Race 1 Closer Looks >> Race 2 Vulnerable Favorite LITTLE CURLIN (#3, 2-1) certainly deserves favorite’s status off a fine 3rd when troubled in the lane here Jan. 18. The son of 2-time Horse of the Year Curlin had shown talent in the fall in his debut at Keeneland as well, and that Jan. 18 was his first start since so he can improve. All that being said, his Jan. 18 Beyer wasn’t any great shakes (68) and he runs into a number of promising firsters here, not to mention a familiar rival (Pimpernel) who wasn’t far behind him at all Jan. 18. -Michael Hammersly   Closer Looks >> Race 3 Spot Play COURTSIDE (#2, 7-2) has been no factor more often than not of late but there’s one big reason for optimism: his speed. While he may not be the horse he once was he’s still pretty darn quick and he showed with a big win at this level at BHP Dec. 21 that when he’s able to dictate things up front from the bell he’s capable of a big effort. Well, there’s no much speed lined up against him here so with the drop if he can break cleanly and be out there playing keep-away from the start he’s liable to lead them on a merry chase – and some recent not-so-hot outings should keep your price palatable. -Michael Hammersly   Closer Looks >> Race 4 Spot Play NAZARETH (#6, 3-1) First and only effort “down the hill” at overlooked odds portended good things for a nicely-bred filly whose stable is trying to overcome the trauma of a breakdown Thursday. Adds HOF jock and gets the added distance she asked for in that heady debut, and figures to be a touch closer to the front once they hit the half-mile pole. A little improvement would do. – Marty McGee   Spot Play First-timer NASHOBA’S GOLD (#1, 5-2) is worth a gamble, but only if she floats higher than her surprisingly low morning line. Trainer Carla Gaines can win with rookies in routes; this Smart Strike filly is a sibling to Gaines-trained G1 winner Nashoba’s Key. -Brad Free   Closer Looks >> Race 5 San Antonio Stakes by Michael Hammersly No matter how you look at this race, GAME ON DUDE dominates in every way shape and form. That won’t be lost in the least on bettors who figure to hammer him at the windows, probably taking him down the 1-2 range. There’s little to be made from a straight wager but as we discussed last week with heavy favorite Secret Circle in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes, with the right combination you may be able to turn a 2-5 favorite into a 3-1 or 4-1 exacta payoff, with the right other horse. Again, GAME ON DUDE is a standout. He’s been routinely beating up on this caliber of runner the fast few seasons. He’s 7 for 9 over this track, the only two losses coming when in the deepest end of the pool, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, the past two years. He faces no one like there here and won’t face the hardship of such a tough pace scenario. He can go back to what works, either make the running or stalk an inferior foe and take over when ready. Assuming he does the expected, the tougher handicapping puzzle is to find a potential runner-up that can buoy your exacta price. Surely BLUESKIESNRAINBOWS comes here in the best form of his life and figures a solid second choice. But there’s little to be made from using him underneath ‘DUDE in the exacta. It will be you and everybody else sharing the dimes. The only chance is to try and beat BLUESKIESNRAINBOWS for the 2nd slot. BLINGO looked like a new horse when moved back to dirt at Belmont Oct. 14. In the I’m a Banker he sat back off a fast pace (:45.80, 1:09.60) and came home strongly to win. He was freshened, returned here for the Grade 2 San Pasqual Jan. 11 and was well regarded, going off at just over 7-2. Alas, after sitting back early, as is his want, he made a mild move into the far turn but failed to sustain it. Trouble was, he was chasing fresh horses. After all, the pace that day was nothing like the I’m a Banker as the speed horses dawdled :47.80 and 1:12.20. He had no chance with those types of fractions. That shouldn’t be the case today as GAME ON DUDE, whether he’s on the lead or pushing, will almost surely force faster splits. While ‘DUDE figures to keep on keepin’ on, those hotter splits may wreak havoc with a couple other speed types, meaning a much friendlier pace picture and race-shape for BLINGO. That type of pace may allow him to do what he does best – come running and to go past tiring speed. He opens at 6-1 and surely with ‘DUDE taking so much money and BLUESKIESNRAINBOWS a firm second choice his price should remain in that vicinity.   Closer Looks >> Race 6 Closer Looks >> Race 7 San Marcos Stakes by Michael Hammersly As the old Spike Lee/Michael Jordan commercial said, “It’s gotta be the shoes.” In this case, VAGABOND SHOES. VAGABOND SHOES was entered in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Arcadia, in which he figured to be a major player. Trainer John Sadler opted to scratch for this longer spot so he feels good about this guy and this longer 1 1/4-mile trip (the Arcadia was at one mile). And why wouldn’t he? VAGABOND SHOES blossomed in the summer. A near-miss 2nd on the Hollywood Park sod May 25 was the springboard. He was then a good 2nd in the Grade 1 Eddie Read at Del Mar. His connections took an interesting tact from there – instead of keeping him at a mile or so they opted to go longer, reasoning that they did not want to run into reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan. The move worked. VAGABOND SHOES then won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Aug. 24. He followed that with a good 2nd to top-class Indy Point in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here Sept. 29. That was enough to convince his connections to try the deepest end of the pool – the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf here Nov. 2. In