Santa Anita: Closer Looks for March 7, 2014

Race 2

Party Time

Away slowest in his maiden voyage, a race which came up above average in overall quality; his sire won multiple G2s and 728K; the dam went 8 for 33 earning 671K; among the winning siblings is 281K earner Happy Hunter; some sizzling workouts last month to note.

Sun of Malibu

Raced evenly on a wide path in his first outing; his prolific sire raced only twice, winning 1 and earning 33K; the dam won 2 of 12 and 167K; sib to 146K earner Capitol Appeal; draws much more favorable slot today.

Rprettyboyfloyd

This G2-stakes placed runner should be able to handle the stretch-out; lands into a fairly paceless field and may find himself much closer to the front today and perhaps make first run; legitimate money player but likely to be much less appealing odds now.

Dublin Up

Chased in third position all the way around in his first try at 2 turns; should receive a much stronger early set of fractions here and perhaps that will enable him to turn the tables on Big Tire and others; worth follow-up if the price is right.

Vegas Strip

Respectable showing first time out while the lukewarm favorite; his sire was a multiple G1 talent who banked 3.63 million; the dam won 1 of 4 and 9K; among the winning siblings is 69K earner Passion Tamer.

Shackleford Banks

The blinker addition and atypical 7 furlong workout are encouraging signs for this son of Offlee Wild (a G1 winner who notched 976K); the dam went 1 for 4 earning 33K; winning sibs include 220K earner King Henny; playable.

Big Tire

Enjoyed the even, moderate pace that unfolded last month allowing him to be a clear-cut second; the tempo figures much quicker here and he may have a more difficult time of it; does not warrant the same odds as was the case in that last placing.

Malbros

Broke alertly but then was trounced by Vegas Strip 3 weeks ago; that was his first outing since last summer, however, and he can upgrade now; his sire won multiple G1s and 2.76 million; the dam went zero for 4 and this is her only foal to compete. - Jim Kachulis

Race 3

Catrageous

Drops a level for her return to this course after several weak efforts upstate; she doesn't have any early foot so the inside slot won't do her any favors and she does pick up some weight for this one; have to side with others on the win end.

Silver Hustler

Steps up in company for her first crack off this barn's claim with a couple of solid recent drills in tow; gray isn't particularly quick either and it has been quite a while since she's seen the winner's circle; limiting her use to underneath in exotics here.

Lilbourne Eliza (IRE)

Fresh filly brings speed to the table after tiring from her pace efforts in her first start of the year; she's yet to win in the states and her local record isn't much but she does draw inside her main pace foe and that should afford her a path to the top; expect she'll be pushed but it looks like they may have to come and get her to win.

Ginger Tap

Gray's first with winners wasn't much but she did encounter trouble while making her first start since the Del Mar maiden breaker in that one; filly did get a nice clip in front of her in that score and her recent main track drill was rather slow, but maybe the cut back to this trip helps intensify her kick; consider.

Rhagori (GB)

Import lures Bejarano for her first start since Halloween with some solid recent drills in tow; though her most recent score came over synthetic footing she does like the lawn and maybe the new Lasix helps perk her up some; board should tell a better story.

English Rhythm

Didn't do too much in her first start at the level last time and has had some time since; gray's efforts back East were solid but they did come against cheaper and she doesn't have any early foot; looks like she'll need to move forward to prove a serious win threat in this heat.

Highly Rated

Runner up in 3 straight as the chalk returns from a brief freshening after blowing a clear midstretch lead in her local return; expect she'll again show plenty of speed while making her first start off the barn's claim but she'll draw outside her main pace foe which doesn't figure to make things easy on her; she'll have to earn this one.

Miss Well Molded

Outside drawn mare steps back in with open company while making her first start off the claim by an outfit that excels with this type; she won at this level in the fall and is a 2 time local course winner; expect she'll be able to secure a solid tracking spot off the speed from here and prove to be the one they'll have to hold off. - Steve Grabowski

Race 5

Warren's Flasher

Cal bred returns to this level after failing to threaten in her stakes crack down the hill; her prior try at 10 panels wasn't bad, but it's been a while since she's run well enough to win at this trip and level and now she'll pick up weight; maybe for a minor award.

