Santa Anita: Closer Looks for May 16, 2014

Race 1

Smooven Square

Square Eddie 2 for 14 with debuting juveniles; sire won at 2, took a G1; 2 for 17 dam earned over $130K, was 2nd in best juvenile result; stakes placed full sister to win Smoove It cashed at 2 in only success, earned $80 in 9 outs; colt looks fit enough.

Sir Awesome

Awesome Gambler 5 for 47 with debuting juveniles; SW 2 for 6 sire was 2nd in best juvenile out; 2 for 11 dam didn't race at 2; the full sis to race Awe' Some Kitten cashed at 2, earned over $130K; could need experience.

Noble Hawk

Decarchy 16 for 95 with debuters; sire took juvenile debut at Great Yarmouth at 7 furlongs on the grass by 7 lengths; dam didn't run at 2 but won her debut routing on grass at GG; the half bro to win Aerial Storm cashed at 2, banked over $50K; may need more real estate.

Roper

Cindago 3 for 21 with debuters; SW sire won 2nd start at 2; dam lost 14 times; this is her first to race; blowout last Sunday seems to be a positive sign.

Kristi's Copilot

Lucky Pulpit 6 for 38 with juvenile debuters; SW sire won at 2,banked over $200K; dam third in only start; this is her first to race; the drill on the 3rd screams off the canvas.

Player's Charm

Considering the winner freaked, the debut was not all that bad; note she was over 3 clear; dam was unraced; lone full sister lost 4 times; the experience edge could be huge.

Yahootee

Southern Image 9 for 88 with juvenile debuters; sire took debut at 2, banked over $1.8 million; dam out of the money 5 times; all 7 siblings won; 2 took debuts at 2; top earner banked almost $200K in a long career; would have liked to have seen a local drill. - Brian Mulligan

Race 2

Holy Lute

He was a stakes winner in just his third start as a 3-year-old and he ran a big race to finish third in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby last Oct.; he's been working well enough for his return following a couple of disappointing efforts with Grade 1 company in the B.C. Dirt Mile and Malibu so he should be ready to go; he probably wants a bit more distance but there will be speed coming back to him and it shouldn't surprise anyone if he picks up the pieces;

Omega Star

The past five years Hollendorfer has a 23 percent strike rate with horses going from a route to a sprint and this guy has only won going short so he should appreciate the cutback in distance; he also does his best running late so this could work out for him; not ouf of the question.

Declassify

He's obviously fast and he looked fairly comfortable when he was sitting just off the other speed in his debut; Baffert can have them ready coming off any kind of layoff and it appears he has this guy primed for a big effort coming off the bench; his first two races were sensational and if he can avoid getting into an all-out duel with Seeking the Sherif he could be tough to handle; the pick.

Seeking the Sherif

Nice claim for $12,500 and he is coming off a sharp score where he earned his career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 99; the horse that finished third came back to win a $40K optional race with a 91 Beyer; he is going to get the acid test today and it will be interersting to see how he handles having Declassify breathing all over him right from the start; tough call.

Spud Spivens

6-year-old was aggressively spotted when he came back from a long layoff and he never really got involved in the Grade 2 San Pasqual; he also didn't show a lot of interest when he tried Grade 3 Precisionist winner Fury Kapcori in his next two starts; none of his wins came in sprints so we're going to just watch and see if he's made any progress. - Randy Goulding

Race 4

Among the Stars

Projects loose on the lead unless Spiced Latte guns from the gate; 2nd-time Long today which is almost always an improvement effort; dirt-Mile win was after being in a brief speed duel; in 16 races at the current SA meet at 1M on the turf through May 11 only 3 runners scored gate-to-wire; the majority of the winners were stalkers and deep closers.

Spiced Latte

Has never been better from a Beyer standpoint with improving-SA grass speed figures; looks like she will get a pretty good target to stalk in Among the Stars for this; in latest defeated the show finisher who Beyered 78 in a next-out SA-25K-claiming win; contender.

