Santa Anita: Closer Looks for June 6, 2014

Race 2

Kalimba

Modest work tab for this beginner; his sire won 5 of 21 starts and 520K and progeny of Calkins Road have scored in 2 of 11 debuts; the dam was unraced and there are no winning siblings to mention.

Sacred Temple

Sired by G3 type Temple City who banked 326K and whose offspring are 5 for 32 in the first time victorious department; the dam won 2 of 12 and 80K; among the winning siblings is 58K earner Roman Along.

Condition

This gelding is among the first crop to race from Dixie Chatter, winner of the G1 Norfolk and 464K; the dam won 1 of 6 attempts and 9K; this is her only foal to make it to the starting gate; fair gate drills of late.

Nottemptedbyevil

Offspring of Lucky Pulpit, sire of California Chrome and winner of 3 of 23 races and 209K, are 9 for 72 as far as winning their first test; the dam was without victory in 2 tries; this is her sole foal to compete; decent gate drill on the morning of 5/24.

G Q Grace

Finished a remote fourth when beginning his career against better stock; the sire won 3 of 12 and 162K while the dam won 1 of 11 attempts; this is her only foal to race; can upgrade suddenly at this reduced level.

Highway Boss

Ran against winners in her debut yet went to post as the 7 to 5 favorite; her sire won multiple G1s and 831K while the dam was unraced; there are no winning siblings to mention; legit excuses in both defeats; should be a presence against these.

Aaron's Thunder

See G Q Grace for information and statistics about the same sire (progeny of Grace Upon Grace are thus far zero for 1 in debuts); the dam involved never made it to the races and this is her sole foal to start; mild improvement to the latest a.m. drill. - Jim Kachulis

Race 3

Papa's Dancing

Papa Clem is off to a good start as a turf sire and this filly has seen her form improve with the addition of blinkers, and have to respect what he showed in his turf debut in his latest outing; third-place finisher from latest won next out at SA on 5/11 going 6 1/2f over turf vs. 75k MCL's with a 66 Beyer.

Mindfully

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and G1 winning dam won 5 of 6 turf starts for 233k, including 1-for-1 over turf for 32k; third-place finisher from latest won next out at SA on 5/26 going 6f vs. MSW rivals with an 82 Beyer.

Bea's Bench

She's had some trouble getting out of the gate in good order in her first two starts and it would have been nice to have seen her show more in her turf debut in her latest outing; prefer to give the nod to others in this one.

Peggy Sue's Loose

A few of her starts over turf as a 3-year-old were solid performances and her most recent effort off of a layoff can serve as a useful conditioner for this; like to see what she's done from three starts over this turf course.

Warren's Jen Fizz

Maybe she can be knocked a little bit for coming up short as an odds-on favorite in her most recent start, but she's shown enough in her three turf starts to be given the look of a top contender against these; that said, it might be worth noting the presence of Talamo aboard another in here.

Cee's Tizzy Belle

Lightly raced 5-year-old is a 1/2 to G1 winner Tiz Flirtatious (8-14, 779k, including 5 of 10 turf starts for 645k) and her first two starts have been strong enough to suggest that she can produce a competitive performance against these.

Itsherprerogative

Tribal Rule has been a positive influence as a turf sire and this miss deserves another chance to show us what she can do; her dam won 4 of 15 starts for 117k, including 2 of 7 turf starts for 78k; her recent workouts look okay and this is her first start with blinkers.

Hot and Pleasing

She's run races over turf that are fast enough to suggest that she can get herself into the mix against these, but don't like to see that she hasn't finished better than fourth through her first 12 starts; Heavens Stairway returned to win next out here on 3/7 going 6 1/2f over turf vs. starter alw. rivals with an 87 Beyer. - Brian Pochman

Race 4

Rock Me Baby

He's been off since he went unplaced in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and the past five years Dollase has a 10 percent strike rate with horses coming back from a layoff of 180 days or more; this guy won his debut, though, and he has been first or second in 9 of his 12 starts, plus the only two times he finished worse than third were in graded stakes; consider for the exotics.

Midnight Transfer

It has been over a year since he won but for the most part he's been running in stakes races and he won't mind moving back to the main track after trying turf for the first time; there should be an honest pace to set him up and if an all-out duel develops he could pick up the pieces late; some things to like.

