Santa Anita: Closer Looks for May 1, 2014

Race 1

London Legacy

Nice blowout less than a week ago, one of his best a.m. moves; he is among the first crop to race from Grace Upon Grace who won 3 of 12 races and 162K; the dam won 3 of 29 and 117K; there are no winning siblings to mention.

Saturday Yodeler

She faces the boys in her maiden voyage today; her sire won a G1 and 761K (offspring of Swiss Yodeler have scored in 59 out of 541 debuts); the dam won 1 of 6 attempts and 46K; winning siblings include 139K earner Hi Ho Yodeler.

Major Market

Progeny of Bushwacker, who won a G3 and 285K overall, are thus far 2 for 21 as far as winning their first test; the dam was without victory in 2 attempts; this is her only foal to make it to the races.

Player's Charm

His sire won 2 of 6 races and 98K (descendants of Awesome Gambler have won 6 of 62 initial races); the dam never started and there are no winning siblings to mention; upgraded in his latest gate drill.

Smooven Square

This colt was sired by G1 Square Eddie who captured 837K and whose offspring have won first out 2 of 18 times; the dam won involved 2 of 17 attempts and 131K; among the winning sibs is 80K bankroller Smoove.

Eddie Could Go

See the previous runner for information concerning the same sire; this one's dam won 3 of 6 races and 89K; there are no winning siblings to mention; shows an overage workout regimen for the most part.

Papa Kade

Sired by multiple G2 victor Papa Clem who amassed 1.12 million and whose descendants are 4 for 22 in the first time victorious department; the dam never started and this is her sole foal to race; fair gate drill recently.

Wake Up Nick

He sports a particularly fast work on 4/19; his sire won 2 of 3 and 98K; progeny of Cindago have been successful in 6 of 41 initial tries; the dam was without a tally in 9 races; there are no winning siblings to highlight. - Jim Kachulis

Race 2

Wicked Heat

He's a full brother to 6-time route winner The Town Lady and Central Heat who won three routes so it wasn't all that surprising he improved quite a bit when he stretched out to a middle distance in his latest; can see him improving in his second try going around two turns and goes from outside to inside so he won't have to work so hard to get into a good early position; the pick.

Heaveneleven

He is the most experienced horse in the field which is not a good thing in a maiden race and he was 82-1 in the same race Wicked Heat exits but he didn't make much of an impact; he's had a decent work since he ran and he gets in light with Nicolas retaining the mount, but others look more attractive.

He's a Real Keeper

Comes out of the same race as the two inside of him and he made a late move after losing touch early; his lack of speed is a major concern but at least he finished decently and there will be speed coming back to him here; can see him getting up in time to work his way into the exotics but that's about it.

Stenoa

He's a half to turf route winner Sugar Kuwalski, and similar to Wicked Heat he took a big step forward when he stretched out the first time; not sure why it has taken him this long to get back to the races or why Powell scratched him out of the same race Wicket Heat and company exit; nonetheless, Powell has solid stats with horses returning in this time period and he's been working well enough; contender

Roman Tizzy

5-year-old has picked things up in his last two and with Lay It On possibly being sent hard early and other speed in the field it could set up nicely for him; horse that finished fourth in his latest won a $40K maiden claimer on the lawn with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure in his next start; this guy owns the best Beyer's in the field and the shape of the race should work in his favor; big shot.

Lay It On

Debut wasn't anything to get excited about but he did show some speed and we'll assume Gryder is going to use it in his first route attempt; two of three sibs are winners and the lone route win between them came on the lawn; the past five years Glatt is 1/16 with horses stretching out in their second start; looking elsewhere. - Randy Goulding

Race 3

African Oil (FR)

He's going to need to show more than he has in his first two starts in America in order to get the job done in this spot and his connections will hope that the addition of blinkers can move him forward; prefer to keep looking around in here.

Boyett

He has some early speed to employ and he's run well in all of his starts since moving into this barn and being placed over turf; like to see Bejarano stick with him and the winner from his latest race returned to win next out at TuP on 4/5 going 1 3/8m over turf in a 35k stakes with an 87 Beyer.

Teaks North

Multiple G1 winner has obviously seen faster days, but still feel that he owns the ability to produce a competitive performance at this level of competition; he may have simply needed his first start of the year, and he's only two races removed from a solid run in a G3 event over the synthetic surface at GG.

