faded; will be taking a wait and see approach.

Silk in Silver

Improved the speed figure 2nd-time out a good sign racing 1st time on dirt; cuts the price tag in half off the key-race loss; the runner-up finisher from last Beyered 68 in her next-out SA-25K-maiden-claiming victory; she beat the 7th-place finisher from last a next-out 63 speed figure GG-20K-maiden-claiming graduate.

Sri's Red

Defeated 2 runners combined in 2 defeats; she drops into a maiden claimer for the 1st time the biggest-class drop in racing for a trainer 0-for-5 since 2013 with this angle; today is 1st time on dirt and she's been working steadily over the track for this; rider from 1st pair sides with Truly Beautiful.

Silver Marquise

One of the knocks against it that she has already lost for a lower-claiming price during career; needed last start off the 55-day absence; it was not a good sign that she showed up with front wraps on again noting her Beyer-career Top was posted 1st time without front wraps; best Beyer accomplished on fast dirt which adds to the appeal; she's been working well on the main track for this.-Art Gropper

Race 3

Senza Fina

She has a little bit of turf in her pedigree and now doesn't look like a bad time to give her another chance to see what she can do racing over the green stuff; she might be able to sit a comfortable trip just off of the early leaders after breaking from a favorable rail post.

Koukla

Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and dam won once from seven starts for 43k, including one of six turf starts for 42k; this filly is a 1/2 to Ready For Flight (7-37, 64k, including 2 of 6 turf starts for 18k); she's tough to ignore after an impressive career debut.

Loan Savant

She's been in good form lately and like to see the way that she stepped it up along the Beyer Speed Figure scale in her latest outing; perhaps if a few of these decide to get aggressive on the front end she can take advantage through the lane.

Sheza Smoke Show

A little concerned about the added distance she sees today, but she's proven that she has some ability in her first three starts; she's one of two in here meeting up with winners for the first time.

Ascription

She was beaten by today's rival Lady of the Nile in her most recent start and that rival doesn't appear to be her biggest concern in this spot; she looks like the weaker of the two O'Neill-trained fillies signed on in here.

One More Wild Ride

Her recent form has been improved and her two starts over turf prior to this were against stakes competition; she might prove to be the dominant early speed in this race and this will be her first start wearing blinkers.

Lady of the Nile

Respect the fact that she's won her two most recent races, and the move to turf did seem to agree with her in her latest outing, but she's going to need to take a noticeable step forward if she's planning on getting the better of this bunch; Garcia has won with 6 of 22 (27%) mounts for this barn at the current meeting.-Brian Pochman

Race 4

Los Bambinos

Comes here sharp from GG having 'won' 3 straight (was DQ'd and placed 2nd in 1 of those); trouble is, those 'wins' came on turf (2) and synthetic - we're on dirt today and his only prior dirt try was ugly (8th); then again, maybe he's a better horse now than he was then and it's not as if he's facing any monsters here.

Change of Plan

Likely the one to beat; obviously dirt is his best game; won on dirt here Nov. 3, ran 3rd and 9th on BHP synthetic in December but came back here Jan. 5 and won smartly on dirt; that was for $10,500 and it's very nice to see trainer Miller, who's having a super meet (9 for first 44, 20%) moves him up in value; speed to be in it from the bell.

Too Fast to Pass

3 of 5 wins have come on dirt; Jan. 9 try here wasn't too hot, yes, but that also came vs. much more expensive ($40K) so he tumbles in class today; of course, such a drop is worrisome, too - hey, they don't give anything away out here, but Bejarano sees fit to ride for Jerry who looks serious about making a run at the training title this meet.

Ancient Monarch

No factor when 7th here for $12,500 Sept. 29, but his maiden win came on dirt at PLN last June so the footing may not be the issue; maybe that company was too much; well, it that's the case he's facing even more expensive today; did run 3rd for $10K at BHP Nov. 21, though he wasn't really a factor (beaten 7 lengths); most worrisome about those last 2 starts is his sudden lack of speed; after all, he showed plenty of it in his prior 4 starts in NoCal.