Passionate Diva

Cuts back again after failing to offer enough in the lane here last month; effort 2 back was big and her most recent score did come over the local sod; interim drills suggest she's set to take a big step forward and that could make her a big threat in this spot; contender.

Sweet Red Cat

Tries older foes for the first time while returning from 9 months on the shelf for a new barn that hits at a big clip with this type; G3 SP filly has run well without winning in each of her cracks over the local course and she won fresh on the main track last winter.

Kathleen Rose

Brings some speed to the table while stretching out off the fade in her hillside sprint stake try; expect she'll be prominent from the bell and she did beat statebreds with a solid number at the trip late last year; looks like they'll have to run her down to win.

Hard to Resist

Drops in company to face her softest field in some time while returning from a brief freshening; mare worked well on the main track last week for this and though it has been a long time since she's seen the winner's circle, she does own a local course score and will lure Bejarano; class edge makes her a big threat.

Tap the Magic

Hood comes off following another weak spin in her first start since the summer; gray has worked ok in the interim but she's yet to run fast enough to prove a serious threat at this level; nice to see Smitty get aboard, but this gal will need a serious form reversal to get in the mix here.

Perfecta

Goes first time for a new outfit after again failing to factor on the local sod; these are better than she's been facing and it's been over a year and a half since she's seen the winner's circle; local slate has us looking elsewhere.

High Jinks (BRZ)

Outside drawn mare steps up to face allowance runners off her second straight near miss at the trip against claimers; she's had 5 weeks to get over her last and has been working long in preparation for this; in her current form she looks to be the one they'll have to hold off. - Steve Grabowski

Race 6

Clear Pearl

European import wasn't an impact player on the grass earlier in the meet, and is racing on dirt for the first time, a surface which she's bred to handle; hot trainer has light numbers with turf/dirt starters and turnbacks; a wild card.

Sweet Factory

Has been idle since her botched March 28 run, but has been working bullets for an ordinary layoff trainer; daughter of the red-hot Candy Ride is being reunited with the crafty journeyman Smith, who broke her maiden; can fire off the bench, but might need one before making some noise against this caliber of competition.

Fanny Brice

Performed admirably over Woodbine's quirky Polytrack before coming to SoCal; seemed to regress off his closing third most recently, when a fading third behind Our Pure Creation and victorious Peppy Bolly, who returned to finish a distant fourth in an N2X; can rebound with a competitive performance, possibly at a square price.

Rhodium

Made most of the running when she reached out to a mile Jan. 26--the winner subsequently finished fifth in an N2X, and the third horse came back to just miss in an N1X (81 Beyer); has since worked bullets at San Luis Rey for Miller, who's excelled with turnbacks; speed threat.

Small Moves

Front-runner might be a little quicker than the turnbacking Rhodium; she defeated two next-out starter allowance winners last time while prevailing in her debut for Glatt, who's won at a 16% clip second-time off the claim going back five years ($1.91 ROI); contender.

Our Pure Creation

Chased Fanny Brice home before beating that rival while coming close to finding the mark in a recent N1X/optional event; Bejarano is sticking with Appealing Resume, and Maldonado is 4 for 24 at the meet for this productive barn; minor player.

Pica

Invader from the Fair Grounds is making her first start for Miller, who has a 14% strike-rate with new shooters over the last five years ($1.82 ROI); her FG form was solid, and she's an adequate fit here Beyer-wise; consider for the bottom of intra-race bets.

Appealing Resume

7yo was claimed for the second straight time while scoring for the second time in a row for $25K Feb. 1, from which the runner-up exited to topple $20K stock with a 77 Beyer; Ellis won at a 20% rate first-time off the halter switch during the past five years (1.37 ROI); her outside post is ideal, and leading rider Bejarano has given her a vote of confidence; preferred. - Ron Geirkink

Race 7

Luckyvic

Tough to back her for the top spot with any confidence when seeing that she has just a single victory after 28 starts and she must step it up over what she's been doing lately in order to have a say in the outcome.

Ascription

Her form has improved with a move to turf three races ago but it doesn't look like her best effort is strong enough to threaten the top contenders in here; she looks like more of an outsider.

