Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 14th
Sunday (3-14-10) Santa Anita Park Recap
Early-pressing types (3 wire jobs) strong on both surfaces.
Garrett Gomez booted home a pair, and Jeff Mullins saddled three winners on the afternoon.
Santa Anita Park - Photo by Stacy Edwards
In the lone downhill race carded, Annihilation rallied strongly to nip my early-pressing top Czechers in the first running of the Clocker’s Corner Handicap for fillies and mares. Alex Solis booted home the Dan Hendricks trainee. I thought Czechers was best as she was all over a swift pace and fought hard to the end. The 1st, 3rd, and 4th place finishers were 8th, 9th, and 11th after the opening quarter, so that makes the prominent throughout effort turned in by the runner-up look even stronger.
Pick 6 Results
I nailed the first three legs on the Big Ticket, and along came 77-1 bomber Laserbeam Jackson to ruin the roll. Had a pair of neck defeats and a show finish to round out the card.
Wednesday Preview (3-17-10)
An 8-race card is on tap for Wednesday, and there is a pick six carryover of more than $139k. Weather forecast looks promising with partly sunny skies expected and a high temperature of 83. Stay tuned to this site for analysis and tickets.
Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 13th (5 of 6)
Working Capital ($8.60) went coast to coast in the Saturday opener under Martin Garcia. Gary Mandella was the winning trainer.
Malibu Artiste ($5) scored in the 2nd under 7 pound apprentice James. Paul Aguirre saddled the winner.
Valkyrie Missile ($9) went last to first in the 3rd for Quinonez/Puype.
I’mneverwrong ($8.80) held on by a neck in the 4th for Espinoza/Cassidy.
Went four deep on both tickets to start the pick six, and I was rewarded when One Track Mind ($13.20) went all the way under Tyler Baze. David Bernstein saddled the winner.
First of three straight Budget Ticket singles, and off to a flying start with My Man Sumo ($4.60). Bejarano booted home the Jeff Mullins trainee.
Universal good thing Zenyatta ($2.60) had a few anxious moments waiting for room in the lane, but she is scary talented and cruised home once clear in the Santa Margarita. Don’t think Rachel wants any part of this mare at Oaklawn. Mike Smith had his usual seat aboard the Shirreffs trainee.
Capped off the Budget Ticket singleton trifecta with Top Feeling ($5.40) Bejarano booted home the turf winner for Victor Garcia. Looking good with five contenders in the upcoming San Felipe.
Conso at the very least on both tickets after Sidney’s Candy ($9.60) went all the way for Talamo/Sadler. Runner-up Interactif was getting to the winner and could easily turn the tables in the SA Derby. Caracortado checked in a respectable 3rd, and American Lion tracked and weakened in a very disappointing effort. Need Hit The Brix or Tribul Witch for 6 out of 6.
Ouch! Alphabet Cat ($75.20) and Tribul Witch rallied in tandem, and the latter outfinished my value contender by a 1/2 length. So close to Budget Ticket glory, but have to settle for a conso on both tickets. Espinoza was the winning pilot for Henry Moreno. 6 of 6 returned more than $27k, and the conso was worth $110.20.
Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 12th
Courtly Couture ($21.20) rallied to upset the Friday opener for Espinoza/Greely.
Chalk players rejoice as Drink At Last Call ($4.60) tallied in the 2nd under Michael Baze. Jeff Mullins saddled the winner.
Pick 6 time, and a good start with Paleo ($6) getting up by a neck for Bejarano/O’Neill.
No worries in the 4th as my top two were noses apart and well clear of the rest. Bummer for Budget Ticket single Brayden Buddy, but did stay alive on the Big Ticket with Warring Heart ($4.20). Pedroza booted home the Canani runner.
Hat trick on the Big Ticket and another 1-2 finish. Scottish Diamond ($7) was never headed under Michael Baze, and chalk up another winner for Jeff Mullins.
Really liked Higher Incentive in the hillside 6th, but she could not quite get to A Sassy Fusaichi ($11.60). Rosario booted home the winner for Mike Mitchell.
Thought I was home free with controlling speed Aggie Engineer in the feature…nope. Slew’s Tiznow ($15.40) never let the leader out of his sights and was a grinding winner for Gomez/Lloyd.
Budget Ticket single One Man’s Delight ($7) went all the way in the finale to graduate down the dip for Martin Garcia and Don Warren. 4 out of 6 with a pair of 2nds is a tough pill to swallow…but tomorrow is another day!
Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 11th
Chalky start to the Thursday program with Vision In Gold cruising to a stalking win for Rosario/Ellis.
Over to the turf for the 2nd, and Stalingrad ($12.80) was never headed under David Flores. James Cassidy saddled the winner.
