Santa Anita: Closer Looks for January 9, 2013

Race 2

All Star Bell

He stuck to the turf during the second half of 2013, without being an impact player; son of hot SoCal sire Tribal Rule is bred for the dirt, top and bottom, and he did put up a fast drill here on the main track the other day; a wild card under Tyler Baze, who's on the comeback trail.

Roman Tizzy

That open maiden special in which he wound up third April 4 was top notch-the first two finishers both eventually won a G2 stakes, most notably Moreno, who was beaten a nose in last year's G1 Travers; trainer has solid stats with six-month-plus comebackers, and this 5yo has worked quickly for his return to action; could be the main threat to Magic Mark.

Brave Act

Professional maiden met open company last time when he failed to keep up going down the hill; son of Langfuhr ran lukewarm and cold in two dirt starts here early in his career; figures to be no more than a minor player, even with the gifted Bejarano taking over.

Magic Mark

Mark earned the highest Beyer in this field when a slow-starting fifth in his debut across town; that Cushion Track dash has yielded three next-out winners, including two who scored in maiden special company with a Beyer in the 80s; trainer is 2 for 12 with maiden second-timers stretching out to a route over the past five years ($5.25 ROI); big shot.

Awesome Prospect

Gray/roan closed belatedly from the back of the pack for third in his improved second race, but does he want to go long? the average win distance of his sire's progeny is 6.9 furlongs, and his dam produced the stakes-placed sprinter Lauren C; he could garner some of the scraps in his first appearance outside the selling ranks.

Mr Lemon Tree

His middle-distance form on turf is spotty, and he's going long on dirt for the first time here with a blend of speed and stamina in his pedigree; a longtime maiden beat him to the punch in a recent turf sprint at Hollywood, when he received a career best 74 Beyer; others have more appeal. - Ron Geirkink

Race 3

Ranulf

Sprang to life with the plunge to 25K claiming and dusted a N2L field; now takes on 4YOs, and 3 of his 5 rivals have won 4 or more races apiece; fastest when at his best (Beyers of 91 and 97) but inconsistent; steady works for Baffert despite the 2 months away; second selection.

Too Fast to Pass

Enters this race in good form and joins Hollendorfer off the claim; he excels with these types, and this is already a very honest horse (5 for 18 with 159K in earnings); makes the third start of his form cycle and Bejarano is up - Jerry's go-to guy; choice.

Limited Response

Joins a higher percentage barn off the claim, but hasn't raced since May; connections aren't giving up on him, they probably could have gotten away with a drop off the layoff but don't want to risk him for cheaper; won over this track in March; still prefer others.

Money Cannon

Finished a close third behind Too Fast to Pass last out after dueling for the lead; this one has upside with the switch back to dirt, the surface over his best efforts have come; barn has good numbers with recent claims from a limited sample.

Great Friends Rule

Looks good based on recent form, having won for 25K on the grass at Hollywood and before a third there for 50K in his first start for these connections; faster on turf than dirt, though; his top Beyer is a 61 on dirt, compared to an 88 on grass.

Sidepocket Champ

Doesn't seem fast enough to outrun this group; his career-best Beyer is a 71, and it came in a maiden claimer on the Cushion Track at Hollywood; has just one win to his credit; no thanks. - Byron King

Race 4

Cleardofallcharges

High-percentage 1ster trainer adds to the appeal; sire is 64-for-551 with 1st-time starters; is out of an unraced dam who produced 2 winners from 4 other foals to race including stakes winners Seattle Ruler (2-for-26, 164K) and debut winner Sparkling Style (3-for-13, 165K); the rail draw can be a tricky-post position for any inexperienced runner.

Primal Lad

Last out of the gate in 1st pair he appeared to be screaming out for more distance in first 2 races but will cutback in yardage by a half furlong off last; was able to pass a few in both races and if he breaks a lot sharper than ever before today that would increase his in-the-money chances.

Rambling House

Projects to race loose on an easy lead which is always a dangerous scenario; hopes none of the 3 firsters challenge him from the gate; 1st time on dirt and has not worked out publicly on the main track; 38%-winning-maiden claiming trainer since 2013 is a plus; try to catch me.

