Friday, April 28, 2017

Santa Anita Park Report with Horses to Watch (April 20-23)

Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 20

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on a speed favoring dirt oval (6.5f, 8f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner down the hill, a downhill presser, and a downhill stalker (rail at 20 feet).

Joe Talamo rode the early double.

Jill Madden coasted to a wire job maiden win as the heavy favorite in the fourth (Mcl-30k, 8f) but Warrior Vixen is the horse to watch. The latter stalked moderate splits, gained 2nd at the 6f mark, and pulled well clear of the rest (show finisher 9+ back) while cutting into the winning margin in the lane. She can graduate next time with a similar effort.

Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 21

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8.5f, 6, 8f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one mile, a patient runner at 12f, and a downhill stalker (rail at 10 feet).

Tyler Baze booted home a pair.

County Lineman raced wide throughout and ended up an okay 3rd as the favorite (beaten 1.5 lengths) in the flat mile turf opener for the productive Bejarano/Cerin team.

Chocolate Coated did well to rally for the place in the hillside finale after a slow start under Stevens. Kenda was the perfect trip stalk/pounce winner as the chalk from the outside post while Chocolate Coated broke from the difficult inside post and was clearly second best.


Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 22

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on a speed favoring dirt oval (5.5f, 6.5f, 9f, 6f). The winning turf course running styles were a downhill closer (last-to-first), a stalker in the 14f San Juan Capistrano, a stalker at 9f, and a pace prompter in the 6.5f Mizdirection.

Martin Garcia and Bob Baffert teamed up for two wins including Collected in the G2 Californian. Richard Baltas saddled two turf winners including Inordinate in the G3 San Juan Capistrano.

Incredible Luck ran a winning race in the seventh (MSW, 9T). He dueled on the lead and fought hard throughout but eventual winner Marckie’s Water sat a perfect stalking trip and ran him down under Bejarano. The top two were well clear of the rest.

Collected was much the best in the G2 Californian but Follow Me Crev did well to rally for the place on the speed favoring surface. They may meet again in the Gold Cup at SA.

Sunday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 23

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 7f, 8f, 7f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at 9f and two downhill stalkers (rail at 20 feet).

Rafael Bejarano booted home a pair. Peter Miller saddled two winners including razor sharp downhill specialist Stormy Liberal in the Siren Lure.

Patentar got back to his winning distance and beat stakes winners Frank Conversation and Up With the Birds in the grassy nine furlong opener. He was my top choice based on his strong Today’s Racing Digest numbers earned in his last SA victory at 9f. 

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