Seeking the Sherif

Nice claim by Ellis for $12,500 and he just keeps getting better; that was a sharp win in his latest and the 103 Beyer Speed Figure he earned is easily the best last-race figure in the field; he should be able to clear early and being the now horse he could have a big edge over the ones that are coming back from lengthy layoffs; the pick.

Super Ninety Nine

He was good enough to win the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn but he's been away since he finished third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby last year; the good news is the past five years Baffert has a 38 percent strike rate with horses coming back after being away for a year or more; this guy improved when he stretched out to a middle distance so this might be just a bit short for him; nonetheless, he has to be considered a major player in his first start back.

Castaway

Second from Baffert also won the Southwest as a 3-year-old in 2012 and he's making a comeback after going unplaced in a $100K optional claimer at Del Mar last July; the shortest race he has won so far was at 7 1/2 furlongs so similar to his stablemate, he probably wants more distance; prefer others.

Forward March

He had been off for more than a year when he went unplaced in the Grade 3 San Simeon which has produced a couple of next out winners; two of his three wins came on dirt so he won't mind the surface switch and he is eligible to move forward in his second start on the west coast; he's another one that looks like he wants more distance, though; maybe for a minor share but that's about it. - Randy Goulding

Race 5

Private Marina

Sire wins with approximately 12% of his turf starters and dam was unraced; late running filly might be looking forward to getting more distance to work with; third-place finisher from latest won next out here on 5/26 going 6f vs. MSW rivals with an 82 Beyer.

Three Blondes

She has a little bit of quality to her pedigree and her three starts over turf have been solid performances; however, she has every right to need a race while making her first start since December 2012.

Jennyway U Want It

This barn has been quiet at this meeting but this filly has been in good form lately and she looks like she fits right in with this group; maybe it's a negative to see the hot-riding Talamo aboard another in here, but Nakatani is more than capable.

Windy Starlite

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his first-time starters and with approximately 15% of his turf starters, and this is the first foal to race from a dam who won once from 17 starts for 27k; a two-turn mile is tough on a firster and it's going to take a solid effort to get the job done in this spot.

Susan B Good

She improved along the Beyer Speed Figure scale in her turf debut at second asking and she's a 1/2 to stakes winner Susans Express (2-7, 143k, including 1 of 2 turf starts for 110k); runner up from latest won next out at SA on 5/31 going 1m over turf vs. 50-40k MCL's with a 68 Beyer.

Warren's Cracker

He's been a pretty consistent performer and if he runs his best race he's eligible to find himself in the hunt through the final furlong; like to see that he attracts the services of a rider that has been on top of his game lately.

Lethal Story

Full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Lethal Heat (6-17, 655k, including 2 of 7 turf starts for 211k) is seeking her first top-two finish, and her best effort is fast enough to be competitive against these; note that her one turf start without blinkers was a decent run.

Desert Madam

Sire is 0-for-9 with his turf starters and stakes placed dam won 2 of 15 starts for 132k, and she didn't make a turf start; turf and distance are questions, but this filly took a step in the right direction at second asking with the addition of blinkers. - Brian Pochman

Race 6

Destino

35th chance to graduate today but should be helped out by the added furlong for this after rallying from last off the bench; seems set to move forward off that effort; his 67 field-best Beyer speed figure was posted March, 2013, in an SA-7F dirt event.

Mystique Smile

Back in just 11 days; with only 1 start still has some upside although was outrun when trailing throughout in the 30-1 debut; the way he ran in his debut likey more than 6.5F will be needed to see best form; projects to save ground then make one run.

Juwan

65-1 debut loss with a long layoff for this; he was able to stalk the speed from the gate in last but had no answers late; have mixed reviews from the LA woktab for his 1st conventional-dirt start; will be taking a wait and see approach.

Dark Timbers

Exits a best-last-race Beyer speed figure when closing well at 6F; today's added half furlong should help the cause; picks up 10 pounds but also gets high-percentage Desormeaux; this is race 20 during career without a win but exits one of his best ever the 2nd exacta finish of career; fits well here.

Voluntary

Projects as the one to catch with Grey Is Best projected to press from the outside; the final yards for this are the issue noting how he tired to just miss the exacta at 6F in last; chance he could move forward 2nd time back off the 88-day absence; figures to take these a long way up top.