Flashy Dame

Blinkers have helped her form during the recent-exacta streak; was screaming out for more distance in last and gets it here; rider from last takes Plaza de Indias as the new rider seemingly had other options but lands here; did not see a lot of stamina in other SA Mile turf events and will need patient handling to score.

Love Tale (GB)

Multiple-win rider is on Flashy Dame here as she drops off a win into a race where she can be claimed; barn scored with a fresh winner last week here; a tough beat to Spiced Latte on SA turf in March; since the April 25 start to the SA meet stalkers and late runners have been winning these Mile grass events which benefits this one; the one to beat.

Plaza de Indias (CHI)

Winless 20 races since June, 2011, a Mile-35K turf event in Chile; 4 winners out of last start; the winner, runner-up, 5th and 9th-place finishers Beyered 87-83-78-67 in next-out GG-BHP-allowance, GG-starter alw. and BHP-32K-claiming wins; trainer has a super-win record with long-layoff runners.

Redressthebalance (IRE)

Has the right style to win this event roaring from off the pace and you don't get a hotter SA barn than O'Neil's right now; she still hasn't won a USA turf race yet but latest was very enocouraging and produced a best-last-race Beyer speed figure; the pick. - Art Gropper

Race 5

Ryderroo

Statebred tries open company while stretching out a half panel off a good placing in a restricted field; she'll start from the fence without having much speed, but she does know what it feels like to win and last week's drill suggests she may have another move forward in her; 4 year old has had her chances but looks to be a big threat in this one.

Lindy Hoppin

Sire gets about 4% first out winners from his offspring and the juvenile SW dam took her debut while banking 75K on the track prior to dropping 2 winners (1 sprinting) from as many foals to race in the states; barn doesn't run many and the listed drills don't jump off the page.

Chain Lightning

Offered little late in her 3 starts after showing some early foot each time; sophomore will tackle older for the first time in her return to the claiming ranks and though she gets a weight break she'll switch to an inexperienced pilot; expect she'll again be close up early, but have to side with others on the win end.

Ruby Heat

Tried MSWs first out at Del Mar last summer and lost her best shot at the break; Cal bred returns to face older claimers in her second career start and her works are on the slow side; barn's had some recent luck with its comebackers and maybe a clean break helps her offer more this time.

My Sweet Afleet

Sire hits with 7% of his debut runners and this gal is the first foal to race out of a dam who never made it to the gate; don't know much about the barn and this gal didn't go for much at auction as a yearling, but some of the recent Los Al drills are ok.

Not a Love Song

Argued the hot fractions when moved to the hill against fellow sophomores in her fourth career start and understandably tired late; filly proved she could step on the dirt prior to that and the barn switches surfaces at a nice winning clip; expect to see her gunning from the bell with the move back to this solid journeyman pilot and she figures to prove tough to run down from there; one to catch and beat in her first against older rivals.

Gracie Ragazza

Outside drawn filly makes her first start since Del Mar in this spot as well while getting another new pilot; she showed marked improvement when dropped in for a tag in that second career start over synthetic footing and she's been working like this new surface will pose her little trouble; she did need her debut run before she got going so that's a concern as she returns from the long break, but she does have a right to show up much faster with the time off behind her; proves the main danger. - Steve Grabowski

Race 7

Bobo

He ran pretty well in a winning performance in his only start sprinting down the hill, but he hasn't been in good form in two starts prior to this, and he's going to need a career best effort if he's to have a chance at the top spot against these; looking toward others.

Boozer

His three most recent races have been sharp, and from three starts sprinting down the hill, he's recorded a couple of victories and a runner-up finish; he owns excellent tactical speed and he merits top contender status against these.

Three Vases

Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and dam won 8 of 35 starts for 38k, and she didn't make a turf start; this gelding is a 1/2 to Gifted Athlete (12-53, 188k, including 2 of 16 turf starts for 90k); he's run well in back-to-back starts since being returned from a layoff and he deserves a chance to see what he can do racing over grass.

