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SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK JANUARY 18, 2008 by John Mucciolo Racing got back on track at Santa Anita after a time of uncertainty over the condition of the Cushion Track. Although the surface remains a question, the racing this past week gave us a few stars at which to gaze upon, led by the mighty ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]). El Encino S. (G2): Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss' Zenyatta was breathtaking in here, cruising home with her gigantic strides to remain perfect from three lifetime tests. Trailing in last early beneath a moderate tempo, the four-year-old found best her stride a few jumps into the straight and blew by a pair of Grade 1 heroines under David Flores. The John Shirreffs pupil clocked the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40 3/5. San Rafael S. (G3): West Point Thoroughbreds' EL GATO MALO (El Corredor) sat back off of a trio of dueling three-year-olds to the far turn prior to dominating his competition for conditioner Craig Dollase. The unbeaten sophomore has looked really good in all three career starts and appears destined for bigger things as the year progresses. The colt smoked one mile on the lightning-fast surface in a stakes-record 1:33 1/5 beneath Flores. San Pasqual H. (G2): ZAPPA (Afternoon Deelites) overtook pacesetter Well Armed (Tiznow) in the final furlong and drove home a one-length winner for John Sadler. The gelded former claimer traveled 1 1/16 miles in a track record 1:39 2/5 under Joel Rosario to notch his first stakes win. San Fernando S. (G2): Clay and Salman's AIR COMMANDER (Point Given) took the lead from Malibu S. (G1) victor Johnny Eves (Skimming) and held off that stubborn foe in pulling off the 52-1 upset for Bob Baffert. The lanky colt got his first stakes win after completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40 under the guidance of Aaron Gryder. Santa Ynez S. (G2): Hal and Patti Earnhardt's soon-to-be champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) opened up a lengthy lead in early stretch and had just enough to take this one as the 1-9 favorite. The Baffert charge got seven-eighths in 1:19 4/5 to remain unbeaten from four lifetime tries. The three-year-old millionaire carried Garrett Gomez among her 123 pounds. Santa Ysabel S. (G3): Michael House's FINAL FLING (Bertrando) closed determinedly on the outside to grind out a solid score in this affair. The California-bred three-year-old was nearly 11-1 in this six-horse field and went 8 1/2 furlongs in 1:41 4/5. Joe Talamo rode for trainer Jeff Mullins. San Gorgonio H. (G2): Champion WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) found room when it mattered and handily topped this group for Todd Pletcher. The Arindel Farm colorbearer traveled nine grassy furlongs in 1:46 4/5 to notch her second score over this turf course in as many efforts. Gomez was in the irons. Track Stats From a total of 47 races held over the Arcadia racetrack during the week, favorites won at a 25 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 38 percent of the wins. From 34 frays contested on the Cushion Track, seven horses won in wire-to-wire fashion (19 percent), while two of the 13 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (15 percent). Through two-plus weeks at Santa Anita, there is nothing defining a bias, but the constant surface switch could really throw a handicapper off his or her game. My advice would be to proceed with caution when they combine the Cushion Track with their additive, and see if any trends appear after a few days of racing. One thing that I am certain about -- there is no inside bias at Santa Anita up to this point. Hollywood favored rail huggers much more than this venue. The track was ridiculously fast over the weekend, but horses were still winning from all over. We were willing to overlook the Cushion freeway and focus on the premier performers. Meet Totals
Post Positions (wins)
HORSES TO WATCH Friday (1/11) 8TH -- NIKKI'SGOLDENSTEED (Formal Gold) never showed early speed to this point but seems to have matured following a wire-to-wire score for Bob Hess Jr. The consistent California-bred went in six seconds for his final sixteenth of a mile and looks like he could go a bit longer. Saturday (1/12) 3RD -- BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat) put in a solid late run in his debut for Craig Dollase and gives the look of one who could handle added ground. The colt shouldn't be a maiden for long. 5TH -- MASSIVE DRAMA (Kafwain) dueled through a heated pace to the top of the lane and battled on well to retain the show for Baffert. We're not certain how far the colt wants to go at this stage of his career, be he shouldn't be written off due to his tiring in this race; he needs conventional dirt to maximize his potential in my opinion. 10TH -- TIAGO (Pleasant Tap) didn't display the same late explosion in this one as he did so often in 2007, but the four-year-old could have needed the race and wouldn't mind another sixteenth to work with for Shirreffs. Sunday (1/13) 3RD -- Indian Blessing better leave the Golden State because the synthetic going out there will not do her any favors as the year progresses. The lightning-quick sophomore, at first glimpse, didn't appear to be the same animal on the Cushion, and she's definitely worth trying to beat in California. 8TH -- ON THE VIRG (Pulpit) improved dramatically in his second go and it looks like Todd Pletcher could have a live three-year-old in the form of this one. In what appeared to be a fabulous maiden group on paper, the colt was always best while breaking from the widest post and displayed a strong stride through the wire. Monday (1/14) 3RD -- LAVENDER SKY (Mt. Livermore) had little chance against the classy winner of this one, but was still well clear in second while staying strong in the lane. The Dan Hendricks trainee has come a long way in a short time and should be worth a look in her subsequent stakes efforts, on both the green and the synthetic. 7TH -- HEWITTS (Concerto) showed little rust from a lengthy layoff with a sharp tally in here for Bob Hess, Jr. The gelded four-year-old was obviously fresh and went right to the lead, and never looked back from there. The bay went seven-eighths in a swift 1:20 2/5. A Look Ahead The $150,000 San Marcos H. (G2) is the marquee attraction on Saturday, while the $150,000 Palos Verdes H. (G2) will be the centerpiece on Holiday Monday.
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