Blog

Race 1-

1^st #4 Justin’s Quest has recently faced two tough and narrow losses here and at Del Mar.  He’s been on the board four of his five races so he has the heart, he just needs to able to keep the lead, because he’s either on the lead or coming from off the pace.

2^nd #5 Victory Element would be the one to beat Justin’s Quest, as he is a homebred, who’s ran three seconds, by Pioneerofthenile and trained by Bob Baffert.  He has the quality breeding, just needs to pick it up a notch.

3^rd #1 Carribean (AUS) didn’t work out on his home turf, so he came here.  It took him a couple of races to get adjusted, and now he’s just got seconds and thirds.  Just another horse trying to break that maiden.

Race 2-

1^st #1 Nation’s Hope is hard not to take, honestly.  Looking at this field, there isn’t a lot of talent.  He just finished second two weeks back, now coming back.  It’s taken him a while to hit the board. Then again… he only was a $7,000 purchase.

2^nd #2 Jonathontoquick finished five lengths behind Nation’s Hope last out.  He’s another who’s very slowly coming up with better efforts the more he races, also seems to like Geovanni Franco.

3^rd #3 Mulzoff I considered taking for first, just since he’s had a freshening and blinkers on, but there’s something in me that said I couldn’t take him, so he goes in third.  Joe Talamo aboard.

Race 3-

1^st #1 Madaket Sunset was in pretty tight last out.  Also a very tough race. So it’s fair to give her a shot by putting her here this time again, in hopes she will get a better trip.  Doug O’Neill trains this filly, who was quite a tough loss for the connections who paid $210,000 and then lost her for $50,000.

2^nd #3 Sheza Chattykat ran what I would say was the best race of her career last out, winning a $40,000 claiming race with an eighty Beyer.  Prat is coming off of her, and jumping onto the six. Which I find slightly surprising, but there’s talent in that one also.

3^rd #6 Tiny Tina gets Prat this time aboard.  This horse is coming off of a really nice race as well, winning a $50,000 claimer last out at Santa Anita.  She doesn’t lose by much when she loses, but is working on more consistent races which is nice to see.

Race 4-

1^st #1 No Wine Untasted has a nice name.  Better yet, a rock star performance last out winning a nice allowance race.  Most of the other fillies/mares in here haven’t quite had this kind of victory yet.  Geovanni Franco aboard.

2^nd #3 Mistressofthenight has an interesting career pattern, with absolutely no consistency, which isn’t something I like in a racehorse.  If you wonder why… It always is best (in my opinion) to take a horse that puts in an honest effort every time. Not to say this filly hasn’t ran good races, she’s gone from running in a grade one, to an $8,000 claiming race, to now back in the tougher ranks.

3^rd #6 Uno Trouble Maker has had some tough luck in previous performances just being in tight, or ducking on the rail, which has slowed her down.  Last out she won a claiming race, maybe she can give a good effort here too.

Race 5-

1^st #7 Goodtingscominpink has hit the board twice.  I like Clubhouse Ride as a sire and hope that he can get some more mares to him.  This girl is ridden by Prat.

2^nd #5 Stylin Ocean I am still trying to figure out.  Her last race was good, I’m not denying that. But can she keep up the good performances? That was the first time she’s hit the board in five races.  She’s faced some tougher fields.

3^rd #6 Kitty Boom Boom only has one race, and it was a good third place finish.  Mike Smith stays aboard for this race, she is a filly by Tizbud looking to improve as she gains a little more experience.

Race 6-

1^st #1 He Will has been in some tough spots.  It’s easy to take him here, because he’s coming from a $200,000 stakes race, down to a $40,000 claimer.  Probably outclassed last time, connections are looking for a win, but he’s just one of those older guys who hangs around.’

2^nd #2 Sheer Flattery also takes a dip in class- which was needed.  His last race was for $62,500. He lost by eighteen lengths, which is obviously a lot, but he was bumped from an easier claiming race to a much tougher field last out.

3^rd #7 Bistraya isn’t getting much love here, but take a look at his last race.  For coming to Santa Anita, from Hastings and Emerald Downs. Last out he lost by less than two lengths and earned his career best Beyer number.  Solid. I think he prefers the sprinting, but let’s see how he likes distance at this track.

Race 7-

Want something hot in the claiming box? Let’s try #7 Cimpl Man, who has been claimed six times in the past year.  He still runs like he did when he was younger by hitting the board and earning those big Beyer numbers. Something is to be said about how hot this one is,.

2^nd #6 Kazan (IRE) was a $485,000 purchase at the Fasig Tipton sale two years ago.  He’s definitely well bred, by Shanghai Bobby out of a Giant’s Causeway mare. Not much more quality breeding than this.  Anyways, bottom line is he’s getting a class drop, which he needs. He’s really been put in some tough races, and just missed a grade two win last year.

3^rd #2 Incredible Luck deserves some more loving from the bettors.  He comes from a $200,000 stakes race, down to the $40,000 level which suits him more.  I wonder why the connections just sort of threw him to the wolves last out.

Race 8-

1^st #1 Show It N Moe It is even money, so I can’t really try to beat that… Almost $400,000 in earnings at the age of (just turned) four, wow! She’s just the kind of filly who loves her job.  I am adding her to my Virtual Stable in hopes of continued success.

2^nd Along with Show It N Moe It, looms another very talented filly.  #3 S Y Sky is close to being a half-million in earnings. She’s had nine races and her worse finish was third.  Even coming off of an over year layoff, she’s showed the girls how it’s done.

3^rd #2 Coco Kisses took a big jump in class last out, and managed to run a good third place finish.  I don’t believe she is stakes company ready at the moment, but on paper, she looks capable of third.  Took nine starts to break the maiden, she does really lack consistency, but she deserves a shot.

Race 9-

1^st #2 Aussie Fox surprisingly is a US bred horse, being that his parents are from AUS and GB.  I am a bit surprised that the connections chose to claim him for $50,000 last out when he’s had ten starts and has failed to break his maiden, but maybe number eleven is the chance?

2^nd #1 Combat Zone has a severe case of second-itis.  Nine starts and five seconds. The bridesmaid every time.  That isn’t a bad thing at Santa Anita though, he’s still racking in checks.  Let’s take him for second, because why not?

3^rd #6 Honor Guard is maybe improving over time, still hard to tell.  I have a strong suspicion that Bob Baffert told the connections he was done training this one based on his first two efforts.  Well, he got a layoff, and went into the claiming ranks and is now running better. I don’t think he will break his maiden here but I could be wrong.