Pick six carryover time, and my first timer top Stormy Linda scratched. Still left with three contenders, but no dice as Got A Plan ($13.80) edged my player Warrens Royal Lady. Tyler Baze booted home the Jerry Fanning trainee.
No worries in the 4th as Stash ($6) was never threatened down the dip. Another one for Tyler Baze, this time for Mike Mitchell.
Ran 1-2 in the 5th with Saltendipity ($6.20) using her experience to edge promising firster Rebecca. Joel Rosario was the winning pilot for Ben Cecil.
Was talking to my friend on the phone earlier, and I said the negative rail post would jump up and bite me in the grassy 6th. Sure enough, Line of David ($4.60) coasted to an easy wire job win for Bejarano/Sadler.
Went four deep in the 7th, and that’s all I needed to cash the super with my value top Quiet Invader ($12) clinging to a nose victory over Lions Story. Martin Garcia booted home the Baffert trainee.
Finale unfolded at a fast clip as expected, but singleton Sweet Patricia did not have the smoothest inside stretch run in a disappointing 4th place effort. Excessive Chatter ($23.60) was the stalk and pounce winner for Pedroza and Kitchingman.
Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 10th
One Shot ($8.80) began the Wednesday festivities with a wire job tally under Santiago Reyes. James Barnes was the winning conditioner.
Another coast to coast winner in the 2nd as Born To Shop ($7.80) graduated for Amador/Periban.
Pick 6 time, and my value oriented 3rd choice Nitro Active ($12.60) got up to beat purse nibbling fav Cavanal in this flat mile grass claimer. Garrett Gomez guided home the Doug O’Neill trainee.
Even money Budget Ticket single Free Flying Soul failed to grab the early lead and just did land the show. No worries for the big spenders as the Big Ticket offered up 5-2 winner Quisisana (Bejarano-Puype).
Went four deep in the 5th, and fav Unusually Sound ($5.40) proved best for Solis/Gallagher.
Hopes for six dashed after Stockings ($19.80) safely held off my contender Hopeful Union. Rosario brought home the Sadler trainee.
Still alive for five after Noblety ($8.80) surged late down the dip for his 4th win in last five outings. Espinoza booted home the Kruljac trainee. Need chalk in the finale for a conso.
L’Enchanteresse failed to bring the conso home after tracking and weakening to 5th. As luck would have it, my 2nd choice This Time Baby ($9) went all the way under Martin Garcia. Walther Solis saddled the winner. Pick six was not hit, so the Thursday card gets a nice $81k head start.
Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 7th
Popular wire job by Good Measure ($2.80) to get the Sunday card off and running. Espinoza was up for Carla Gaines.
Chalk early double with Saxophone ($6) tallying in the 2nd for Pedroza/Canani.
Pokomoke ($11) rallied for the win in the extended sprint 3rd for Quinonez/Mullins.
Off the turf to begin the pick six, and Budget Ticket single and heavy fav Red Sun ($3.80) held off Guns On The Table by a neck. Used the runner-up on the Big Ticket, and many would have been eliminated, but no dice. Show finisher Calmonco was my turf top, and he grabed a piece at 16-1.
Typical two lifetime claimer in the 5th as five were bunched up at the wire, and my contender Marquet Rebel missed by a head. Pacific Halo ($24.20) was the upset winner for Tyler Baze and Tim Rosier.
Went for the experienced runners in the 6th, but the first timers dominated with Jaws n’ Paws ($31.80) rallying for the victory. Talamo booted home the Koriner trainee. I thought my top She’s Here Now would show the way, but she rallied for 4th following a troubled beginning.
Off the weeds for the Joe Hernandez Stakes, and synthetic specialist Sangaree ($10.20) got his preferred footing for Garcia/Baffert. My turf top Gallant Son ran much better than expected to land the place.
Went two deep in the 8th, and that was enough as dropper Kanan Dume ($7.20) rallied to score for Espinoza/Mandella.
Did not use obvious contender Uncle Don ($6.40) in the finale because he had a weak turn time in latest outing, but he found a field he could handle and cruised under Rosario. Richard Rosales was the winning conditioner. If Red Sun had dropped the opening leg, we were probably looking at another carryover…almost!
Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 6th
Gonna cut to the chase and get right to the pick six action in this abbreviated rewind of the Big Cap card…
Got off to a good start in the pick six with maiden no more Make Music For Me ($15.40). Blinkers and turf did the trick, and note that he has plenty of graded earnings for the Derby if connections go in that direction. Mike Smith booted home the Alexis Barba trainee in the $60k Pasadena Stakes.
