Santa Anita: Closer Looks for May 11, 2014

Race 1

Dickery Do

He has not come close, before or since, to that sharp effort on 12/22 of last year; although he retreated early in his last assignment, the work tab during the last month has shown some steady progression; that still seems insufficient to turn things around today.

Ice Cream Truck

Long overdue as his seconditis nature suggests; he rated comfortably in perfect position last month before rallying for second; has limited route experience but still believe he lands into an ideal situation now if able to put away the outside prompters.

Angel Charge

In his last attempt around 2 turns, he was involved in a pressured pace before retiring; it was the exacta opposite 3 starts back when he got away free and clear; the latter seems unlikely today and therefore he cannot be given the main vote.

End of Time

Makes his debut in the route realm and although he should be a forward factor in the early stages, he faces Goyan once again who easily dispatched him in the race 2 back; does not draw well in this short field and needs a key late scratch in order to be a real presence.

Goyan

Sharp in defeat only 9 days ago and can return further dividends for the new connections on this stretchout; may allow End of Time to be the target pacesetter and stay within close range before attempting to break the race open; obvious true contender.

In Defiance

The gelding is certainly bred to handle the extension in distance; his sire won multiple G1s and 1.96 million; the dam was unraced; among the winning siblings is 41K earner Cool Trick; did not break alertly in his debut and lands into a soft field for the price tag involved. - Jim Kachulis

Race 2

Chiloquin

A lot better spot than the Grade 3 company he was outrun by off the bench including losing to Artest; his 2013 win was a midpack-rallying trip; he reunites with win rider TBaze for this; should be able to save ground then make one run; the 2-back winner repeated in a BEL-Grade 1 with a 108 Beyer speed figure.

County Lineman

Exits a best-last-race Beyer speed figure when racing evenly at longer but latest rider sides with Safety Belt for this; both grass races were contested at 1 Mile so has something to prove if he can get up in time racing this short on the lawn; his 2-back win rider takes Mega Heat for this.

Safety Belt (ARG)

Huge-wakeup call 1st time on SA turf; both USA trips have not been clean so still see plenty of upside; the 2-back winner captured his next 3 races with 107-103-103 Beyers culminating in a Grade 2 score; back in just 3 weeks after posting such a huge effort off a 101-day freshening suggesting a bounce may occur.

Trend

Today marks the shortest-distance test of career; 1st start for the Mandella barn who began the SA meet icy; the show runner from last Beyered 80 in a next-out RP-OPC win; mild worktab for this on dirt; his turf record contains 12 minor awards so often races well in defeat; will be taking a wait and see approach.

Midnight Transfer

Both of his field-best Beyer speed figures were posted on SA dirt; the 2-back runner-up finisher Beyered 101 in a next-out SA-Grade 2 stakes win; today is race 1 on the lawn; grandsire is one of the best turf stallions ever; sire is 12-for-115 with 1st-turf starters; is out of a 2-0-0-0 grass dam; 1 foal to race on turf finished off the board.

Artest

20th start but his 1st with blinkers on; overmatched in last when defeating Chiloquin finishing evenly; winless since July, 2012, winning a SAR-100K turf stakes at 5.5F with Johnny V; same owner with his 4th different trainer for this; the 2-back show finisher Beyered 99-98 in 2 next-out Grade 3-stakes win.

Mega Heat

Fires very wel fresh so not concerned about any layoffs; cuts back to his shortest-distance test since August, 2011; last looks better since the show finisher Beyered 89 in a next-out SA-OPC win; win rider lands on Safety Belt; 2-back win rider sides with Chiloquin. - Art Gropper

Race 3

Friendswith K Mill

Life and death in the lone win and he pretty much ran around the track in the Derby Trial; he must prove he can win on dirt; pedigree is solid on top as his sire won the Grade 1 Foster; dam lost 7 times and the 3 siblings to win were sprint only; the good news is there is plenty of speed in here to help the cause; things will have to break just right.

Rum Point

This runner is the speed component of the O'Neills; the synthetic route last October was clearly his best when sent long; stable rider back in the boot, off the rail and would expect rider to be aggressive from the sound of the bell; backers can point to the fact that sibling Classic Corinthian took 5 routes in his career; will at least muddle the pace.