Keeneland Kitten

Has never raced this short of a distance but exits his dirt debut which repesents the field's best Beyer speed figure; been in with quick ones; the 2-back winner repeated with a 70 Beyer in a next-out RET-75K stakes win; the 3-back winner repeated in a KEE-Grade 3 event with a 77 speed figure.

Vegas Street

Most runners improve 2nd-time out and he has plenty of room to move forward for this; high-percentage fresh and maiden-claiming barn while the new rider yields 22% winners for the trainer since 2012; steady-SA dirt workouts on display off the 67-day absence.

Warren's Sallyized

Sire is 1-for-47 with 1st-time starters; is out of an unraced dam who produced 1 winner from 2 other foals to race (1-for-9 Warren's Marshall 20K who graduated in start 4); has worked best of the 3 debut runners for today's unveiling.

Southern Justice

The trainer being 0-for the last-30 with 1sters leads me to back others; sire is 15-for-157 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 1-for-12 dam (35K) who produced 5 winners from 6 other foals to race including top-earner 131K-earner Deelitefulprospect (7-for-19) who won for the 1st time in career in start 3. - Art Gropper

Race 5

Turn On

Barn doesn't usually have them cranked for their best first time out and doesn't boast any recent luck right out of the box; filly does enter this off a steady work pattern and they've drilled her long recently; sire gets about 6% first out surface winners from his offspring and the dam was a limited sprint winner who finished second in her lone grass try.

Inherit the Throne

Didn't have much to offer first time on the lawn last out and now she'll give the footing another crack; filly could go better second time on the surface but she catches some foes who have already run well on the green so she'll need to take a good step forward to have a serious say in the outcome today; prefer to side with others.

Catalina Bonita

Showed little in her synthetic debut run 7 months ago and now she'll try the green while stretching out in her comebacker; recent drills are solid but the barn hasn't had much luck either with second out runners or its fresh stock and this gal's sibs are a combined 0 for 4 on today's footing.

Train Set

Sire was a G1 SP, G3 SW turfer whose 3 foals to race have yet to find the winner's circle either first out or on the green; unraced dam's lone foal to race, this one's full brother, is winless from 9 starts, 5 of which came on the lawn; barn has done ok of late right out of the box and they've worked him long recently.

Euroclydon

Just missed getting up while making his first start both going long and on the green at Hollywood; she'll get a switch to Bejarano for her first spin over the local sod and she certainly has a right to be better second time on the surface; expecting she'll find herself a lot closer early in a field that doesn't contain a lot of lick; one to beat.

Princess Genevieve

Beaten first out chalk ran pretty well in that sprint heat on the Hollywood lawn and she's returned to work pretty well for the stretchout; barn hasn't had a lot of recent success second time out, but they have done well with runners tackling added ground and this gal's daddy was a multiple G2 SW middle distance turfer so she should appreciate the stretchout; main danger.

Exclusive Girl

Showed some speed before fading on the main track on New Year's Day; filly is by a sire who gets 14% first time surface winners but the dam was off the board in all 3 turf tries and though all of her other foals to race were winners, they were a combined 0 for 4 over this type of footing.

Papa's Flashy Girl

Broke at the back of the pack in her initial turf try but made a nice late run to get a share in that last out Hollywood heat; she'll switch to a triple bug while moving to the outside draw here, but there's not a lot of lick signed on for this so maybe she's able to grab a better spot early and she could get better second time over the footing; price should warrant him a look.

Tiz Bliss

AE didn't do much sprinting against open company claimers at Hollywood first time out; filly boasts one slow interim drill but the barn has had some recent luck on the surface switch; sire is 8 for 43 with his first time turfers and the dam was winless from 2 surface starts prior to dropping foals who were a combined 0 for 10 over the footing. - Steve Grabowski

Race 7

Power Foot

Last win came on this course, albeit over 10 months ago; at least after a long layoff (over 6 months0 he ran well at BHP at this level when 3rd Nov. 9; didn't fare so well vs. this kind there Dec. 13 (6th) but he's capable of better and the fact there's no layoff and no panicky drop by a pretty sharp trainer keeps optimism up; and maybe he'll move forward at this longer trip, too.

Monastic

There's no other real speed signed up here so could we see Gary give us a reprise of his beautiful theft aboard Oxbow in the G1 Preakness last year when he set a dawdling pace and played keep-away all the way around?; sure could happen; didn't hold on going 9fs at BHP Dec. 13 but that was his first start in SoCal, first start in 2 months and he doesn't need to go anywhere near that fast early in this spot.

