Santa Anita: DRF Plus handicapping report for January 5, 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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SMALL MOVES (#7, 5-2) posted her lone win over this track and her significant class drop today likely earns her favorite’s status. That being said, she gave way readily in her last vs. tougher at BHP and after some good prior races they’re now willing to part with her for just $25K. They don’t give anything away out here, and while her best weapon is her speed she faces ample other speed which can give her grief early. -Michael Hammersly

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Race 5

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DECEPTION FREE (#2, 4-1) may look a bit dodgy at first but bear with me. His best outings ALL came on this track (3 2nds in 4 tries here) including on Oct. 17 after 7 months off. He then blew the start and ran 7th at Hollywood Park on Nov. 11. He was again slow into stride there on Dec. 14 but to his credit kept to his task well and closed the gap to finish a respectable 5th. That run was better than it at first looks on paper, so it says he’s doing well and returning to this track may be just what the Dr. ordered. - Michael Hammersly

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Race 6

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Low-odds standout BROTHER PETE (#2, 9-5) could have won this N1X turf condition last out except he was blocked from the top of the lane until deep stretch. -Brad Free

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Race 7

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Second-time starter LUCKY JACK (#6, 6-1) works better than he ran in his debut. Carla Gaines-trained maidens have a long history of second-start improvement. -Brad Free

LUCKY JACK (#6, 6-1) only shows works at Santa Anita (some are quite fast) but debuted on Hollywood’s synthetic main track. Think there’s a decent chance he comes forward on dirt, in which case the practice run will have served him well. - Marcus Hersh

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Race 8

Monrovia Stakes by Michael Hammersly

Few races are as influenced by the horse-for-course angle as a hillside sprint at Santa Anita, so we’re sorta spitting into the wind with Euro raider ULTRASONIC as she tackles a few gals who just love the hill. But we do it with good reason and not lightly.

ULTRASONIC may not have the hillside history of PONCHATRAIN or PURIM’S DANCER or KINDLE or some of the others in here, but English import, who will be making her U.S. debut in this about 6 1/2-furlong down-the-hill corker, brings plenty of talent with her to be sure. She was entered and scratched in a turf sprint a while and maybe it was worth the wait. The mare was multiple stakes placed in England and was far form disgraced in some Group 3s as well. That third in a stakes in England July 9 looks all the better when you note the winner, Gifted Girl, next came to the U.S. and was a fine second to likely Eclipse champ Dank in the Grade 1 Beverly D, was then second in a Group 3 in England and a close-up fifth in a Group 1 in France. In other words, ULTRASONIC was chasing a real, real nice gal and was beaten just two lengths and a neck.

Two other things point to a big effort for this gal. First, she’s been working lights-out for her new trainer Bob Baffert and that’s always a good sign. Usually when Baffert’s horses go fast in the a.m. they tend to go fast in the p.m.

The second factor is that Baffert opted FOR this spot. After all, he could have found an optional claimer or some other spot, even a mile race. He knew who he’d be running against here so the fact he opted to toss her into such a tough spot is most encouraging.

It will be surprising if she doesn’t run well. That being said, her ‘A’ game might not be enough, and of course that’s why you’re going to get a fair price on her.

PONCHATRAIN may not be Mizdirection, but with that gal now retired could be this is the new queen of the hill. After all, she’s a perfect two-for-two down the dip, winning the Unzip me Sept. 28 and then beating a bunch of these when taking the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Nov. 2. She’s been working splendidly and is the one to beat.

PURIM’S DANCER is another who loves the hill (won four of six). She pressed the pace before finishing fifth in the Sen. Ken Maddy. Yes, the four who beat her that day are lined up against her again here, but this gal was beaten just 1 3/4 lengths. She’s also fired fresh and maybe a bit more patience from new rider Joe Talamo can help make up that ground.

KINDLE can flat sizzle and her only two hillside starts saw her finish second each time, the last coming to hillside queen Mizdirection in this very race last Jan. 6. She hasn’t run in almost a year but fired big before off a long layoff. She figures to be winging early so they have her to catch.

CAMRYN KATE could be your exacta/tri bomb as she, too, has run well down the hill and was sixth beaten just two lengths in the Sen. Ken Maddy – though it’s worth noting that all five gals who finished in front of her that day are lined up against her again here. But hey, that helps your price. WINDING WAY gave PONCHATRAIN fits when second in the Maddy so she belongs, and JUDY IN DISGUISE’s good third in the Maddy shows she’s by no means out of her element. The feeling here is to use ULTRASONIC on top of those six. Then, use her underneath PONCHATRAIN as well. After all, right now PONCHATRAIN thinks she owns this course. She might be right.

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Race 9

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First-time starter HANNA NO SIR (#7, 9-2) debuts in a soft maiden-30 for trainer Mike Mitchell, whose has excellent long-term stats with maiden-claiming rookies. -Brad Free

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