SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

                         


                       SANTA ANITA PARK

TURBULENT DESCENT BY DAVID MORANT

Race 1    One Mile Eighth Claimer 8K

The race scenario might unfold with One Shot and sprinter Easy On The Eye gunning it to the lead battling it out for most of the race. If this is what the pace scenario is then Streets Of Heaven who had a horrible trip his last race should reel in both horses at the top of the lane. This is how it looks on paper! If no horse goes with One Shot then P-Val will steal this race. Island Run takes off the blinkers and he might relax trying this new distance and a new jockey takes the irons......

   1. Streets Of Heaven  2. One Shot  3. Island Run

Pick Three 1,4,5,6 with 4,8 with 1,2,3

UPDATE PICK THREE PAID $538.80


Race 2    Six Half Maiden 40K

On speed figures and class Titans looks ready to run a smasher. The horse to fear down at the wire. Answer To Abby has a fast five furlong drill and he drops in class. Champagne Topper jumps up in class and shortens up and most likely be overlooked at the windows but he is a player who has speed. Speed is dangerous if left unchecked at Santa Anita.  The Salt Lake gelding Brereton Park ran a respectable debut and a slight improvement will put him over the top. Joel Rosario stays put which is usually a smart play to bet second time out.

Pick Three 1,4,6,8 with 1,2,3 with 6  (out)


Race 3    Six Furlongs Claimer 12K

I like the class hike on Nitro Active who is reeled back in 2 weeks to face horses coming back off lay-offs. I expect he might be over-looked at the window with High Standards and Afleet Deal taking most of the betting action. Nitro Active has back class and more importantly Nitro almost beat Bad Boy and Deweys Special. No Bad Boy or Deweys Special in this affair.

   1. Nitro Active  2. Afleet Deal  3. Don Elias M.

Pick Three 1,2,3 with 6 with 3,8,10 (out)


Race 4    Las Virgenes Grade 1 One Mile

Turbulent Descent can run on the lead on sit off the pace and put her killer closing kick down the lane. She is three for three with her last race winning the Hollywood Starlet. Mike Puype has put five strong drills into her preparing her for this race. She looks ready for a smasher as she shortens up to a mile over the main track. She has not trained over the dirt but a special filly can run over any surface and at any distance. Her main rival I think is May Day Rose and another filly Zazu.

     1. Turbulent Descent  2. May Day Rose 3. Zazu

Race 5    Six Half Turf Claimer 40K

The theft tactics might have Separate Forest winging on the front end down the hill with the speed jockey Patrick Val.
The top three jockeys takes the horses that fit and will be overbet. This downhill turf sprint for 4-year-old claiming fillies has plenty of speed in this race. I like Fairway Road  who might be overlooked at the betting windows. I like the closer also.... The Great Atlantic.

 1. Fairway Road 2.TheGreat Atlantic 3. Candy's Pleasure

Pick Three 3,4,8,10 with 1,6,7,8,10 with 4
 Cost of ticket $20

 Race 6    Six Furlongs Maiden Special

Victor Garcia can flat get first time starters to fire first time out. I like the long workout tab and look who climbs aboard this son of Salt Lake..... Me Salty and Bejarano....looks live to me! Another first time starter is Sierra Spirit who has a great gate jockey Martin Pedroza and trained by Jeff Bonde. He looks like a runner also..... As for the horses that have run...... I like Spud Spivens and Classy Lion....Kingpin Ryno do not take lightly who is coming off a lay-off.... switches to the dirt this son of In Excess might outrun his odds!


Race 7    Six Half Turf Claimer 32K

Waltzing Swan I had last time around and he had a ton of trouble. She tries the hill and with a little racing luck might be the one to fear at the wire. Lauren C needed a short rest to get her head straight....... She can flat out close on the speed. She is a horse that I thought would climb the class ladder and has been a disappointment! Period...... but I have not given up on her....... she might be ready for a smasher down the hill.

    1. Lauren C   2. Queen Mariles  3. Vikkilee

50 cent     4 and 5 with 3,8 with 3 with 7


Race 8    One Mile Turf The Thunder Road H.

I was disappointed by Colgan's Chip last race but had a difficult post position on the outside and the added distance was the main issue. Sounds like a valid excuse so if you can draw a line thru Chips last race the gray will be out on the front end trying to wire this group at the easy distance of one mile. Hopefully, Fluke or Proudinsky will go with CC and they will battle on the front end.......if that is how the race shapes up then the closer who I fear is Dakota Phone on turf at this distance. He switches to the turf where last summer he ran a respectable second to The Usual OT and beat Aggie Engineer who has turned into a monster. The Breeders Cup mile was no fluke! If no horse goes with CC then he might be hard to collar down the lane. Maybe the jockeys and trainers will look at the past performances in the DRF and send there horse to the lead with CC.

   1. Dakota Phone 2. Colgan's Chip  3. Fluke/Proudinsky

Race 9    Strub Grade 2

It looks like it is Twirlings Candy race but no mortal lock and most likely will be three to five at the sound of the bell. My main concern is the distance but this is age restricted to 4 year olds...... so it his race to win or lose.... He beat Caracortda his last race and we saw how talented that horse was last weekend on turf.

   1. Twirling Candy  2. Tweebster 3. Oilisblackgold

Race 10  One Mile Turf Optional Claimer

A hard contentious race and I settled on a horse that I have followed during his career....... Suit Yourself with a deadly trainer and jockey team.... Chew and Blanc for the nitecap!

     1. Suit Yourself   2. Lodi Red