Santa Anita: Closer Looks for May 30, 2014

Race 1

Eltoninadress

5-year-old is as honest as they come and she is certainly capable of handling this small jump in price; she also has enough speed to take advantage of her inside post but she is versatile and Baze might let her sit just off Acute; claimed out of her latest and the past five years Kitchingman has a 16 percent strike rate running them back the first time; the pick.

Sunflare

Another one that was haltered out of her latest and the past five years Miyadi has won with 31 percent of his claimed horses running back the first time; 4-year-old filly earned her career-best Beyer Speed Figure for her win in a $6,250 claimer at Golden Gate in her latest on turf and this will be her first time running on dirt; her slow work here May 23 isn't very encouraging, though; prefer others.

Summers Dignity

Comes out of the same race as Eltoninadress and considering she lost a lot of ground on the stretch turn and got beat by a length it was a pretty-good effort; she should have an honest pace to work with and if Orozco can work out a better trip she could be heard from late; not out of the question.

Acute

Could be the one they have to catch if she breaks alertly and it wasn't surprising she faded after dueling through quick fractions in her latest in a $16K claimer; she won at this level two back and if she can shake loose early she could take them a long way; toss her latest and she looks like a major player.

Zees Chris

Ran an improved race in her latest but just couldn't get past Eltoninaddress; looks like she's heading in the right direction and she could move forward in her second straight race at a distance she has a solid record at; it has been over a year since she won a race, however; prefer others.

Lady Vivien

She will appreciate the easier company with the drop in class and she has the right running style for the potential shape of the race; she's tried two turns three times in her 23-race career and her best finish was a third in a $75K maiden claimer on the turf here in 2012; Desormeaux attracted; contender.

Race 2

Tribal Echo

Sired by Tribal Rule who won 2 of 4 starts and 77K (his progeny have scored in 53 out of 382 debuts); the dam lost her only attempt; among the winning siblings is 13K earner Miss Fast Eddie; modest work tab on view.

Keegers

Steady workout regimen for this son of Papa Clem, a multiple G2 winner who netted 1.12 million and whose offspring are 4 for 23 in the first time victorious department; the dam was unraced; winning sibs include 59K bankroller Lucky Views.

Nardo

Note strong half-mile drill turned in only 8 days ago; his sire won multiple G3s and 706K in total; descendants of Olmodavor have won 20 out of 148 initial starts; the dam won 2 of 18 and 36K; this is her only foal to start.

Full Bird Colonel

Progeny of Awesome Gambler, who won 2 of 6 and 98K, are 6 for 64 as far as winning their first test; the mom won 1 of 16 attempts and 21K; among the winning siblings is 220K earner Primetime Princess.

Westward

His sire won at the G3 level while garnering 285K; offspring of Bushwacker have won 2 of 21 debuts; the dam won 1 of 22 races and 12K; among the winning siblings is 138K earner Loumeister.

Big Swag

Nice blowout from the gate only 4 days ago; the grey is among the first crop to race from The Pamplemousse who won multiple G3 affairs and 209K; the dam won 10 of 41 and 296K; sib to 196K earner Takin' the Bullet.

Lucky Logan

Encouraged by the latest half-mile drill from the gate; his sire won 3 of 22 races and 209K; descendants of Lucky Pulpit have won 9 of 72 initial attempts; the dam was unraced; winning sibs include 13K earner Brojac.

Show and Tell

See Westward, above, for information and statistics about the same sire; the dam was zero for 2 and this is her only foal to make it to the starting gate; this trainer has scored with a pair of nice-priced beginners.

Race 3

Primal Revival

Hood goes on for the stretchout from this inside slot after another weak sprint effort; gelding hasn't been close early in any of his starts and don't think the equipment change will make much of a difference for him today; have to pass on this longshot.

In Defiance

He's another getting shades for this after a poor try first time going long in his second career start; gelding did work better earlier in the week for this and the price figures to be much better this time, but he's got a lot of improving to do to step with these.

End of Time

Yet another getting the hood for this one, this 6 year old had little to offer late behind the eventual winner and runner up who returned to score next time out; gelding does have speed and maybe he's again involved from the bell, but don't think he'll have enough to prove a serious threat late.

Midnight Mayhem

Switches surfaces after tiring on the stretchout in his turf debut a couple of weeks back; gelding has shown some early foot which should help and he'll switch to a pilot who has gotten off to a nice start out here; may prove to be the one to beat.

