Santa Anita: DRF Plus handicapping report for January 18, 2014

Race 1

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Race 2

Vulnerable Favorite

QUINETTE (#5, 5-2) looked super winning a route here Oct. 25, was claimed and backed it up with a nice 2nd routing at BHP. That’s most encouraging and her Beyers showed a step forward but they still don’t give her a distinct edge over her foes. Also, we’re sprinting today (she’s handled it), she’s facing some sharp foes and on the strength of those last 2 nice outings could be undervalued at the windows. -Michael Hammersly

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Race 3

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Race 4

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Race 5

Spot Play

Think VALTARI (#3, 6-1) is much better than what he showed in most recent start. Blinkers off. Three works since the comeback run. - Marcus Hersh

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Race 6

Spot Play

LITTLE CURLIN (#7, 9-2) was away poorly in his debut at KEE Oct. 18 (Polytrack) but to his credit he kept to his task well to rally for 4th. He hasn’t run since but boasts a string of strong works for new trainer Hollendorfer and it’s most noteworthy Bejarano stakes the call here in a race where he likely had options. It’s first time dirt but daddy (Curlin) was 2-time Horse of the Year due to his dirt prowess, mommy (Hoh Buzzard) was a Grade 2 winner and Grade 2 placed and this guy is kin to Via Villaggio (Grade 1, Grade 2 placed on dirt). -Michael Hammersly

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Race 7

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Race 8

Strub Stakes Analysis by Michael Hammersly

HEAR THE GHOST has finished first or second in his first five starts. Is there reason to believe Saturday’s Grade 2 Strub will be any different?

No.

After all, the son of Ghostzapper has not only hinted at big-time ability but has done so routing. That includes a big win in the Grade 2 San Felipe on this track at this trip last March 9. After injury took him off the Triple Crown trail he was sidelined quite a while but came back to be a decent second in a sprint at BHP Nov. 7 before finishing an even better second (beaten just a half-length) in the Grade 3 Native Diver at BHP Dec. 14. Oh, and the winner of that race, Blueskiesnrainbows only came back to impressively win the Grade 3 San Pasqual here last Saturday, so that surely flatters this guy.

He’s back in with peers only (4yos) and is not only proven on this track but proven routing. He has the versatility to be placed wherever rider Corey Nakatani sees fit, and with a number of runners here coming out of sprints that should amount to a solid pace, which would play right into his hands. Five nice works since add to the enthusiasm.

HEAR THE GHOST looks like a must-use on top and underneath in the exotics, though it’s not as if he comes into this holding a handful of aces, that he has to finish on top.

ROOKIE SENSATION tries dirt for the first time, but being a son of Unbridled’s Song that shouldn’t be an issue. He’s shown big-time ability, storming through between horses to win the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on turf here Nov. 1, off a layoff similar to the one he faces today. Yes, he faded in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby Dec. 1 but not only was that at 1 1/4 miles, which may be pushing it for him, at least at the highest level, but he ended up on the pace. He surely seems best suited to sit back and finish and moving to dirt, with some quicker rivals lined up against him he figures to revert to that style, which may be a boon.

ZEEWAT is a real pro. He rallied from well back to be third in the Grade 1 Malibu at 7 furlongs here Dec. 26, that after winning the 7-furlogn Damascus here Nov. 2. But he’s not strictly a sprinter by any means. After all, he won the Golden Nugget at a mile at GG in November 2012 and won the Cal Derby there at this distance (his only try at this trip) last Jan. 12. And if anything he looks like a better horse now than he was then. SHAKIN IT UP won the Grade 1 Malibu here Dec. 26 with a gaudy Beyer (106). That was his first start in 9 months, too, so he’s eligible to improve. That being said, his only route resulted in his poorest finish (4th, beaten 9 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby last March 24…though that also preceded that 9-month hiatus so maybe something went amiss that day and his finish wasn’t a function of distance).

GOVERNOR CHARLIE gamely beat maidens routing here last Feb. 17 and then looked super blasting foes in the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby by 5 lengths March 24. That was enough to earn a shot at the Grade 1 Preakness May 18 and while he ran poorly there he’s worked splendidly for his first start since for Bob Baffert, who of course is strong off the bench.

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Race 9

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