Lolo El Canonero

Clever in the debut and the runners in the company line have not raced back; only a brief threat in the stateside debut but he could be more relaxed and aware of the surroundings with the blinks off here; no clue from siblings who are a combined 0 for 12; must display more.

Arkenstone

Soph did something in the debut you don't see everyday and that's coming back on after losing the lead by a length an a half; Talamo got a chance to figure him out, there are a couple of 6-figure earners in the family; like the spacing of the drills and he doesn't seem to be hooking any monsters here.

Papa Turf

In kind of tough on the cut back in last and he was only a brief threat; connections thought enough of him to try the stakes and those performances were not all that bad; his top career Beyer came at this trip for this rider; should be right on the wire when the smoke clears. - Brian Mulligan

Race 4

Otto's Echo

Sire wins with approximately 14% of his first-time starters and with approximately 16% of his turf starters, and this is the first foal from a dam who won once from seven starts for 25k, including 0-for-2 over turf; 4-year-old makes his belated career debut off of some sharp looking a.m. activity.

Bow Tie Belle

Sire wins with approximately 10% of his first-time starters and with approximately 11% of his turf starters, and dam won 2 of 8 starts for 31k, and she didn't make a turf start; 3-year-old filly meets boys in her career debut and there are a couple of older rivals in here as well.

Slide Away

Sire wins with approximately 6% of his first-time starters and with approximately 5% of his turf starters, and dam was unraced; most of his workouts appear to be on the slow side, so perhaps he's going to need a race.

Smart Journey

Twice raced 5-year-old deserves a lot of credit for the performance he showed up with at second asking after a layoff of more than a year, and he just might be quick enough to grab the early lead in this spot; interesting to see Desormeaux get the assignment today.

Aftermarketslam

Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and this is the first foal form a dam who won 2 of 5 starts for 17k, and she didn't make a turf start; her career debut was an encouraging performance and this is a good spot to see what she's capoable of racing over turf.

Ranger School

Sire is 0-for-4 with his first-time starters and 0-for-7 with his turf starters, and this is the first foal from a dam who was winless from seven starts, including three turf starts; have to respect his chances when seeing what this barn has done with recent first-time starters.

Compete Everyday

He wasn't able to get anything going in his career debut after going to post at over 40-1, but it's certainly too soon to give up on him, and he's a full to stakes placed Boller Bomb (5-21, 211k, including 4 of 12 turf starts for 150k).

Eddie's First

Based on what he's shown in his two starts since being placed over turf he may very well prove to be the one to deny in this spot; this colt is a 1/2 to stakes winner Waveline (5-23, 325k, including 2 of 13 turf starts for 151k). - Brian Pochman

Race 7

Oeighter

Sire wins with approximately 17% of his first-time starters and with approximately 12% of his turf starters, and dam won once from six starts for 30k, including 0-for-2 over turf; 47k purchase sports a number of workouts that hint at ability.

Ann's Gold

Half-sister to Blading Gold Ring (3-10, 80k, including 2 of 4 turf starts for 39k) took a step in the wrong direction in her first start sprinting down the hill in her latest outing, but maybe the addition of blinkers will agree with her.

Mango Reward

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his first-time starters and with approximately 6% of his turf starters, and dam won once from six starts for 41k, and all of her starts were over turf; this miss is a 1/2 to Celtic Heir (1-13, 10k, including 1 of 4 turf starts for 7k).

Editor's Cut

She's out of a multiple stakes placed dam who won 3 of 24 starts for 196k, including 1 of 8 turf starts for 57k, and this miss managed to improve her position in her career debut; however, it might be worth noting the presence of Bejarano aboard another in here.

Nikki Allyn

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his first-time starters and with approximately 15% of his turf starters, and dam was unraced; this filly is a 1/2 to multiple group stakes placed Duff (9-59, 676k); this is a very capable first-out barn and she has a turf leaning pedigree.

Nazareth

This filly has a little bit of turf in her pedigree and her form has consistently been on the level of what it looks like it will take to get the job done in this spot; she has a very live look to her and Bejarano has won with 3 of 5 mounts for this barn in 2014.