Alphie’s Bet ($19) gave the Alexis Barba barn a stakes double with a sharp off the pace tally in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes. Guess barn has two Derby players now! Alex Solis rode the winner. My top pick Setsuko did not have the smoothest journey in a clear place finish. I like the Mandella runner-up as a long range prospect.
I have never been on the Blind Luck bandwagon, and she just did get up to beat me last time. Picked her 2nd again today, and she finished well but failed to get the job done. I fancied Sadler trainee Cozi Rosie, but her stablemate Crisp ($13.60) sat the right stalking trip to grab the candy in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks. As for my top, she’s best as a closer, but she tracked the tepid pace and weakened to 5th today. Blind Luck wants more ground. Joel Rosario was the winning pilot.
Called the Grade 1 Kilroe as Proviso ($11.40) got her nose down on the line to beat an unlucky Fluke. The latter did all of the pace dirty work and deserved a better fate. Mike Smith guided home the Mott/Juddmonte runner.
No dice in the Big Cap as my two contenders failed to fire. Misremembered ($10.80) fell into the perfect tracking trip behind speedster Mast Track, and he had enough in the tank to hold off Neko Bay. Martin Garcia booted home the Baffert trainee. St Trinians flattened out, and Loup Breton did not seem to handle the footing.
11th and final went to my 2nd choice Crash Landing ($10). Talamo guided home the Marty Jones trainee. Ended up with 3 wins, a 2nd, and a 3rd on both tickets in the difficult sequence. No one had all six, so the Sunday pool gets a $200k jump start.
Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 5th
Eternally Fast ($5.20) went all the way in the Friday opener for Talamo/Carava.
Enchanting Moment ($10.60) got up by a nose in the 2nd for Talamo/Spawr.
No dice in the opening leg of the pick six as professional maiden Sister Lucy ($9.40) beat my value first timer Devil’s Mate. Pedroza booted home the Denise Breuer trainee.
Down the dip for the 4th, and my contenders ran 1-2 with Warrens Summergold ($7.40) getting the job done for Santiago Reyes/Gutierrez.
Tough beat in the 5th as I was a close-up 2-3 behind upset nostril winner Tiz a Knight ($59.60). Espinoza guided home the son of Tiznow for Ron Ellis.
Ran 1-2-3 in the 6th with Spot The Diplomat ($7.40) edging my top Spirit of Cochise by a nose. Mike Smith booted home the Jeff Mullins runner.
No luck in the downhill feature as Tanda ($4.60) kicked clear like a fav should. Solis booted home the winner for Dan Hendricks.
Bombs away in the finale with first timer Dubai X Y Z ($106.80) lighting up the tote for Hunt/Tsagalakis. On a normal day the pool would have carried, but with a double carryover it was hit as expected. Someone walked away with a cool $550k.
Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 4th
Chalky start to the Thursday program with Smokey Beau ($4) cruising for Leyva/Sadler.
Value Stream ($18.40) went last to first in the 2nd for Rosario/Drysdale.
Flat mile on the turf to kick off the pick six festivities, and Worth A Punt ($13.40) got up by a nose for Solis/Zucker.
My value top Warrensmysterydice ($17.60) posted a sharp stalk and pounce tally in the 4th for Talamo/Gutierrez.
Tyler Kaplan found the winners’ circle in his first mount aboard Soldier Betty ($7.60) in the 5th. Vladimir Cerin saddled the winner.
Crossing The Line ($8.80) went last to first in the hillside 6th for Bejarano/Sadler.
Ellafitz ($17.20) got loose in the optional claiming feature and held sway under Martin Garcia. Bob Baffert saddled the winner.
Wire job in the downhill finale as Blind Optimism ($12.60) scored by a 1/2 length for Espinoza/O’Neill.
Again, no perfect tickets, and the carryover pool has reached $332,613.
Mar/100
Santa Anita Recap – March 3rd
Upset to begin the Wednesday card as Ava’s Charm ($21.60) tallied for Martin Garcia and David Hofmans.
Cenizo ($5.40) went all the way in the 2nd for Pedroza/Canani.
Down the dip to kick off the pick six, and Asanti ($7.80) was best by a head under Mike Smith. Paco Gonzalez was the winning conditioner.
Two straight after Maybe Yes ($7.20) scored a stalking win for Gomez/Fanning.
No dice in the 5th. Sandy Cheeks ($6.20) rallied to score for Quinonez/Abrams.
Could only manage the show in the 6th. Thomas Baines ($11) got up by a 1/2 length for Bejarano/O’Neill.
Flat mile turf feature went to You Life Me Up ($17.20). Joel Rosario booted home the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee.
Another upset to end the card as No Grande ($24) held sway for Cosme/Zamora. No perfect tickets, so Thursday’s pool has an $82k kick start.