that tough, tough 1 1/2-mile event VAGABOND SHOES stalked the pace, moved up to challenge on the far turn, was still in the thick it (2nd, only a head behind) at the eighth pole before finally succumbing to the world-class opposition, finishing 5th. He lost nothing in defeat, however, as he was beaten just 2 1/4 lengths with four thoroughly world-class performers in front of him. That validated his ability and after that busy stretch he earned a break. Well, he’s been working smartly of late, looking primed and ready for this return for Sadler. Again, while his success the second half of last year came going longer and while he came here as a miler this distance in between those games may be right in his wheelhouse. Tactically he may fall into a great trip, too. He’s got the versatility to give rider Victor Espinoza options, and that likely means here sitting a few lengths off what figures a solid pace set by SLIM SHADEY, SEGWAY and BIO PRO. He can then pounce, getting first run on the main antagonist and likely favorite JERANIMO. The presence of that rival, and some other tough foes, should keep VAGABOND SHOES’s price more than palatable, probably somewhere in the 4-1 to 5-1 range. JERANIMO is, no doubt, the one to beat. The 8-year-old looked good as ever blasting home to win the Grade 2 San Gabriel here at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 4. As is his want he bided his time, gathered himself and powered home to win going away. Heady stuff. That being said, he’s always struck me as most effective when using that big kick at up to 1 1/8 miles. His experience playing this longer game is limited; in fact, he’s yet to race 10 furlongs on turf. But you’ve seen many a horse who can ignite late going short does not necessarily have that same punch over longer ground. This isn’t to say JERANIMO won’t; he may well be as effective at this trip. However, he’s yet to prove it and you’re taking a short price with that question remaining to be answered. He won’t get the type of hot pace and pace collapse that he’s often received in shorter trips, which allowed his big late kick to be more effective. Also, VAGABOND SHOES has more tactical speed, meaning he’ll be like white in chess: he gets to move first. It means a headstart and first run for ‘SHOES, who IS proven at this trip. Still, JERANIMO is a must-use in the exotics. A couple others can be employed exotics-wise with VAGABOND SHOES. LUCAYAN and TEMERAINE, one-two finishers in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles Dec. 14, are proven as classy stayers. TEMERAINE figures a better price of the two and may have a right to move forward, particularly at this trip. In that longer Hollywood Gold Cup he stalked the pace and made a smart move to grab the lead into the lane, but couldn’t fend off LUCAYAN in the final yards. He may be better suited to this slightly shorter trip. That was also h is first run in nearly two months and first action out West, so he’s now had a chance to get fully acclimated to his new surroundings. LUCAYAN is a bit like VAGABOND SHOES. Not only is he proven at a mile (2nd in the Grade 2 American, to top-class Obviously, last May 25) but he was a sharp 2nd to ‘SHOES in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap (at about this trip, 1 3/8 miles) and 3rd (again, just behind ‘SHOES who was 2nd) in the Grade 2 John Henry on this course at this trip Sept. 29. He shipped to Canada and failed to thrive in a Grade 1 on yielding turf Oct. 27 but returned to SoCal to win the aforementioned Hollywood Gold Cup at 12 furlongs. In other words, he handles any trip and has shown the gap between him and ‘SHOES is minimal to say the least.   Spot Play VAGABOND SHOES (#2, 9-2) fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, may be the class of the field. He has been a nut in morning workouts, but always shows up in the afternoon. -Brad Free   Closer Looks >> Race 8 Robert Lewis Stakes by Marty McGee Pretty much the first task in any handicapping endeavor should be to see if the favorite is beatable. In the Lewis, there’s little doubt Midnight Hawk is a deserving favorite off those two impressive races to start his career. That said, the other six 3-year-olds in this 1 1/16-mile race are going to have a very tough time Saturday outrunning this gray ghost, who surely has Baffert thinking about a fourth Kentucky Derby. The eye-catching debut was validated by his 95 Beyer in winning the Sham; looks like onward and upward for this promising colt, and we’re not going to try to get fancy and try to beat him at something in the even-money vicinity. That said, let’s try to extract at least a little value out of this one by keying Midnight Hawk (#3) in tri’s and supers over Cool Samurai (#5), who already has developed the patented Shirreffs kick in two tries. The plays: 3 with 5 with 1, 2, 4, 7 and 3 with 1, 2, 4, 7 with 5 … and then go on and get even a little more creative if you must. Good luck.   Spot Play No knocks on G1-placed CANDY BOY, but stretch-out sprinter CHITU (#7, 7-2) is strictly the one to catch at a higher price. He should be loose, he could be gone. -Brad Free   Closer Looks >> Race 9 Spot Play SWIFT EAGLE (#4, 6-1) Terrific series of workouts since that Breeders’ Cup week disappointment suggests this 7yo could come back firing especially with the drop in class he’s being given by Paddy. Fact that Bejarano accepts the call is a real positive, as is the favorable post draw from where he can be a forward factor in a wide-open field. Would be a very, very nice one to end all the multi’s here today. – Marty McGee   Spot Play DIAMONDSDIPLOMAT (#8, 9-2) stretches to his preferred two-turn trip, first off the claim by Bill Spawr. The veteran’s races here last winter are fast enough to win a $32k claiming race. -Brad Free   Closer Looks >>