Kristinite

Sire wins with approximately 3% of his turf starters and dam was winless from just one start, and it wasn't a turf start; not only did she show a little something in her first two starts during May and June of her 2-year-old season, but her recent workouts look sharp.

La Pequena Gigi

She ran well the first time she raced over turf, and that was over this course and at today's distance; she's not out of the question against these and she might be looking forward to turning back in distance for the first time in her career. - Brian Pochman

Race 8

Tizmetizyou

Winless on dirt with superior grass numbers overall; try to catch me; 4 times she raced on the lead with 2 wins up top; exits a co-best-last-race Beyer speed figure defeating the 5th and 8th-place finishers; they posted 86-79 Beyers in next-out SA-GG-allowance wins.

Velvet Mesquite

Like Tizmetizyou exits a co-best-last-race Beyer on grass with a lot to prove on dirt; she lost to that one 2-back so would rank her a notch below the top contenders even on grass; her only main-track attempt was at 1 Mile where she middle moved 3-back vs the show finisher who Beyered 82 in a next-out SA-optional-claiming win.

Maker Or Breaker

Cuts back to her shortest distance since the debut win; exits 4 straight stakes she should like the class relief for this; Baffert has been super with similar-fresh runners recently at SA and overall yields 24% winners with long-layoff types since 2013; her field-best Beyer at 1 Mile was posted on SA dirt October, 2013.

Big Honey Bee

Finished 2nd best behind a sharp winner posting a much-improved SA dirt race from what we saw in April, 2013, here; her style is to stalk the speed then hopes to come up big in deep stretch; main concern is back in the entry box 38 days after such a huge effort with nearly 5 months freshened.

Tiz Molly

Has to get by Big Honey Bee who handled her in last when making just her 2nd-SA dirt start; she won her career debut here defeating the runner-up finisher who Beyered 76-74 in 2 next-out wins taking an SA-MSW and BHP-OPC; blinkers on is a so-so win angle for a trainer who's been hot lately with fresh runners like her; the 3-back winner repeated in a DMR-111K stakes with an 82 speed figure. - Art Gropper

Race 9

Sun Spots

The sub :22 speed is there, but hard to be thrilled the way he stopped on a dime in last; backers can hang their hat on fact a full brother won 5 times on grass and banked nearly $300K; could at least muddle the pace.

Diablo Caballero

The hillside experience should only help here; dam won stakes, earned $220K, never turfed; 2 siblings tried grass to no avail, top kin Sacred Delight banked over $100K; major threat.

Cole Forty Five

Unusual Heat about 10% with firsters in a 467-runner sample, about 13% with first-time turfers in a 375-runner grid; sire won juvenile debut going short in Europe, won multiple stakes, was Group 3 placed, earned over 140 grand, all on grass; 7 for 23 dam won 5 times on grass, banked $240K; the 2 siblings to race are a combined 0 for 25; may need experience.

Mywayorthecauseway

Red Giant 1 for 16 with first-time turfers; Grade 1 winning sire won half of 12 outs, all on turf, banked over a million; dam's lone win came on grass; this is her first to race; last race came back ultra live; 2nd, 4th and 5th finishers took MSW events next out and the winner repeated in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby; lean toward watching one.

It Is Living Water

In cagey barn and some like this kind of a cut back from a miler on this course; the lone sibling to win was third in best turf result; look for him to try to save ground, swing wide crossing the dirt and then try to reel them all in.

Warren's Sunny Boy

Affirmative 4 for 28 with first-time turfers; sire lost all 4 starts; 3 for 12 dam never turfed; lone sibling to win cashed 6 times, was third in best turf result; place horse in last took a maiden $50K claimer, 5th and 6th finishers took maiden $30K claimers in next; may need easier group.

Mr Lemon Tree

The pace should be hot enough to help produce the big kick; underrated trainer spots them solidly year in and year out and he's been winning everything that is not nailed down; he'll be rolling late.

Pressure Time

Been given time since being forced to steady; dam was unraced; both siblings won in the minor leagues, neither won on grass; steady drills, contention goes long.

Troy Story

Been knocking on the door, is overdue to push it on down; there is turf success in the family and there are several 6-figure earner in the family; long overdue to get there. - Brian Mulligan