Imperative

If anyone can press Monastic or at least keep him honest early it's this guy; comes off a game mile try at BHP for $50K when dueling and finishing a sharp 2nd (beaten only a head); not only did they see fit to claim him but they bring him back in a spot where he can't be claimed away, too; while he showed speed, that was one of the few times he did so; in other words, there's no guarantee he does it again; also, that run, good as it was, came vs. 3yos only - he's facing some elders today.

Empty Headed

Scratched out of Saturday's G2 San Gabriel for this much easier spot; that being said, after a fine string of races his form has tailed off lately with 2 not-so-hot outings; at least he's not offered for a tag and note 2 of his 3 wins have come here, but recent riders Nakatani and Talamo are not back aboard so could it be those last 2 are signs he's on the downside of his form cycle?; could be, though returning to this course may snap him back to life.

Black Spirit

Like the guy to his left he too scratched out of Saturday's much tougher G2 San Gabriel; this marks not only his U.S. debut but his first action of any kind in about 3 months; and while he did some good work in Europe in 2012 (2 for 7) things didn't go very well in 2013 (off the board in 8 tries); could these new surroundings snap him back to life?; it's possible and he does have something none of the other 4 in here have - a win at this distance. - Michael Hammersly

Race 8

Rich in Tradition

After 21 defeats, it's just hard to find the upside; the best result here was a second by 3 quarters in a maiden $50K claimer with a 59 Beyer; mare lost ground in the drive in the last run from the inside; she can flashed speed at times but is long overdue to hit paydirt; may need a circuit switch to shine.

Secret Memo

Can never dismiss sub :22 speed; she has the 3 races to draw from now and Delgadillo got a chance to figure her out last time; connections would love to see her start acting like top kin and over $160K earner Grandanna; she is hooking another weak group; long overdue to hit paydirt.

Janes Ship

When they lose at Ruidoso and Turf Paradise, not sure where you go from there; she beat one to the wire the last time in Arcadia when triple digits on the tote; apparently not much of a work horse, hard to build a positive case for victory.

Circular Logic

Mitchell is flat-out awesome with this move; he is 8 for 12 or 67% the last 5 years with maiden claimers coming back from this kind of layoff with a median payoff of 7-2; miss had to rush up after bobbling and understandably wilted; miss has been given time to mature, love the spacing of the drills and if she can repeat her debut Beyer against tougher, she'll be a handful.

Trinity Rose

She has been a bad actress at the gate; dam was 0 for 5; lone half sis to race Sporty Semenya took 1 of 8, earned $50K; homebred needs a total reversal of fortune.

A Navajo Tale

Ole about 4% with firsters in a 178-runner sample; Ole won eleventh start, was 2 for 16, earned about 70 grand; dam was unraced; lone full bro to race was out of the money 3 times; mare does look fit enough.

Unique Suances

Vienna very solid with these types; he is 5 for 21 or 24% the last 5 years with debuting maiden claimers and 3 others ran 2nd; Suances 5 for 54 with firsters; sire won second career start, took a Group 1, was turf only banked over $400K taking 8 of a dozen; 2 for 6 dam earned nearly $90K; this is her first to race; she doesn't have to be much stock to make an impact here.

Winninginfashion

She had to be hard used from the fence and just had nothing left; shorter trip could work to her advantage and if you figure she just hated the rail, you can build a case for a move forward.

Stepinmoon

The start to the career was a nightmare; she broke through the gate, was steadied early on the turn, and that was that; the race came back live as the 3rd, 6th and 7th finishers graduated in this league and another was 2nd beaten 3 quarters at this level; 1 for 11 dam earned just over 2 grand a start; both siblings won once; they earned over $31K combined in 15 starts; needs a trip.

Amina Perfect

Jones 8 for 31 or 26% the last 5 years with second shooting maiden claimers with a median payoff of 6-1 and 7 ran 2nd; bothered early, but drawn better for this effort; dam lost 5 times, was 2nd in 4 of those outs; lone half sis to race Amina took 3 of 10, banked nearly $100K; got a feeling we have not seen the best of this one.- Brian Mulligan