Santa Anita: DRF Plus handicapping report for March 1, 2014

Race 1

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Race 2

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Race 3

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Race 4

Spot Play

BOB CONSULTATION (#2, 3-1) looked like a brand new horse Feb. 7. Sure, those were restricted claimers and on dirt but the way he whipped those foes (92 Beyer) hinted he may have turned the corner. Only turf race was ugly but his last says he’s a much better horse than he was then (May 2013) and it’s a great sign that while a sharp guy like Carava risked him for a tag Feb. 7 he takes no such risk of losing him via a claim today. And pedigree-wise there’s no reason he shouldn’t like turf as sire Memo ran 3rd in his only turf try and dam Brave Vixen was a turf winner. And surely he wouldn’t mind if this came off, either. -Michael Hammersly

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Race 5

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Race 6

Spot Play

CHICAGO ANGEL (#8, 2-1) should lead these maiden-30s wire to wire; her program odds would be an overlay. Facing a field short on speed, she can be long gone. -Brad Free

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Race 7

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Race 8

Santa Ysabel Stakes by Michael Hammersly

At first glance it would appear trainer Bob Baffert might hold the strongest hand here with AWESOME BABY, winner of the Grade 2 Santa Ynez here Jan. 4, and Be Proud (easy winner of the California Oaks at Golden Gate Feb. 8). Trouble is, both utilize speed as their primary weaponry. AWESOME BABY surely seems quicker and coming out of a sprint where she led wire-to-wire she figures to be on the lead but BE PROUD won’t be far behind. At least she’s shown she can sit and finish and pass horses.

But another may reap the benefits of a solid Baffert pace – SWEET BLISS. The John Shirreffs trainee comes off a maiden win only, so it’s a big step up in class here but it’s no small matter that the win came on this track at this trip. She also showed professionalism as she stalked the pace (after a slow start to be sure), bided her time and put in a solid sustained run which got her home on top. That was her first route and first dirt try as well so she can surely improve.

She’s bred for this, too. Daddy (Street Cry) was a multiple Grade 1 winner routing on dirt and has produced such top-class dirt runners as Zenyatta (Grade 1 route winner on dirt, Horse of the Year) and Street Sense (Grade 1 route winner on dirt including taking the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby; champion 2-year-old). Her lone sib to race is Saint Vigeur (8-2-4-1 record, 2 wins routing on dirt, 2-time Grade 2 stakes-placed routing on dirt) and mommy’s lone win came routing on dirt.

Yes, she’s going to have to do better than that 71 Beyer but again, it was just her second career start so she can surely move forward and two nice recent works say she’s doing well.

While she runs into some nice gals here this is hardly the cream of the crop as there’s no Streaming (hurt), She’s a Tiger (champion 2yo filly; just back to work tab) or Taste of Candy (2-time Grade 1 placed but awaiting the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks). And the presence of the two nice Bafferts can help keep your price buoyed on this gal.

Surely the two Baffert girls command respect and can surely be used underneath in the exotics. Remember, ‘BABY is a question mark routing (faded badly in her only prior route, ending up a well-beaten 5th in the Grade 1 Chandelier here Sept. 28) and BE PROUD beat a weaker bunch at GG Feb. 8.

One gal of interest is SWISS LAKE YODELER. She looked super whipping Cal-breds in the Golden State Juvenile routing here Nov. 1 and then rallied to win the Soviet Problem (a sprint) over Cal-breds at BHP Dec. 21. She next tried turf in the California Cup Oaks here Jan. 25 but had a brutal post (13) and was never able to get involved, finishing 11th as the tepid 3.30-1 favorite.

She’s back to dirt today and it’s noteworthy not only that leading rider Rafael Bejarano stays with her but that she’s been working splendidly on this dirt since then (bullet 5fs in :58.40 here Feb. 21). The surface switch may be just what the doctor ordered and it’s most encouraging not only that Bejarano stays but that there’s no panicky drop by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Spot Play

Recent maiden winner SWEET BLISS (#6, 7-2) can upset this G3. She walked out of the gate and spotted her rivals several lengths, lost ground on the far turn, raced greenly, won anyway. Well-bred and improving, she will be a force when she figures it out. -Brad Free

Vulnerable Favorite

AWESOME BABY (#3, 5-2) is surely the one to beat having shown promise last summer and coming off a very nice wire-to-wire win in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez here Jan. 4. That being said, her 2 best races were sprinting – we’re routing today and her only route (the Grade 1 Chandelier here Sept. 28) was a disaster. Yes, she may be a better filly now than she was then, and she may not get into a duel but she was tiring at the end of the 7-furlong Santa Ynez so there remains a big question as to her route ability. And you’ll likely be taking a shorter-than-should-be price to get the answer. -Michael Hammersly

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Race 9

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