Santa Anita: DRF Plus handicapping report for October 26, 2013
Race 1 |
Closer Looks >> |
Race 2 |
VULNERABLE FAVORITEMOVING SEAS (#1, 5-2) is vulnerable dropping from special-weight to $20k maiden-claiming. The rail has been under-productive in sprints this meet, and she might not be quick enough to establish position inside. Pass at a short price. Closer Looks >> |
Race 3 |
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Race 4 |
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Race 5 |
SPOT PLAYWARREN’S BLOSSOM (8-1) Drop & pop? Tried stakes & $65K open claimer in two post-long-layoff starts, now in for $25K facing Cal-breds. The near-bullet recent work over SA dirt should be duly noted. -Marcus Hersh Closer Looks >> |
Race 6 |
SPOT PLAYMAXX THE KID (#3, 7-2) was up against it from the start here Sept. 28 when he had a terrible post (11) going a mile on this turf course. Things got worse when the bell ran, too, as he was away poorly and got hung out to dry. To his credit he kept to his task and finished a respectable 5th. Now he gets to move inside and gets another furlong with which to work. Talamo stays and a solid 5f work since (1:00.20 here Oct. 14) says he’s ready. Closer Looks >> |
Race 7 |
SPOT PLAYFirst-time starter EURCLYDON (#10, 8-1) was fast at a May 2-year-old sale (10-second breeze), and debuts with solid works. She is a sibling to a debut winner. PRAYER BE MINE (7-2) Working long & strong for high-percentage debut outfit. Cal-bred out of a Mr. Prospector mare – fancy! Seems like they might’ve been waiting on dirt with this filly. -Marcus HershCloser Looks >> |
Race 8 |
Autumn Miss AnalysisSometimes as a handicapper you need to be smacked over the head more than once before something registers. That’s sort of the way I was with WISHING GATE. Oh, she’d run some good races (2nd in a stakes here last October) and flashed talent in Chicago this spring, including a smart optional claiming win at AP June 23. But when she came back West for the Grade 2 San Clemente you counted me among the non-believers. She rallied strongly to win by 1 ¾ lengths at 5-1, but I remained unconvinced, so when she returned in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 17 I had no trouble aligning my loyalties elsewhere. Well, WISHING GATE didn’t win the Oaks, but her superb 2nd to top-class NY shipper Discreet Marq, while leaving some top-class girls behind her, did win me over, so it’s with enthusiasm I move to her corner for this hillside grass sprint. Yes, it’s a much shorter trip, but the hillside has always played well for those who can keep coming. WISHING GATE has that trait. Also, she’s not some one-dimensional deep closer. She showed ample tactical speed in those aforementioned wins at AP and DMR this summer. In other words, rider Stevens can put here wherever he sees fit, likely midpack, and with ample speed signed up here to give him the right kind of pace and target he can be licking his chops when they come over the dirt crossing and he hits the gas. It’s another dropper who has appeal as well. NEED YOU NOW easily won the Le Cle at a mile on turf at BHP July 7 and has speed. She then set the pace in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks under pressure before faltering to 6th. That race-shape, class level and distance were all likely too much for her but that’s not the problem here. She drops and routers with speed often do very well on the hill as they have the speed to get position and the stamina to finish. She poses a big threat to ‘GATE as she figures to get a headstart and first run on that foe. JOURNEY ON has won three straight, the last two being turf routes. It’s no surprise she loves the sod being a daughter of Grade 1 turf winner Good Journey and like ‘NOW she’s shown speed routing so she can be prominent early and still keep on coming. Note, too, her maiden win came sprinting (on DMR’s synthetic). A potential price play is HEIR KITTY. The filly has won sprinting on turf and while she found the Unzip Me too tough here Sept. 28 she’s shown before she’s got the requisite ability to be a player here. Oh, and it’s no small matter that leading rider Bejarano takes the call and trainer Miller is pushing all the right buttons this meet (11 for first 47, 23%). - Mike Hammersly SPOT PLAYHEIR KITTY (#1, 6-1) can upset this one-mile turf stakes. Her most recent better than it looks. She was blocked, finished well, and acts like a sprinter that can stay a mile. Closer Looks >> |
Race 9 |
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Race 10 |
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