China Girl Lover

He's the only one in here with just a single victory next to his name and this has to be considered a very tough spot for his first attempt against winners; third-place finisher from latest won next out at TuP on 4/1 going 1m over turf vs. 30k MOC's with a 70 Beyer.

Affrettando

Stone-cold closer sports the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in this field and it doesn't hurt to see that figure was earned over this turf course and at today's distance; it is worth noting the presence of Bejarano aboard another in here, but this runner commands contender status.

Hotradamus

His most recent outing wasn't one of his better performances and it's fair to wonder if he's capable of being at his best at today's 1 1/4m distance; he figures to be involved in the running early on, but going to look for others to have more to offer late.

Christopher Street

He's been in good form in his recent races and he was sharp when nosing out a next-out winner in his latest start while making his first start back from a layoff; runner up from latest won next out here on 4/26 going 1 1/8m over turf in a 250k stakes with a 75 Beyer.

Pocket Prince

He finished behind today's rival Boyett in his most recent start and he's going to need to find a way to dial up a much sharper performance in order to have a say in the outcome against these; he has the look of an outsider. - Brian Pochman

Race 5

Shapely

Stretches out while switching surfaces after showing solid late interest going down the hill in her career debut last month; she's had a full month to get over the effort and has returned to work well for an outfit that moves them forward second time out; 200K yearling buy is out of a multiple route SW dam and 159K earner and her sire could run all day so though her lone winning sib did so sprinting, the added trip should be right up her alley; consider.

Passing Shower

Tries 2 turns for the initial time after offering improvement in her second career sprint spin; barn does well with its runners off this type of freshening and with those tackling added ground; G2 SP turf dam did win going long on the main track and this gal has been on a regular work pattern for her return from the short break.

Thisonesforricky

Twice beaten odds on chalk gives the route another shot with a couple of solid interim drills in tow; she catches a field that doesn't contain a lot of early lick so her running style figures to be beneficial, but she's certainly had her share of chances and has failed to deliver the knockout punch; still, her recent numbers are pretty solid; they'll again have her to beat.

Sheza Dish

Offered her best yet when put on the lead in her second route try over the local main track but she still wasn't able to hold off the place finisher who also defeated her in her prior start; her interim drills are slow so don't know that she's being primed for another front end try in this heat; prefer to limit her use to underneath in exotics.

Live for Now

Filly has been a disappointment on the track thus far as she's kin to a handful of winners including 3.9 million earner and 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given; she has shown a little bit of ability upstate, though, and she's yet to try dirt, over which she has been working ok of late; she'll need to improve significantly over this surface to have a say in the outcome, but the price should be right.

Kool Kat

Took a step back while finishing behind some of these last time after a solid finish into a quick clip in her initial route spin; maybe she's set to get back on track here, but the pace in front of her doesn't figure to be nearly as quick as the one she got in her big figure placing so she'll likely be making her run from a closer spot today; contender.

Front Range

Took all the money first out and wasn't able to keep up through some pretty quick early splits, but she was able to get up for third money in that sprint heat; her dam banked 965K while taking a handful of G1 stakes routes including a couple over the local main track and she did drop G1 SP route winner and 198K earner Flying Spur; expect she'll have more to offer at today's trip and prove the main danger. - Steve Grabowski

Race 6

Kathleen Rose

Love the series of drills since the last effort; love fact she has natural speed but she can sit just off the pace and still cash; place horse in the 2014 opener cashed next out in a $59K stakes, then was 2nd beaten nearly 4 in a $125K stakes; show horse 1/25 took a $100K stakes and then won a Grade 3 with a 93 Beyer; repeat well within the realm.

Charlie Em (GB)

She beat 6 in stateside debut but has not been able to score since; guess somebody had to be third in the short field two back but the place horse that day cashed next out at this level at GG with a 92 Beyer; forced to steady in last, she'll need things to break just right.

Wittgenstein (IRE)

Life and death for the last win and she has not looked the same since trying the stakes just over a year ago; forced to steady in last and she has been handled by a number of today's foes; could see runner sitting 4 or 5 off the pace hoping the speed just stops; needs very best.

