Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 18
Fast
main track and firm turf course. All five dirt races were won by front
runners or dueling pace prompters (4.5f, 6f, 6f, 8f, 6f). The winning
turf course running styles were a patient runner one mile, a front
runner at nine furlongs, and a stalker at one mile (rail at 20 feet).
Flavien Prat booted home two flat mile turf winners.
Ismelucky
went on my watch list after TRD clockers gave her the thumbs up going
into her May 4 debut (clearly second best). In today’s second race, she
dueled inside and pulled clear to win by 2-1/2 lengths as the 2-1 second
choice. Post time favorite Mondaymorningblues
found trouble more than once (steadied turn, tight inside midstretch)
under Maldonado in an uncomfortable 4th place debut (missed 3rd by nose,
4.5 lengths clear of rest). She can go better next time for Miller.
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Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 19
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt
(6f). The winning turf course running styles were a closer at one mile, a
downhill closer, and two stalkers at one mile (rail at 30 feet).
Rafael Bejarano and apprentice Evin Roman both booted home a pair.
Two of my three watch horses scored on May 19. I played Sheza Milky Way
on April 9 and was impressed with her late burst. She came back to win
today’s opener as the favorite. I thought Incredible Luck ran a winning
race on April 22 (did all pace dirty work, finished 2nd). This time, he
comfortably tracked Particlacelerator and inched clear by 1-1/4 lengths as the strong favorite. My third watch horses did note fare as well. Whiskey Ginger
blew the break and was up for 3rd in his April 15 bow. In today’s sixth
race, he was a bit slow to begin, pulled hard to stalk the pace, and
weakened to finish 6th under Bejarano.
Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 20
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f,
6f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at one
mile, a stalker at nine furlongs, a closer at ten furlongs, and a
patient runner at one mile.
Rafael Bejarano, Flavien Prat, and Joe Talamo each booted home a pair. Phil D’Amato saddled two winners including Ransom the Moon in the G2 Kona Gold.
A couple of my watch horses ran today beginning with Smokey Image
in the Crystal Water. I like how he came again for the show March 31.
In today’s opener, he stalked fleet flat mile turf specialist What a View and lost 2nd late in an okay effort at 12-1.
My other watch horse, Ransom the Moon,
ran to his sharp works in a big sprint win on April 30 and had earned
quality TRD all-weather numbers at WO prior to that. In today’s G2 Kona
Gold, he settled nicely in 6th and powered home by 2-1/2 lengths at 7-2
for Prat/D’Amato.
Sunday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 21
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on the
card and that was Moon Kitty (5.5f) under Evin Roman’s aggressive
handling. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at nine
furlongs and patient runner Moonless Sky (placed first via DQ) in the
Fran’s Valentine (rail at 10 feet).
Hat trick for Kent Desormeaux. Apprentice Evin Roman booted home a pair.
JARROD HORAK'S SANTA ANITA PARK REPORT (May 25-29)
Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 25
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on a speed
favorite dirt oval (6f, 4.5f). The winning turf course running styles
were a presser at ten furlongs, a downhill dueler, a patient runner at
one mile, and a patient midpack stalker at nine furlongs (rail at 20
feet).
Flavien Prat booted home a pair. Peter Miller saddled two winners and both looked good (Te Amo Mamo, Avicci).
Saudi Chroma
was a $360k purchase for Doug O’Neill/Zedan Racing Stables. In today’s
second race, she went straight to the front and won under a hand ride at
5-2. Her stablemate Tyfosha outworked her recently and is tentatively scheduled to debut on June 8.
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Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 26
Fast main track and firm turf course.
Edwin Maldonado and Flavien Prat both guided him two winners. Peter Miller saddled two more winners.
Allaboutmike
went on my watch list on April 15 after he was fractious at the gate,
made a nice outside middle move to get into the top three, and flattened
out to finish 4th in the eighth race. That was his first SoCal start
for Miller and in today’s finale, he was sent to the lead under
Maldonado and kept on going at 4-1.
Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 27
Fast main track and firm turf course.
Irad Ortiz Jr. rode two winners including Lady Eli in the Grade I Gamely. Jerry Hollendorfer saddled two winners.
The pace figured to be hot in the Grade I Gold Cup and Cupid was in the right place throughout for Bejarano/Baffert. Follow Me Crev was the unlucky runner-up. He was bumped at the start by Baffert chalk American Freedom
and that incident cost him valuable lengths early. He was parked eight
lengths behind eventual winner Cupid and made up more than half of that
deficit. Things could have gotten very interesting in the stretch with a
clean beginning.
In other stakes action, red-hot gelding Stormy Liberal won the Grade III Daytona by a measured neck over Ambitious Brew.
Avenge, making her first start in 6+ months, looked like the controlling speed on paper but classy mare Lady Eli never let her get away and held off a late bid from Goodyearforroses. Mokat
was training well but was in a bit too deep. She is a flat mile
specialist and can bounce back if she shows up in a softer spot at eight
furlongs next time.
The pace was took quick for Enola Gray (held best of 4 speed horses) and she faded out of the superfecta late in the Grade II Monrovia. 2016 Gamely winner Illuminant wisely cut back in distance and steered clear of Lady Eli. Prat gave her a great ground saving ride in the stretch and she beat longshot Coniah by a 1/2 length. Sharp downhill specialist Anita Partner was on the scene late in 3rd.
Sunday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 28
Fast main track and firm turf course. Five front running winners on the speed favoring dirt oval (6,5f, 6.5f, 6f, 5.5f, 5.5f)
Hat trick for hustling apprentice Evin Roman.
The
top four finishers (Ashleyluvssugar, Frank Conversation, Syntax, Liam
the Charmer) in the Grade II Charles Whittingham saved ground at some
point but post time favorite Itsinthepost
was not so fortunate. He went up four wide to stalk the pace under Tyler
Baze and raced wide throughout. He was the fifth horse on the line and Texas Ryano was a neck behind him and had a wide trip from post 10.
Monday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 29
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f,
5f). The winning turf course running styles were a downhill stalker, a
patient first timer breaking from the rail down the hill, and a stalker
at nine furlongs (rail at 10 feet).
Joe Talamo booted home a pair including Marckie’s Water in the Snow Chief. Richard Baltas saddled two turf winners (Del Mar Ann, Marckie’s Water).
It is not easy for a first timer to win from the rail down the hill but Meadowsweet ran to her strong works and got up on the line under Mike Smith to nip She’sashocker.