Takeit Tothe Limit

Took some money in a short field first out here earlier in the month but came up short in the lane; colt did return to work sharply and maybe he benefits from the initial experience, but his pedigree suggests he won't move forward significantly at today's added trip; prefer others on the win end.

Stauffenberg

Should be legged up from his recent turf routes and now he'll return to the course and level of his solid try 5 starts back; 5 year old has had plenty of chances and has only earned a couple of minor awards so don't know that there's much more in him than we've already scene but he's not facing all that much; lack of lick doesn't help in here, but he has to be considered.

Rare Punch

Didn't have much to offer in either of his 2 sprint tries and now he'll stretch out in his second start of the year; he's kin to a multiple route winner so maybe the added trip helps, but it's tough to get excited about his chances of improving given what he's shown thus far.

Yodeling Honey

Outside drawn gelding tries 2 turns for the initial time after breaking on the slow side again in his first crack at the level; barn is having a tough stand but hits at a nice clip with stretchouts and this guy's dam is a route winner; worth a look.

Race 6

Clear Pearl

For the 1st time in career she races with blinkers on which is an 0-for-14 angle for the trainer since 2013; have to assume the hood-on move is to get her closer to the pace than usual; new rider is his 6th different jockey in as many races which is not a good-win angle; the runner-up finisher from last posted an 81 Beyer speed figure in a next-out GG allowance win.

Hey Pretty Girl

Adds distance to her longest-stamina test ever after fading vs. winners at huge odds; 3-year-old obviously seeks the correct level off that 2-back maiden claiming score; new rider but would need to post a career-best effort to make any impact.

Marcyjane

Winning Rhythm beat her the only time she raced at today's 9F distance; rallied in last like she wanted more ground; the 2-back show finisher Beyered 85 in a next-out SA-40K-claiming win; sharp-LA dirt workout for an icy-SA trainer this meet.

Winning Rhythm

Smooth Talker handled her 3-back as she beat the show finisher a next-out 83 Beyer DMR-MSW winner; deep-closing kick fits well at today's distance but races 1st time off the nearly 8-month layoff a 10%-win angle for the trainer; toss her sprint debut and she's been a stretch factor in every start so would be hard to leave out.

Warren's Rosebud

68 days since fading when ovematched facing stakes company; today marks the longest-distance test of career; the 3-for-34 fresh trainer since 2013 does not add to the appeal; new rider is her 4th different jockey in as many races which is not a good-win angle.

Hijra (IRE)

Exiting a sprint and in a race without a lot of gate speed figures to be an early presence for this; held on well 2 back at longer than this; consistent French form then was off slowly from the gate 5 weeks ago in the USA debut; high-percentage fresh trainer adds to the appeal; view with a lot of uspide especially if breaks sharper.

Smooth Talker

Since beating Winning Rhythm winning on the lead last summer at shorter than this her form has tailed off as she hasn't been able to make the front since; showed no gate speed vs. Hijra in latest while plenty to prove (3-0-0-0) on SA turf.

Nickels Wild

Projects as part of the pace; 4-back 9F off-the-board finish represents the field's best Beyer speed figure; owns the numbers' edge here exiting a best-last-race Beyer; the 2-back winner repeated in an SA-Grade 3 stakes with a 91 speed figure.

Another Sky

She looked like a brand new mare 27 days ago here when graduating by more than 5; she rated kindy from off the pace while in other races she's been more of a frontrunner; today is the longest-distance test of career so has to pass the stamina test.

Backintheacademy

Beat the 2-back show runner who Beyered 68 in a next-out 10K-claiming win; just missed at today's distance 2 back; shown a big wakeup since losing handily to Nickles Wind in January; would have to overcome the biggest impost of career breaking widest.

Race 7

Miss Radiance

Not many sprints in her 15-race career but she broke her maiden going six furlongs here and that was a big effort in her first start of the year in her latest; there should be an honest pace for her to work and if she moves forward with a race behind her she should be right there; contender.

Sagebrush Queen

Cal-bred should appreciate the move back to a sprint following a dull effort going around two turns in a first-level allowance race April 19; the horse that finished second won a one-mile $40K optional race with an 87 Beyer Speed Figure in her next start; focus on this gal's previous race where she won a posted an 83 Beyer and she looks like a contender in a wide-open event.

