Santa Anita: Closer Looks for May 9, 2014

Race 1

Soul Crusader

Vast improvement to the latest half-mile drill; her sire won the Kentucky Derby and 1.99 million overall; offspring of Fusaichi Pegasus have scored in 65 out of 600 debuts; the dam was a G3 winner who banked 381K; winning siblings include 187K earner Southern Ridge.

Henry's Holiday

Fine blowout from the gate turned in only 4 days ago; his sire won multiple G1s and 3.63 million; progeny of Harlan's Holiday have scored in 68 out of 492 initial starts; the dam won 1 of 19 and 91K; there are no winning siblings to highlight.

Sky Preacher

Cross-reference all workouts with barn mate Henry's Holiday; this colt was sired by G1 victor Sky Mesa who captured 633K; his descendants are 50 for 381 as far as winning their first test; the dam won a G2 in Argentina while earning 103K; sib to 263K earner Sky High Lady.

Tiz Jolie

Noteworthy gate drill on the morning of 4/26; his sire won a G2 and 254K; Tiz Wonderful's offspring have done extremely well first out winning at a rate of 23 percent; the dam won 16 of 78 attempts notching 139K; this is her only foal to start.

Carly P.

Legitimate excuse to that first defeat when suffering through a troubled beginning; her sire won 5 of 23 and 342K while the dam was without a tally in 9 attempts; there are no winning siblings to report.

No Maybe Baby

She hails from G2 winner Ready's Image who amassed 310K and whose offspring are 6 for 51 in the first time victorious department; the dam was unraced; among the winning siblings is 78K earner Action Ready; modest work tab on display. - Jim Kachulis

Race 2

Golden Chalice

Out to make amends after flop as chalk; could be more focused with the blinks and he has California Chrome's sire going for him; 3 for 30 dam earned over $100K, was route only; 3 of 4 siblings won including route winner and over $100K earner Minor Issues; expect much better effort.

Grazenette

Over 3 clear on the stretch out, then stopped on; stakes winning 3 for 10 sire banked $100K, was sprint only; both siblings won; both banked around $100K, one carried speed long on grass; back to the original pilot.

Cinematic Cat

Would expect him to show speed on the stretch out; stakes winning sire cashed short and long; dam won twice, once routing; lone half sis Our New Tale cashed 3 times, won routing once; look for rider to send hard and try to steal it.

Know Plans

He can be his own worst enemy since he has limited speed; connections would love to see him mature like top kin, triple SW and over $400K earner Lightmyfirebaby; must hurry.

Prospector Alley

This is probably his preferred surface; hustling bug got a chance to figure him out and note racer was nearly 4 clear two back; the show horse 2/21 graduated next out in a maiden $30K claimer, then ran out of the money; backers can hang their hat on top kin and double route winner Dan and Sheila, who banked $165K; must display more.

Frensham

Connections thought enough of him to try the stakes; and he's coming off the best Beyer despite the bad trip; 3/9 show horse graduated next out with a 78 Beyer, then beat $40K starter foes last Sunday; at least both siblings won including double route winner Jailbird Jimmy; rates valid look. - Brian Mulligan

Race 4

Alfiero

Sire is 0-for-29 with 1st-time starters; is the 1st foal out of a 6-for-19 dam (115K) who graduated in start 3; has been working steadily for a trainer 0-for-21 with 1sters since 2013; will be taking a wait and see approach.

Kanuck Kowboy

The workouts suggest we will see a much-improved effort off the debut-off slowly loss; clearly the long layoff is a major issue while the bettors gave him no chance in last (27-1 odds) while the unveiling rider lands on Surfer Moon for this.

Surfer Moon

Exits a best-last-race Beyer when flashing the best-gate speed of his career and figures as the one to catch again today; in 8-SA-6F-dirt races from April 25-May 4 only one runner scored a victory on the lead; got a big-wakeup call for a rider who stays right here; the 2-back show finisher Beyered 77 in a next-out SA-75K-maiden-claiming win.