Judge Carr

Continues his solid form and continues to be awfully popular at the claim box (claimed in last 4 starts); now it's Dominguez turn with him; 4yo goes from N3L to open foes but he's handled himself well before vs. open rivals so that's not that big an issue; winless at 7fs but 3 2nds and 2 3rds in his 5 tries show he handles it; figures to keep coming.

Billy Win

Couldn't get to Change of Plan here Jan. 5 but note he beat 'Plan on the square the race prior; of course, THAT came on BHP synthetic - 'Plan seems to be a better horse on dirt and that's the game we're playign today; at least this guy comes here sharp and has the versatility to give Mojica options.

Topper's Ghost

5th (last) in a Cal-bred N1X here Dec. 28 but it's not as if he ran terribly (beaten 8 3/4 lengths) when you consider the opposition; after all, can anyone in here get any closer to San Onofre than this guy did?; now gets a significant drop and while that's worrisome (we noted above they don't give anything away out here) could be this is simply about the level at which he belongs, and his maiden win here Sept. 28 shows he handles this track just fine.-Michael Hammersly

Race 5

Thermal Wave

The long layoff is the biggest concern for this 8-year-old; big try pre-rest in a key race at today's distance on SA turf; the winner and 5th-place finishers from last posted 88-85 Beyer speed figures in next-out HOL-MSW and allowance victories; saves ground then makes one-huge late run trying to nail the speed.

Odin

Sire is 15-for-225 with 1st-turf starters; is out of a 1-for-6 grass dam (56K); her only other foal to race did not attempt turf; stalked the dirt runners in the debut but had no run late; the added half furlong here is a major issue noting his trainer is 3-for the last-14 with 1st-turf starters.

Tricky Journey

Speedster with stamina issues while making his 1st start for a new trainer; 6-year-old makes just his 6th-career start and off a long layoff noting the only other time following a 45-day or longer absence represents a career-low Beyer; know him early then hopes to hang on late.

Gospel Music

Sire is 0-for-9 with 1st-turf starters; dam went 2-for-8 on North American turf (116K) producing 3 grass winners including 60K-turfer Adam Suances (1-for-11); debut race on a synthetic surface is a field-best Beyer speed figure hanging on well to land a show finish despite breaking slowly from the gate.

Mr. Cappuccino

Best Beyer on HOL grass while last exacta finish was on dirt at much shorter; way off best form with 5 straight double-digit length defeats while not a good-win angle moving up in class off a loss; speed figures have been best on turf but off recent form is ranked a notch below the top contenders.

Pressure Time

Much-better result 2nd-time out and 1st time on dirt but heads back to the lawn for this where hs was handled by Mr Lemon Tree who follows him here; was outfinished at shorter in last so a well-timed ride is needed to see best form.

Tizapalooza

Sire is 8-for-44 with 1st-turf starters; 3-for-92 with debut runners; is the 1st foal out of an unraced dam; trainer is 2-for the last-28 with 1st-time starters and 0-for-16 first turf; was outworked by the other 1ster Charbroiled but gets a hot-SA pilot in Smith at 1st asking.

Mr Lemon Tree

Dirt route from last produced a career-low Beyer while his 2-back BHP near-miss rally is a career-best speed figure; willing to forgive his lone-SA turf loss at much longer 1 Mile; the show finisher from last Beyered 77 in his next-out SA-MSW win; the 3-back winner captured his next 2-SA allowance wins both with 99 speed figures.

Charbroiled

Working like a runner; sire is 0-for-2 with 1st-turf starters; 1-for-17 with debut runners; is out of an unraced dam who produced 3 winners from 4 other foals to race including 385K-earner Master Chef (11-for-37); 3 foals to race on turf are 0-for-12 combined.-Art Gropper

Race 7

My Lil Shamrock

Offered a little bit of late run first time down the hill at the level and has a right to be better second back from 7 months on the shelf; filly does have some ground to make up on some of these, but the price should be right to try and get her into the exotics.

