JANUARY 24, 2007

by John Mucciolo

The four-day race week at Santa Anita was challenging for bettors across the nation, as a two-day Pick 6 carryover awaits us on Wednesday. The incredible stat of the week: Not a single horse won in wire-to-wire fashion from 34 events over the previous four days, which has to be a record of some sort for Santa Anita. Nonetheless, the racing action was great as usual, headlined by a pair of Grade 2 events.

Palos Verdes H. (G2): FRIENDLY ISLAND (Crafty Friend), freshened since his runner-up performance in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), came in as the heavy favorite and did not disappoint in a solid effort. Trained by Michel McCarthy, the six-year-old took over turning for home and proved much the best in here. The final time for six panels was 1:08 4/5 under Garrett Gomez.

San Marcos S. (G2): The Neil Drysdale-conditioned ONE OFF (GB) (Barathea [Ire]) put in his best performance to date with a thrilling last-to-first effort under Brice Blanc. The gelded seven-year-old got 1 1/4 miles in a useful 2:01 2/5 en route to his initial graded score. The bay recorded a final quarter-mile in a sparkling :22 2/5.

Track Stats

From a total of 34 races held over the Arcadia, California, racetrack, favorites won at a routine 26 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 41 percent of the wins for the week, an 18 percent decrease from the previous week. Amazingly for a Southern California venue, from 25 frays contested on the main oval, not a single winner won in wire-to-wire fashion, while none of the nine grassy tussles were taken all the way on the lead either. The lack of wire-to-wire winners makes one think that the track is playing to a certain running style, but horses were winning from virtually every other part of the racetrack, so it's too difficult to determine if any biases are evident.

Meet totals for Santa Anita are as follows:

HORSES TO WATCH

3RD – THEVERYTHOUGHTOF U (Unbridled’s Song) made a sharp debut for trainer Ron Ellis and shouldn't be a maiden much longer. Breaking tardily, the first timer closed with excellent energy and finished five lengths clear of his nearest pursuer. The Kentucky-bred four-year-old was rewarded with a 92 BRIS Speed number.

7TH – FOREST CODE (Forestry) was very sharp in this affair, pressing the early pace before drawing off to a convincing win in here. The four-year-old chestnut has found a home sprinting on the lawn and should be stakes bound before long.

2ND – The Bob Baffert-trained LAW BREAKER (Silver Deputy) made a big impression in his dirt debut and could be headed for a big sophomore year with further improvement. The bay colt, coming off a third place effort in the grassy Eddie Logan S., tracked the pacesetter until the stretch and proved game in keeping that one at bay, earning a solid 108 Speed figure.

7TH – Another Baffert trainee impressed on this occasion, as the rapidly improving DIAMOND FURY (Sea of Secrets) was game in defeat in this one. The $2.7 million dollar two-year-old purchase has not lived up to his sales hype thus far, but two consecutive solid efforts hint that the gelding has turned the corner. The chestnut was rewarded with a 99 Speed number.

7TH – VALID MECKE (Mecke) proved much the best in here for trainer Peter Miller. The gelded four-year-old stalked the early pace before pouncing late and drawing clear under Corey Nakatani. The Florida bred has improved in each start since moving to the Golden State, and should be live right back. The winner received a 94 Speed figure.

6TH – This was the race that TIME SQUARED (Fusaichi Pegasus) was supposed to make a name for himself as a budding three-year-old star on the West Coast, but it didn’t go as planned as the talented colt had to settle for a minor award once again. Leaving the gate with little interest, the high-priced sophomore did well in the lane and had good energy late, but had no excuse for losing in this oddly run event. Keep an eye on this one, as he'll always be overbet and could be worth trying to beat on the main oval.

A Look Ahead

The stakes action picks up this weekend with the Sunshine Millions. A quartet of stakes races pitting Florida-breds versus California-breds will be held at Santa Anita on Saturday, with another four at Gulfstream Park. The $500,000 Turf, $500,000 Distaff, $300,000 Sprint and $250,000 Oaks will all take place locally, and the headliner is multiple Grade 1 hero LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew), who will race in the Turf.

Sunday's feature is the $250,000 Santa Monica H. (G1), for fillies and mares going seven furlongs on the main surface.