Sooner Born

Did not offer much in his debut but the barn goes MSW-to-maiden claiming a 26%-win angle since 2013; stalkers/closers won 7 of 8 SA-6F dirt races from April 25-May 4 and figures to offer a strong-closing punch in a field of suspect speed; the workouts for this are steady and gets a 10-pound weight break with a capable apprentice; lots of upside on the pick.

Chapo

Sire is 107-for-948 with 1st-time starters; is out of an unraced dam who produced 4 winners from 6 other foals to race including 140K-earner Mystic Mirage (5-for-27) who won start 10; a great sign that you see Bejarano here to ride at 1st asking.

Cowtownmary

Cuts back to his shortest-distance test ever for his 1st dirt start trying to shake up the form off back-to-back career-low Beyers; with Surfer Moon here he may be forced to sit just off the speed after racing on the lead in last trio; 3F longer on turf produced his field-best Beyer 3-back when defeating the show finisher who posted a 73 speed figure in a next-out SA-MSW win.

Takeit Tothe Limit

Has outworked the other 2 debut runners; sire is 56-for-324 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 3-for-16 dam (102K) who graduated in her 2nd start producing 6 winners from 9 other foals to race including G2-SW Put It Back (5-for-7, 232K) who won his 3rd start. - Art Gropper

Race 6

Twin Six

He's had a little extra time to get over the near miss against a notch cheaper and now he'll make his first start off this sharp barn's claim; gelding draws the fence again so maybe he works out a trip but he doesn't look to get a lot of lick in front of him so he'll need to be used a little harder early to have a shot at getting in the mix today, but he's a threat.

Fit to Rule

Steps back up for his first start off the barn's claim after taking his second straight since stretched back out; gelding has shown sharp tracking foot and the field's highest last out Beyer earner should again be able to work out such a trip today; with 5 weeks to get over his last, he looks to be the one to beat.

Cloud Hopper

Adds the hood for the surface switch while being offered for twice the price the barn paid for her in late summer; his recent scores all came over synthetic footing and he's never seen the winner's circle on dirt; maybe he's better with his first start from the break behind him and he is working well of late, but have to side with others on the win end.

Sharp Richard

Ships in here off a couple of near misses on the lawn in Arizona and now they'll remove the hood; gelding will tackle a better bunch today and he's yet to as much as hit the board on dirt; picking up weight with a journeyman getting aboard, he'll have a tough time having a big say in the outcome here.

Tuckers Point

Tries a better bunch off the claim by a barn that hasn't done much with this type of late; gelding did win at the trip for a slightly cheaper price 3 back and he'll get a switch to a solid journeyman pilot here; with a clean run maybe he gets in the exotics mix at a decent price.

Graeme Crackerjack

New outfit has had plenty of luck with this type right back and they'll remove the hood in looking to get this guy back on track; off the pace type does own numbers from earlier in the year that would make him tough in this spot and maybe the equipment change does the trick; consider.

Trucial State

Stretches out off a sprint try in his first crack of the year; gelding did win over the track around this time last season but he's been a different runner for this outfit and looks to have his work cut out for him in this spot; longshot.

Cook Inlet

Outside drawn gelding got going too late when moved to the lawn last time but he'll get shades and a switch to Bejarano for the drop below the level at which this outfit took him 3 starts back; his prior main track spin earned him a number that would make him pretty dangerous in this spot; boasts interim drills that suggest a much improved effort is on tap; main danger. - Steve Grabowski

Race 7

Twin Six

He's had a little extra time to get over the near miss against a notch cheaper and now he'll make his first start off this sharp barn's claim; gelding draws the fence again so maybe he works out a trip but he doesn't look to get a lot of lick in front of him so he'll need to be used a little harder early to have a shot at getting in the mix today, but he's a threat.

