SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

                        
                
                       SANTA ANITA PARK

      REBEL  OAKLAWN 10TH RACE GRADE 2

   The Factor is the most talented colt of this group. The question is one of distance.  I think he can go the distance if he can slow down the pace on the front end. Sway Away should love the added distance. He has been on my Derby Watch list since I saw him run at Pleasanton last summer going five and half furlongs. He is trained by Jeff Bonde who I respect as a under-rated trainer. I expect he will run his race and try to reel in The Factor down the lane.  My bomb in this race is a horse just learning his skill and talent. He is still somewhat green. Picko's Pride might just out-run his double digit odds. It will be fun to watch this race with The Factor and Sway Away and my longshot Picko's Pride.


                      BANK $3,602.00

Race 1

The pace will be hot and contested for this restricted sprint for 4 year olds. Via Verde shortens up in distance having shown speed. Western Smoke drops in class for Steven Asmussen. Toro Trippi has been sharp and has a great asset....... which is speed. The late off the pace contender is Bertran Hill.


     1. Western Smoke
     2. Bertran Hill 
     3. Via Verde

    $20 Place on Western Smoke


Race 2


Lost Prophet has won three races and takes a double jump in class for Adam Kitchingman. Joel Rosario rides. Moon  Stone Madness takes a drop in class. She has speed and tab the jockey switch to P-Val. Akeela might be the dark horse and the sleeper! She has been claimed twice since her maiden win at Del Mar. I expect she is better then what her last race indicates on paper. Our Bellini Bikini if sound and fit is a major contender for Doug O'Neil.


   1. Lost Prophet 
   2. Akeela 
   3. Moon Stone Madness

   Longshot Fanning horse Costana



Race 3

Red Scare race was impressive. He faces winners and faces a new surface down the hill on turf. Gaines and Bejarano team up again. Beware! I like Itssultryinthecape who fires fresh. Tab for a big performance. He has been training solid for his comeback race.


    1. Itssultryinthecape 
    2. Red Scare  
    3.  Warren's Tony R.

Pick Three   1,6, 7 with  2,4,6 with  3 cost of ticket $9.00



Race 4

A race void of any speed except maybe Mystery Bird with P-Val. He just might send her to the early lead. Remember this is non winners of two.... enough said.  Tiz A Gold showed speed her last race. She might get brave on the early contested lead. Ascot's Highflyer is the classic hanger but might have found a field she can beat. Santa Anita can't get a better race then this race for the week-end. Pass!

       
 1. Ascott's Highflyer 
 2. Mystery Bird 
 3. Tiz a Gold

        

Race 5

Quisisana might be speed here! She switches to the turf. She won the Sunshine Millions Sprint last year. A classy mare getting back on turf. Saanneen is seeking the hat trick. She has found a home on the turf.  She has not beaten this quality field of runners. I'm trying to beat her. La Nez won the Cal Cup Distaff at Hollywood. Her last race was on dirt. I expect we will see a better race today. West Ruler beat the bottom level allowance company of Cal-breds. She looked great! She needs to improve but she is a contender. Ms. G.I. Jane is coming back from a long lay-off. She has the back class and speed numbers to outrun her double/thriple digit odds. She has fired fresh before.....so take note. Strawberry Tart is a stakes winner. She has been off since May. This sprint might be a prep for her running long. But Joel Rosario takes the call. Chalula One has been off since the summer of 09 at Del Mar. If a trainer can fire a big race Richard Mandella is the guy. She has tactical speed and should love the distance of six and half furlongs down the hill. I like her in this comeback spot. Logical Single the shipper from the bay area looks to be in form and fit. I love the morning line on her .... a live longshot

     1. Chalula One
     2.  Strawberry Tart  
     3. La Nez

     Long Shot   Logicial Single

    



Race 6

A short sprint for low-level claimers....... Ann's Seven looks fit a maybe has the best form of the group. She was beat by Haven's Lake who has never won back to back races before. Is this the day? Hmmm...... Sweet And Jazzy adds the blinkers for the first time. Poetic Riches look great when she came back at Hollywood and won at this level with Matt Garcia in the irons. She has been a disappointment after her nice looking win. Tab the switch in jockeys.   Funky Soup .......well..... let's see how far she can go on the lead. Can she wire this short sprint field with other speed in the race........ that's hard but not out of the realm of impossible....... Dos Ventes a horse that might have not like the wet-fast track last time out. I expect the fast track and the post position will help this dude today.

     1. Dos Ventes
     2. Poetic Riches   
     3. Haven's Lake 
      
     


Race 7

I pick It Tiz when she won two races back. She had a troubled start in the Buena Vista. She was takin' out of the race at the start! I expected Malibu Pier to be a rising star and that has not been the case. She might just be above-average. B plus and not a A type runner.  Blue Maiden just runs her races. Her race down the hill sets her up to run long today! Beware. Turning Top ridden by Blanc her last race never looked relaxed that far back off the pace. Weird ride so Tab the switch to Joel Rosario today. Lilly La Pootz had a weird similar last race when Rosario sent her to press the pace then she was steadied. Tab the switch to Corey Nakatani.

      1. Lilly La Pootz  
      2. It Tiz  
      3. Turning Top

     Longshot Blue Maiden


Race 8

Remember that I picked the first time starter Meadow Road for Mandella to hit the board. He did that at 35 to 1. But not today will the odds be this high. He looks spotted for action if the first time starters need a race under there belt. Bob Baffert has Flightofalifetime that has been posting fast and I mean fast morning drills. Steve Asmussen has the forty-colt  Mcclean's Music that has the look of a runner. Dan Hendrick's colt  Forward Appeal looks live first time out. I wish he was not on the rail as a first time starter.

    1.McClean's Music 
    2. Meadow Road
    3. Flightofalifetime

     Longshot  Forward Appeal

Late P3

8th 1,3,6,9 with 1,2,5,7  with 4,10



Race 9

The speed looks like Pincelada with St Isabella shooting off for the early lead with Excellent News and Crisis Of Spirit sitting in the cat bird seat. Saint Isabella has tactical speed and back class to win this race. She has not raced for 6 months but Mike Pyupe has strung together 12 morning workouts for her comebacker today. Stockings is a interesting filly that had to need her last race after such a long lay-off. Joel Rosario climps aboard Excellent News which tips the scales for me.

        1. Excellent News 
        2. Saint Isabella  
        3. Stockings/Crisis


Race 10


If the Bertrando filly Make Someone Happy gets clear at the stretch... she looks like the horse to beat. She has been off since November. She looks spotted for action. Jordanelle on the outside has the speed numbers to win from off the pace. Suitable Attire  just might be sent in a race with little or no early speed.


       1. Make Someone Happy  
       2. Jordanelle