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SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK MARCH 13, 2013 by John Mucciolo A budding sophomore was the star of the weekend of racing at Santa Anita. San Felipe S. (G2): Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and Halo Farms' HEAR THE GHOST (Ghostzapper) put in a powerful late run to collar the dueling favorites and bag this race by a half-length under Corey Nakatani. The gelded sophomore clocked 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 1/5 on the fast main oval in his third straight solid performance. Las Flores S. (G3): Ramona Bass et al's RUMOR (Indian Charlie) ran down the clear leader inside the final panel and gamely prevailed by a half-length under Mike Smith. The Richard Mandella trainee sped 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast main surface in a solid 1:15 2/5. Track Stats From a total of 34 races held at the Arcadia, California, racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 26 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 65 percent of the wins. From 29 frays contested on the dirt oval, seven animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (24 percent), while two of the five grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (40 percent). Rain washed a few days of racing off the turf, but it seems that the lawn was somewhat kind to early type over the weekend. It's possible that this lawn plays to speed more so when there is some give in the ground. Speed was best on Thursday and Friday, when five horses led at every call through 16 races. Just two went wire-to-wire over the weekend from 13 main track tilts. Each of the eight races on Thursday were won by the first or second betting option. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (3/7) 3RD -- SAMURAI JESS (First Samurai) had no chance with the sharp winner in this spot, but this four-year-old filly finished a nice second while well clear of third for trainer Doug O'Neill. Expect this lass to be a player next time if in with similar foes. Friday (3/8) 3RD -- MUM'S TRUCKEE (Truckee) proved her versatility in this one with a powerful score on the main oval in this one, proving she can run on just about anything. The in-form four-year-old filly came home very well under Garrett Gomez in here and she gives trainer Peter Miller a lot of options going forward. Saturday (3/9) 3RD -- DONATO (Broken Vow) was shuffled back some and outsprinted early, but did show a new dimension in rating a bit and hanging on well to be a clear second. The normally headstrong gelding proved he can run some without opening a big early lead, and this race could help him going forward. He goes to conditioner Bill Spawr off the claim out of here. 5TH -- RED TESLA (Decarchy) came off a year-long break to be especially sharp in this one for trainer Bob Baffert, tracking the pace and powering home to a daylight win beneath Martin Garcia. The five-year-old ran swiftly throughout and should be a big contender with allowance types in his comeback race. Sunday (3/10) 2ND -- LET EM SHINE (Songandaprayer) put his speed on full display this afternoon with a sensational front-running score for the white-hot Adam Kitchignman. The sophomore colt was geared down for the final sixteenth but still went in 1:09 for six panels. He surely will be stakes bound in his next try. 4TH -- D'OBSESSION (Decarchy) did everything right but win in this race, and he has surely has found a home sprinting going down the hill. The Michael Pender charge showed he could handle open company and will be very tough if placed in a similar spot next time. 7TH -- We're not sure what flipped the switch for HARLINGTON NIGHT (Harlington), but the Vladimir Cerin trainee roared home to his second straight daylight win, and we have no idea how good he can become with more experience. 9TH -- Conditioner Mike Mitchell may have made a shrewd claim on runner-up EAST SKY (Vronsky) out of this race, who was 22-1 and barely missed in a lengthy photo. Clearly Mitchell saw something prior to this, and he could have a useful one going forward. A Look Ahead Saturday will play host to a pair of graded races at Santa Anita: the Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes and the Grade 2, $150,000 San Luis Rey Stakes.
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