Premier Steps (IRE)

Well traveled miss tries older for the first time in her first start under this outfit's care; she's been away from the races for better than 8 months but fired fresh to begin last year in Florida and though this is a tricky course, she did break her maiden sprinting overseas; barn is having a great stand and Stevens takes interest.

Macha

Tries older for the first time while making her first start since the summer in this spot; filly makes her hillside debut here but though she's done her better surface running going long, she did break her maiden from well out of it sprinting up North on synthetic footing; Bejarano sticks on a New York bred who should offer some value.

Quizzical

She's been away since the summer when she had little to offer both on dirt and the Hollywood lawn in her last 2 starts; neither of her spins down the hill was much and it doesn't look like she looms much of a threat to beat this bunch home; just watching the comebacker.

Miss Lucky Sevens

Should be tighter second back from the break but though she'll get a hot pilot for this she'll lose Bejarano; her effort over the course in the fall at the level was very good, but she's yet to win sprinting on this footing, have to limit her use to underneath in exotics.

Chokecherymary

She's another who hasn't been out in a while; mare has run well at this level in that past and she's working well of late for a solid fresh barn; expect she'll arrive on the scene late and that could help her get in the mix for a minor share.

Ultrasonic

Got within a length of third money in a G2 stake at the trip earlier in the month in her first stateside crack; mare hasn't won in a long time and that's a concern, but the drop to this level is significant and the barn's top pilot will get aboard; looks as if they'll have her to deny.

Remise (AUS)

Drew the inside slot in her first start in the states at the level and ran on to miss just over a length in that heat; she's had a full 4 weeks to get over the effort and maybe that helps her avoid regressing; one to consider.

Kinz Funky Monkey

Her game is speed and she showed plenty of early lick before blowing the clear midstretch lead in her first hillside start earlier in the month; she'll return at the level and looks to be the quickest of this bunch early as well; they'll have to run her down to win.

Could Be Trouble

Cuts back to a sprint trip after running down cheaper in her return to open company more than 7 months back; gray seeks her third straight score in her comebacker and she's certainly been working like she's ready to roll for this sharp fresh barn, but the waters do get deeper here.

Zia Zia Zia

AE will start from the outside slot in her second start back from nearly 4 months on the shelf; she did show solid early foot in her lone hillside start 2 back and maybe she's again prominent early, but don't know that she'll have enough left late to prove a threat for the top spot today.-Steve Grabowski

Race 8

Polished Silver

Shows for a tag but maybe he belonged here all the time as a $4500 purchase; show horse in last took a MSW and the 5th finisher graduated at this very level with a 66 Beyer; dam out of the money thrice; this is her first to race; must come out running to avoid getting shuffled.

Warren's Sallyized

Soph didn't break sharply but he kept to his task; dam was unraced; one of 2 siblings own; that runner was one for 9; expect better effort here.

Sooo Major

With limited speed, things have to break just right; there is a double winner in the family that banked over $55K; the hotter the pace the better for this guy; look for him late if at all.

Voluntary

Finally off the rail, he could have just been intimidated; 3 for 14 dam banked $55K; 4 of 5 sibs won; top earner La Tormenta took 6 of 11, banked nearly $190K; if homebred repeats the Inglewood finale, he'll be in the hunt.

Awesome T

Shades, 2 races to draw from and the drop is a start; one for 7 dam did win at 2; all 5 sibs won; none earned more than $35K; runner should have his sea legs under him by now; due.

Rambling House

Over 5 clear in last but has to turn the tables on the Rosales runner; stakes placed 4 for 18 dam earned over $120K; 6 of 8 sibs won; top earner Miguel's Mascot took 3 of 17, earned $150K; best of 20 bullet in the holster; look out.

Ke in Motion

Colt has lost ground late every time; SW 5 for 18 dam earned nearly $225K; both siblings won multiple times including double SW and over $270K earner Comandante; could see him getting a nice stalk and pounce trip; has some things to prove.

Matzoh Ball Magic

No magic so far but he is coming off the career Beyer; 5 for 35 dam earned a grand a start; lone half bro won once in Panama; new bug takes reins; must hurry.-Brian Mulligan