Silver Hustler

Zero for 4 in the last several return efforts; show horse in last cashed twice since, the last in a $32K claimer with an 82 Beyer; Gaines is 5 for 32 or 16% the last 5 years with first after a trainer switch runners and 3 ran second; don't ignore.

Scarlet Strike

She was on the stakes diet for all of last year; connections may have had this race in mind all the time as she seems much more comfortable going long; 7/13 show horse cashed next out took a $95K stakes next out, lost next 3; snappy drill last Saturday suggests she is feeling pretty good about herself; this miss looks live.

Rhagori (GB)

Nice bit of training to have this miss set to fire off the layoff from Halloween; 2 solid drills since, nothing wrong witih hitting the exacta in 10 of 16, look for rider to take a little hold, try to get over and save ground, hope a duel occurs, and then make the one run; major threat.

One Time Only

Game down the hill 2 back, miss is proven at the trip, and she has trained well with this race in mind; rider has been given opportunity by this barn, and would expect the bug to send hard and try to steal it; she also has a shot to have a solid career as kin to Agave Kiss, who won several stakes including a Grade 3 and earned nearly $350K.

Buckingham Bull

Been given time since the game win in last; drills last month were well spaced, and she has been versatile enough to lead or track and get it done; show horse in last cashed in a $40K optional, then was 2nd beaten over 5 in an $80K stakes; only beaten a half the last time at this level, another threat in a good betting race.

Bonnie Lesley (IRE)

She lost a little ground late in the last return effort; she has been a bad actress at the stakes most of her career; never simple to concede 10 or 15 lengths and get the job done; passing. - Brian Mulligan

Race 7

Cause Ur My Babe

That 3rd to Rovenna looks even better as that gal came right back to win again smartly here the other day; that was this gal's 1st try vs. winners, too, so she was being asked a lot; down in class with that run under her belt and Bejarano stays with her.

Prayer Be Mine

Came out firing to win her debut here last Oct. 26; then broke slowly at BHP Nov. 22 in her first try vs. winners as the 3-5 favorite, made a threatening move into the lane but couldn't sustain it; hasn't been seen since, which is a tad worrisome, but at least she returns with no class drop; note, however, Bejarano was up for those 2 starts and rides frequently for Hollendorfer but ends up staying on the rail filly instead, so read into that what you will.

Shakeitupbetty

Done little wrong in 4 starts, though, it took her until start No. 4 to get her diploma; shown versatility in those outings, too; nice to see no layoff and while the rail gal beat her when they met here Feb. 14 it wasn't by all that much (1 1/2 lengths) so if that gal is a player here - and she is - then doesn't it follow this gal can be a player here as well?; darn tootin' it does.

Frisco Fog

Comes here sharp from NoCal; won her debut at GG over a year ago at just 2fs, yes, but her last 2 at GG recently show she can handle this trip; what is a question is whether she can be as effective on dirt; after all, she was pulled up in her only dirt try at PLN last July 6; of course, that may have had nothing to do with the footing and after a long layoff she's come back with 2 sharp races at GG to indicate all is well; worked just fine over this dirt Sunday, too.

In Dad's Honor

Only she and Pay the Debt can boast of having a win over winners; this gal's came on this track, too, March 13; it came routing, yes, but she may be better as a late-running sprinter so this game suits; didn't handle turf and a duel too well last time but there's no panicky layoff, no big drop and as noted today's scenario (dirt, sprinting) may be much more to her liking.

Our Glitter Ball

So was that last big win a function of experience or being pushed early to make the running or a sign she's figured things out or that Iggy has the knack with her or just one of those days when everything went right?; after all, her first 3 starts were not pretty so it was tough to see that March 20 effort coming; good news, though, is she's worked splendidly since and maybe they've found what works and that is to send early and make the running; even so, it's first time vs. winners and some of these may be quicker, too.

Pay the Debt

Like her progress; couldn't handle In Dad's Honor when 5th behind that gal (who was 2nd) going a mile here Feb. 14; however, she dropped, moved back to sprinting and was a sharp 2nd for $20K March 16 and then a game 15-1 winner for $35K here March 30; now comes another multiple level class hike; that's a great sign as it speaks of confidence; of course, it means facing tougher but she may well be peaking and such a class hike helps keep your price palateable. - Michael Hammersly