Santa Anita: DRF Plus handicapping report for January 26, 2014

Race 1

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Race 2

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Race 3

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Race 4

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Race 5

Spot Play

ROMAN EXPRESS (#5, 20-1) took a touch of debut action facing Cal-bred MSW foes but had nothing more than brief, mild speed. Might be much better than that. The drop here is mild, the $50K tag more than published purchase price. Barn 4-11 (small sample size alert) with MSW – MCL droppers.- Marcus Hersh

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Race 6

Vulnerable Favorite

DIVINE WAY (#6, 7-2) figures tough off a 2 straight 2nds in turf sprints, her last coming on this same hillside course Jan. 4. Trouble is, in each of those last 2 she lost ground to the eventual winner from the eighth pole to the wire. She had a 1 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole in that Jan. 4 race here but still got beat. That calls her stamina into question and you’ll be embracing a short price while taking a big anxious gulp inside the final furlong -Michael Hammersly

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Race 7

Spot Play

A super runner-up debut by CHELIOS (#1, 9-5) stamps the colt as a likely winner in this sprint for 3-year-old maidens. He finished willingly, and earned a good number. -Brad Free

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Race 8

Spot Play

READY FOR MORE (#9, 3-1) wheels back two weeks after demolishing N2X/$62.5k claimers on this hillside course. He goes first off the claim by Mike Mitchell. -Brad Free

LAKERVILLE (#7, 8-1) has been away forever but has strong work pattern for comeback. Think he was running well in those short DMR turf-sprints despite the distance rather than because of it. 1-1 on the longer SA downhill course. Gets a pace in front of him.- Marcus Hersh

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Race 9

Spot Play

ON MY HONOR (#4, 7-2) has improved since returning as a first-time gelding this winter. He raced over his conditions last time, drops for this. -Brad Free

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