Putahexonher

Sire wins with approximately 8% of his turf starters and dam won 3 of 17 starts for 79k, including 0-for-1 over turf; she showed up with a much improved performance at second asking to get the job done, but she benefited from a slow early pace, and she will need to be ready for better in her first start over turf and her first start against winners.

Intoxicating Move

It took her 12 starts to get to her first career win, but she did earn that victory against winners, and that level of performance is strong enough to get her into the mix against these; like to see Bejarano aboard again.

Callous Effect

Can't ignore the time off that she's needed between starts lately, but like to see what she did in her one start sprinting over turf prior to this; she's a 1/2 to stakes placed Miss Frost (1-4, 64k over turf) and the runner up from her latest race returned to win next out here on 2/22 going 6f vs. starter alw. rivals with an 87 Beyer.

Blake's Magic

She has to be considered a top contender in this spot and she sports the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here; she's by a fine turf sire and she's a 1/2 to multiple graded stakes winner Mobil (12-29, $1.8 million, including 5 of 13 turf starts for 877k).

Room for Me

Sire wins with approximately 6% of his turf starters and stakes winning dam won 4 of 22 starts for 126k, including 0-for-1 over turf; interesting to see that he was reclaimed by this barn from his latest start.

Heavens Stairway

She's run pretty well in both of her turf attempts and like to see what she's done in the two starts where she's employed rating tactics; this miss is a 1/2 to Risky Reward (2-4, 86k over turf).

Grammy Times Six

Sire wins with approximately 9% of his turf starters and dam won once from five starts for 34k, and she didn't make a turf start; this filly is a 1/2 to Pindaric (6-30, 214k, including 2 of 19 turf starts for 149k); third-place finisher from latest won next out at TuP on 2/22 going 1m in a 35k stakes with a 60 Beyer.

Teasing Moment

Sire wins with approximately 8% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from a dam who was winless from one start, and it wasn't a turf start; obviously she's going to have to show up with a much improved performance in her turf debut if she's to have a say in the outcome.

Cleverly Beverly

She needs to see a scratch from the main body of this race in order to draw in and she's yet to produce a performance that is strong enough to suggest that she can threaten the top contenders in here. - Brian Pochman

Race 8

Tribal Law

Don't be too harsh about the debut; trainer doesn't usually have them cranked to the gills and runner was in tight in the process; dam 2nd in best result after 3 outs; both siblings won; they are a combined 3 for 24 for a bankroll of about $40K together; expect much better result.

Copote's Royalty

Gelding was a least a little more keen to run early in last; dam out of the money thrice; lone full sis was 2nd in best result beaten a length in a maiden $40K seller; look for bug to send hard and hope for the best.

Old Pueblo

Nearly 6 clear in the very tough beat; dam was unraced; lone half sis to race Carissa took 3 of 17, banked nearly $75K; should be right there when the smoke clears.

Puerto Williams

Only in the money once and trying to prove that 84-1 effort was no fluke; backers can point to the fact there are several winners in the tree including a near $70K earner; grinder needs to hurry.

Dark Timbers

Once they start piling up 12 or 14 losses, the upside is just hard to find; both sibs were triple winners in the minor leagues; the hotter the pace the better for this runner.

Rob's Pal

Gelding has found his friends; he was just overmatched early in the career but had run two nice races this year; like the series of drills coming to this race too; backers can hang their hat on fact there are several 6-figure earners in the tree including an over $200K player; slight improvement and he'll be right there.

Tale of Power

Off slowly in the lone sprint as he is in for $30K less than purchase price; several winners in the tree, none were monsters; if he can run at all, the figures to show it here.

Take a Risk

Flashed good speed in the return and considering the layoff, the race was something to build on; 2 for 6 dam earned nearly $50K; both siblings won including a 2 for 12 over $100K earner; this runner looks live.

Gold Tie Please

At least he was inching toward the winner last time; connections still hoping he wakes up and starts acting like the top kin that banked over $200K in a long career; he doesn't have to be 8th early on today; just may wake up.

Destino

After 31 starts, it's nearly impossible to make a convincing case for a turn around; never better than third in his career, he has been value in the trifecta several times and that is here his strength may lie once again; could fit him on the bottom of an exotic only. - Brian Mulligan