Santa Anita, 1/10/2021
Race 1
3 – Golden – had a solid educational effort in her debut, hitting the board against a good group for the level. She finished ahead of most of the entrants here today in that race and looks to continue her progression with racing experience under the belt.
6 – Ivy League – she was outfinished by the top pick by the slimmest of margins in their last race, however that was this filly’s fourth career start. She has burned a lot of money thus far in her racing career but fits well here and has every right to make amends today with an improved effort.
8 – Basil Flavor – had a troubled debut at a lower class level while facing some of the entrants in here today. She took some money in that race and wasn’t embarrassed by her effort. She adds Lasix, has a solid turf pedigree, and gets Mike Smith to jump on. She could certainly outrun her odds.
Race 2
4 – Gidgetta – was obviously well meant earlier last year when tested against two top shelf runners in Donna Veloce and Speech. Something was amiss that day apparently, which sent her to the shelf for seven months, and she returned with an even effort in her first try against older mares. She went right back into the worktab after that race and should be ready for her best effort today.
5 – Hotitude – tough to figure with this one, as her three wins include two at Los Alamitos and one on the turf. She does have some back class, however none of the fillies who finished ahead of her in those restricted stakes efforts have come back to loftier standards. She has two recent bullet works and should at least be counted on to be ready for her best today.
3 – Adorably Sweet – it has been tough to keep this mare in training, as she shows extended breaks between all four of her career starts. She does get Prat back aboard, with whom she is 2 for 2 in her career; both of those wins coming against older mares. She certainly could show a solid effort at a good price if she is ready to go today.
Race 3
2 – Lady Mystify – got nailed late by a Hollendorfer monster in her debut where she had the race won but the eventual winner put an eye-catching rally to get up in time. She was forwardly placed, kicked clear in the lane and still was there at the end. She gets a big jock upgrade today to Prat. The one to beat.
3 – Honor America – wasn’t disgraced by a fifth place finish in the same race that ‘Mystify exits. She took all the heat with early fractions and only finished a length behind the top pick here. The $250k purchase went right back into the worktab after that effort and has to be considered today.
4 – Midnight Diva – troubled debut across town where she took no money but rolled late for a minor award. She retains the pilot from that effort and should have plenty of pace to chase today. The added distance is a positive for her chances as well.
Race 4
6 – NK Rocket Man – gets the nod in a total grab bag of a race. All efforts thus far have been on the turf, and he shortens back to a sprint. Obviously there are a lot of changing factors in play here, but he has performed the best at higher class levels. It is doubtful that there’s much interest in claiming a 5 year old maiden gelding, so this makes sense for a landing spot today.
4 – KPD Day – also makes the switch from turf routing to dirt sprinting today. He’s ran well previously when getting the apprentice allowance, which he enjoys today. His drop to the bottom also looks to be a great spot, and if he is ready to go, he should have every effort to graduate today.
1 – Seiche – took the drop to the bottom last time and was soundly beaten. He has hit the board in three of five starts, but needs to improve to graduate today. Perhaps he is still figuring it out, and if so, can make a better showing.
Race 5
2 – Aqua Seaform Shame – troubled in her last start in a graded stakes. She always puts forth a big effort and has faced and beaten much better competition than any in this race. Rispoli retains the mount and the added distance should only help today.
9 – An Eddie Surprise – beat ‘Shame in their most recent encounter and returns first off the claim for Peter Miller. She adds the shades and gets Joel Rosario back, with whom she won three starts ago. The wide draw is a bit of a concern but she should likely not have to encounter any traffic trouble while making her run.
5 – Gypsy Blu – only had four starts in 2020 but appears to be rounding back into form. She’s a prior stakes winner over this track/distance and just missed against a very tough customer in her last. Not an impossible task for her to upset them today.
Race 6
3 – Self Taught – looks to be the most likely recipient of a fast pace duel up front. He’s shown the ability to close and retains the jockey who rode him in the most recent victory. Plenty of ways to go in this race, but he appears to have the best chance with a good trip.
5 – Captain Scotty – appeared to have nothing left after four bad efforts, but found new life in the claiming ranks. He’s since had two wins and a second in three starts since running for a tag and will likely take them as far as he can go.
4 – Raging Whiskey – tough to make out what to expect from him today, but he returns to Doug O’Neill’s barn after a failed stint in Maryland a year ago. This is his first start since his two year old season, but he has won a stakes race in SoCal and could be interesting at a price.
Race 7
3 – Ellie Arroway – she exits the best recent races and shows the best speed figures of any entrant in this race. Despite being away for two months, she has remained on the worktab and retains a familiar pilot in Espinoza, who doesn’t often ride for Sadler. This drop in class should be more than enough to get this one home first.
1 – Nice Ice – you always want to take note whenever Baze shows up riding for Mullins. There does appear to be some early pace in this race, but she will have the rail and every opportunity to ration that early speed and take them as far as she can. Another one that despite the layoff, appears to have stayed on the worktab and didn’t venture out of town between meets due to the lack of turf racing.
8 – Too Much Heaven – looks for three in a row today and retains Rispoli. She has outdueled Colombian Gold both times in their recent efforts and appears to have a tactical style that could give her plenty of options depending on what some of the other runners elect to do out of the gate. She’s honest and gives her best effort every time.
Race 8
3 – Qahira – hard to separate the top two selections in this race, but give the nod to the mare with tactical speed and a recent winning habit. She’s lightly raced, but she appears to have figured things out given the three wins and a second over the last four outs. Positive jockey switch to Rosario and some class relief gives her the pathway to victory today.
1 – Amuse – she finished close behind the top selection in their last effort and she has multiple graded stakes placings, but she also hasn’t won in over two years. She has plenty of class, but draws the rail and could get shuffled back given the immediate speed to her outside. Talent is there, but she’ll need to show it today.
6 – Mo See Cal – toss the last race, as it was routing on the turf. She returns to dirt sprinting here and has every right to be there at the end. She should get a nice trip to stalk and pounce and while it seems her better days may be behind her, she’s still a solid threat to win here.
Race 9
11 – Miss Dracarys – the post does her no favors, but she has few other negatives in her corner. She’s facing an average quality field for the level and returns west after breaking her maiden in a sharp effort in New York. Generally, the quality of turf horses in New York are higher than those in California, so that effort is specifically noteworthy. This is a great spot for her to test winners for the first time and make her next step in her career.
4 – Magical Thought – absolutely nothing wrong with her first two starts, where she ran third on debut behind a couple of salty customers and then graduated second next time out. Toss the last as it was a tougher field and routing; she returns to sprinting here and despite being offered for a tag, fits well in this group.
8 – Nimbostratus – not sure what to make of this gal, as she looked like a horse to watch in her stateside bow only to throw two clunkers in a row right back after that. She won sprinting in Ireland, so this won’t be totally new territory for her, but she’s also listed for a claiming tag here and needs to show improvement. The talent is there, however.
Best Bet: R9 – Miss Dracarys (11)
Live Longshot: R1 – Basil Flavor (8)