Fit to Rule

Steps back up for his first start off the barn's claim after taking his second straight since stretched back out; gelding has shown sharp tracking foot and the field's highest last out Beyer earner should again be able to work out such a trip today; with 5 weeks to get over his last, he looks to be the one to beat.

Cloud Hopper

Adds the hood for the surface switch while being offered for twice the price the barn paid for her in late summer; his recent scores all came over synthetic footing and he's never seen the winner's circle on dirt; maybe he's better with his first start from the break behind him and he is working well of late, but have to side with others on the win end.

Sharp Richard

Ships in here off a couple of near misses on the lawn in Arizona and now they'll remove the hood; gelding will tackle a better bunch today and he's yet to as much as hit the board on dirt; picking up weight with a journeyman getting aboard, he'll have a tough time having a big say in the outcome here.

Tuckers Point

Tries a better bunch off the claim by a barn that hasn't done much with this type of late; gelding did win at the trip for a slightly cheaper price 3 back and he'll get a switch to a solid journeyman pilot here; with a clean run maybe he gets in the exotics mix at a decent price.

Graeme Crackerjack

New outfit has had plenty of luck with this type right back and they'll remove the hood in looking to get this guy back on track; off the pace type does own numbers from earlier in the year that would make him tough in this spot and maybe the equipment change does the trick; consider.

Trucial State

Stretches out off a sprint try in his first crack of the year; gelding did win over the track around this time last season but he's been a different runner for this outfit and looks to have his work cut out for him in this spot; longshot.

Cook Inlet

Outside drawn gelding got going too late when moved to the lawn last time but he'll get shades and a switch to Bejarano for the drop below the level at which this outfit took him 3 starts back; his prior main track spin earned him a number that would make him pretty dangerous in this spot; boasts interim drills that suggest a much improved effort is on tap; main danger. - Brian Pochman

Race 8

Que Sorpresa

Valid excuse in the debut and she was hung wide in last; at least she should be fit enough by now; stakes placed 1 for 12 dam banked nearly $50K and the win came on grass; this is her first to race; must display more.

Nonna Reese

Mirror races in last pair, it's possible the route could have helped her stamina; no help from lone stablemate that lost only start; another slice?

Ryleigh Ruler

Youngster is due for a trip after 2 eventful starts; dam lost 7 times; one of 2 siblings won; that runner, Our Dahlia, was Grade 2 placed, took 3 of 9, earned over $100K; respect everything from this barn.

Chautauqua Creek

Far from disgraced in the debut considering she broke slowly and the race over the surface can t hurt; 3 for 10 dam earned $75K; both sibings won multiple times including Herbert Hall, who took 4 of 17, banked $135K; can never dismiss this kind of speed and runner could be more relaxed with the blinks off.

Veronica Bay

She backed up by over 5 lengths the other time on dirt; bred by the trainer, she has never been in this soft and she doesn't have to be fifth early on today; don't ignore.

Artie's Fantasy

Maybe she just didn't care for the abbreviated strip at Pomona; not all horses take to that track; she met the repeater in the debut and the winner of her last race came back to win again against $40K starter foes before getting crushed in a stakes; 4 for 28 dam earned over $80K; family is solid as all 5 siblings won; SP top earner Sammy s a Runnin took 3 of 28, banked $180K; tab tote action.

Tropical Moon

Youngster has not gotten a comfortable journey yet; dam was 0 for 10 on the track; several winners in the family; top earner Polysheba took 2 of 20, banked over $100K; must find a way to turn the tables on the Warren charge among others.

She's Flush

Filly has been around the wire several times, just has not been able to close the deal; the 3/23 show horse graduated next out but it was in a maiden $8K fray at GG with a 50 Beyer; after so many defeats, it's hard to grasp on to the upside.

Hot Outta the Oven

Goes inside to outside and she may have hated the rail; she has more speed than she just showed and she got a boost when the 3/23 winner repeated in a $25K N2L fray; she has a right to grow into her skin as full brother Master Chef took 11 of 41, banked over $400K; must be left in the hopper. - Brian Mulligan