Big Break

It looked like a nice claim for $50K when she romped in her debut, and it still could be, but she couldn't keep up to stakes fillies in her second start and she failed in her first try on the turf in her latest; she should fit better here and she certainly has worked sharply leading up the race; Desormeaux and blinkers on could add up to a big effort; interesting.

Antiquity

She was a sharp winner when she debuted on Poly at Del Mar and the horse that finished fourth, Be Proud, recently won the California Oaks at Golden Gate; she obviously wasn't up to Grade 1 company in her second start and was given time off to recover; the past five years Sadler has a 14 percent strike rate with horses coming back from a layoff of 180 days or more; dam was a stakes winner on turf and her only other foal is a winner in Japan; not out of the question but she might be better on grass.

Lemon de Oro

Looks like the one they will be chasing and she almost carried her speed the whole way when she came back from a lengthy layoff; Spawr on fire at the meet and the past five years he has a 15 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff; encouraging to see Smith accept the call and if she breaks on top she could be gone; the pick.

Senza Fina

That was a game effort in her latest but it may have taken something out of her because Glatt has taken his time bringing her back; the past five years he has a 13 percent strike rate with horses coming back between 61-180 days; toss her races on turf and she's been right there every time; she is stepping up in class but she hasn't been worse than third in any of her sprints on the main track and at the least should be considered for the exotics.

Innocent Love

She should appreciate the move back to a sprint after fading in a one-mile $50K open claimer in her first start for Machowsky; she earned a career-best 71 Beyer Speed Figure for her win in a $25K claiming race in the race she was claimed out of and that comes in a bit light compared to what some of the others have posted; passing.

Race 8

Navarre (GB)

Rail a magnet once again; forced to steady last time but he still ran solidly; hopes were high for this racer as he is kin to a couple of monsters that both earned over a million; due.

Lassie's Reward

Maybe he just wanted grass all the time; 11 for 50 dam earned almost $200K, won on grass once; although there was no turf success in the family, two banked over $170K a piece; runner has matured and must be left in the mix.

Red Globe

Nice turn of foot to go from 8th to within 2 and a quarter of the lead and he just kept coming; backers can point to the fact there is a double turf winner in the family; backers have to hope they go bonkers early and the race falls apart.

Tribal Dude

The speed half of the O Neill pair and he has trained steadily for this; note show horse was clear for run; Trujillo off to a good start here and he's making the most of his opportunity; respect.

Warrior's Ridge

Must be given legit look on the drop alone; forced to steady last time, he was not disgraced the other time on the hill; rates upset glance.

Superboot (IRE)

Even on the 50% drop last time, racer could not get it together and he did get off slowly; at least there is a grass winner in the family; best of 48 bullet in the holster; another factor in a good betting race.

Gilmar

Corinthian about 8% with first-time turfers in a 133-runner sample, about 7% with debuters in a 241-runner; G1 winning 6 for 12 sire, won in second start at 2, banked $1.2 million, never turfed; dam out of the money in only start; family is solid; all 6 siblings won; 3 won on the grass including Queen Of the Castle, who won a Grade 3 on turf, banked over $400K; the blood is there.

Silectico

Could see him pushing the issue, but not sure he'll be around at the end; gelding has sneaky speed, but there are stamina issues that must be addressed; would tread lightly here.

Argentine

Considering the cut back, he could be left with a ton of work to do turning for home; colt has trailed in the last 2 races; the hotter the pace the better for this racer.

Itsgettinhotinhere

Unusual Heat about 10% with first-timers in a 468-horse study and about 12% with first-time grass runners in a 377-horse study; sire won debut going short in Europe, won multiple stakes, was Group 3 placed, was 6 for 16, earned over 140 grand, all on grass; stakes winning 4 for 7 dam earned over $200K, never turfed; lone half bro to race Curious Spy took 3 dirt routes; he sure looks fit enough.

Sun Spots

Was kind of throttled down and may have disliked that in last; would rather see him taking advantage of the sub :22 speed; several full siblings did win on grass including near $300K earner Mega Heat; rates upset glance.

Eleven Zip

City Zip about 14% with first-time grass runners in a 338-runner sample; sire won 5 times at 2 including G1 Hopeful, took 9 of 23, earned over $800K, was 3rd in best turf result; 1 for 22 dam cashing routing on dirt; this is her first to race; been a bad actor at the gate; and that must be addressed.