Bobby Z Man

He has a little bit of turf in his pedigree and have to respect the way that he continues to develop his game; he will need his best effort to date to beat this field, but he isn't out of the mix when seeing his fine positional speed and that he's comfortable racing down the hill.

Star Rocker

Stakes placed colt is three-for-three since being placed over turf and that includes a start down the hill in his latest outing; this looks like a pretty tough spot for him to land in, but he shows up for a barn that is having a strong meeting, and Gutierrez is a go-to rider for this outfit.

Luz Atticus

Although he's made limited starts, he's been in pretty good form since last May, and it looks like he's heading in the right direction for the third start of his current form cycle; not willing to give him the nod for the top spot, but a minor award seems to be within his reach.

Heat Flash

He just seems to keep getting better since turning four and his most recent start was clearly his best effort to date, and the runner up from that race returned to win next out here on 5/11 going 6 1/2f over turf vs. MSW rivals with a 100 Beyer.

My Slew

A case can be made for him being sharper racing over dirt than turf but he's a solid fit at this level of competition, and he shows up for a barn that can be live with a fresh horse; note that Garcia has been aboard for a number of his better performances.

Harness Mentality

In a race where every one of his opponents has earned a Beyer Speed Figure above 80, his top figure is a 78; he hasn't finished better than fourth in his last five starts since breaking his maiden with a 20k tag attached. - Brian Pochman

Race 8

Hollywood Producer

Del Mar Show 0 for 5 with debuters; sire took debut at 2, won multiple Graded stakes, earned over a million, was turf only; 4 for 22 dam earned $50K; lone half bro took one of 6, earned just under a grand a start; like fact she drilled farther than this race is carded.

Doheny

Hung wide when cold on the tote; dam was unraced; all 3 siblings won; top kin Sir Stephen took 4 of 40, earned over $70K; must display more.

No Ice Castles

Off slow when maybe hating the rail in the debut, she could be more focused now with the blinks; stakes placed 5 for 36 dam earned over $260K; 2 of 5 siblings won; top sib Pure Storm won 6 of 29, earned $85K; has some things to prove.

Getaway Keys

Keyed Entry 3 for 56 with debuters; sire took debut at 2, won a Grade 2, banked over $300K; dam lost only start; lone half sis to race was out of the money twice; she seems in a logical spot, has drilled steadily and doesn't seem to hook any monsters.

Lady Vronsky

Vronsky 7 for 68 with debuters; sire took 3 of 11, all on grass, banked over $135K; dam third in best moment; this is her first to race; homebred could need experience.

Italian Harmony

She had to take 2013 off for a pretty serious reason; in career soft spot and 3 exited the last race to win higher-priced maiden claimers; dam was unraced; 5 of 6 siblings won including juvenile debut winner, stakes winner, 9 for 32 racer and near $500K player Italian Rules; try to get a good look at her on the track.

Janes Ship

After 20 attempts, it's just hard to see the upside; she was beaten by a repeater two back and she does have some semblance of speed but she has not lost this many times because she has a heart of gold; not my kind of play.

Tusun

Yet to run in the money and lack of speed a genuine concern; she has not been able to duplicate that top Beyer in 2011; tough to sell this ticket.

Fair Praise

Flatter about 10% with debuters in a 345-runner sample; SP sire didn t run at 2, took 4 of 6, was best long; 6 for 20 dam banked about $45K; all 3 siblings won including 9 for 40 performer and over $100K earner My T Quick; like work pattern accentuated by the blowout last Saturday.

Rich in Tradition

Runner loses 26 times and fans jump on 7-1; that doesn't make a ton of sense; she seemed on the verge after the tough beat 2/28 but she also gave up a nice lead that day; winner two back repeated in a $40K starter with an 89 Beyer; maybe the shorter trip will help her; these kind win now and again but take them on a steady diet, and the bankroll will dwindle.

Yodelmesomemagic

The Steinmann's were named as owners for her last race; she shows up in a realistic spot and she has trained forwardly for this opportunity; got a feeling this racer is live. - Brian Mulligan