Watch It Buster

Sire is 31-for-215 with 1st-time starters; is the 1st foal out of a 1-for-16 dam (66K); the workout are superb for an icy-SA trainer (1-for-35) who yields 11%-debut winners but owns a $2.34 return-on-investent with 1sters; great sign that he catches a field lacking superstars at 1st asking.

Primal Revival

Has yet to move forward off his debut Beyer when racing over a synthetic surface; the 2-back show finisher posted a 60 speed figure in his next-out SA-30K-maiden-claiming win; new rider is his 6th different jockey in as many career races which is not a good-win angle.

Vite Tribal Reign

Middle moved in the debut for a high-percentage SA trainer; clearly a good sign the 1ster rider stays right here; mild workout for the 2nd start which can be a dramatic form improvement; expecting a lot more but needs a well-timed ride to make an impact.

Grey Is Best

Has good-gate speed but has Voluntary to battle from the gate then hold off the closers; today marks the longest-distance test of his career; the debut show runner Beyered 89 in a next-out DMR-MSW win; know him early but unsure about late. - Art Gropper

Race 8

Samatt

Trainer Meza one for 10 with MSW to maiden claiming moves the last 5 years; that runner paid over $55 and 2 others ran in the money at 10 and 8-1; steadied at boxcars but the drop can t hurt; last race came back okay as the 4th finisher took a MSW, and 5th finisher took a maiden $75K claimer; dam was 0 for 4; this is her first to race; must turn it around.

Eleven Zip

Off poorly in both outs last year; he hooked a nice horse in the debut as the winner has now won nearly $650K; show horse in last graduated next out in a maiden $30K claimer and then won a $40K GG starter; 1 for 22 dam took a route; this is her first to race; got a feeling we have not seen the best of this one.

Philanderer

Perfect Mandate about 12% with firsters in a 173-runner sample; sire was second in both starts, one was a stakes; 1 for 16 dam earned less than $500 a start; several multiple race winners in the family; one sibling took debut at 2 and earned over $180K and top earning sibling was Grade 3 placed and earned nearly $230K; opens career at 5.

The Gold Monkey

Headley 3 for 16 the last 5 years with debuting maiden claimers with a median payoff of 3-1 and 2 ran second; Surf Cat 1 for 26 with debuters; sire didn t race at 2, won multiple Grade 2s, banked over a million; dam was unraced; this is her first to race; trainer also conditioned the sire and the move on the 16th was solid.

Synnin

Zucker 1 for 14 the last 5 years with debuting maiden claimers and 5 others ran in the money; Tribal Rule about 14% with firsters in a 382-runner sample; sire graduated as older horse, took 2 of 4, banked nearly $80K; stakes winning 5 for 13 dam earned over $170K; lone full sister was out of the money 3 times; could need experience.

Off the Deep End

Miller 21 for 88 or 24% the last 5 years with debuting maiden claimers and 19 others ran in the money; In Excess about 16% with first-timers in a 730-horse study; sire won his debut in Europe at Lingfield at 2, was a multiple Grade 1 winner on dirt; 1 for 5 dam banked $35K; one sibling lost 6 times, the other took 3 of 12, earned about $30K; drills are ideally spaced.

Onebadshenanigan

Far from disgraced in the debut before flashing some semblance of speed; runner that got taken down last time took a MSW next out with a 70 Beyer, then ran out of the money in a stakes; 3 for 19 dam banked about 35 grand; both siblings won; top kin Chicsdigtheshark took 6 of 17, banked over $125K; must be given legit look on the drop alone.

Table Twentyone

See the Zucker charge for sire stats; SP 6 for 14 dam won nearly $150K; 3 of 5 siblings won; top earner All Eyes on You took 7 of 29, earned over $100K; the spin on the 25th screams off the page.

Antinanco

This is a first-time gelding; hung wide from marooned slot to kick it off; he showed some semblance of speed last time and like the several solid drills at 6 furlongs coming to this fray; place horse in last won in a MSW next out, 8th finisher took a maiden $50K claimer and the show horse was 2nd a neck in a MSW; Grade 2 placed 8 for 47 dam earned over $550K; the sibling that won was just one for 15; check out the best of 42 spin last Friday.

Play Maker

Off slow in first 2 starts, then hung wide from the outside slot; dam was unraced; 4 of 6 siblings won; top kin Gladsong took 2 of 16, banked nearly $55K; has some things to iron out. - Brian Mulligan