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SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK FEBRUARY 25, 2010 by John Mucciolo A pair of graded races took place at Santa Anita over the weekend. San Carlos H. (G2): Kasparoff and Harmon's BOB BLACK JACK (Stormy Jack) showed little rust after taking more than a year off in routing this field on the lead under David Flores. Trained by James Kasparoff, the genuine five-year-old sped seven-eighths on the Pro-Ride in a swift 1:21. San Luis Obispo H. (G2): David and Jill Heerensperger's BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]) proved he wanted to be a marathoner all along with a dominant 4 1/4-length romp in here for conditioner Neil Drysdale. Piloted to perfection by Rafael Bejarano, the smart gelding stopped the teletimer in 2:28 4/5 for 1 1/2 grassy miles. Track Stats From a total of 35 races held over the Arcadia, California, racetrack during the four-day race week, favorites won at a 23 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 43 percent of the wins. From 24 frays contested on the Pro-Ride oval, six animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (25 percent), while two of the 11 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (18 percent). Speed was fairly strong for the second consecutive week on the main oval, which has changed some in more estimation -- we're seeing many more blowout winners than we have in prior weeks. This track has been known for its blanket finishes, but not so much over the last 10 race dates. Inside posts were especially strong over the first three days of the week, with 13 of the 26 winners breaking from the innermost three slots. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (2/18) 3RD -- TAXI RIDE (Event of the Year) couldn't have looked much better in this one at first asking for trainer Richard Mandella, leading at every call before pulling clear late in a decisive first run. The four-year-old miss is surely one to watch in her debut versus winners. 5TH -- EL NADIA (NZ) (Elnadim) made an excellent first impression in the United States with a closing win in this dash for conditioner Steve Knapp. The seven-year-old mare should be interesting on a class rise in her subsequent outing. 6TH -- WITTY (Distorted Humor) returned from a lengthy absence to win comfortably in here for Mandella, completing 6 1/2 furlongs on the main oval in a solid 1:15 2/5. The well-bred filly should reappear in the stakes ranks before long. Friday (2/19) 6TH -- Mandella struck again in this heat with the intriguing ERBEIA (Pulpit), who closed sharply from last to run past this field. The sophomore colt is cut out to be a nice one and finished off his final-quarter mile in a swift :23 2/5 under Joel Rosario. Saturday (2/20) 4TH -- Past Watch runner FORTHREEFOREUCLID (Marino Marini) ran off his second straight for trainer Doug O'Neill with a fine late run beneath Bejarano. The in-form California-bred colt should be able to cope with open foes in the near future. 5TH -- WASH PARK (Ecton Park) put in a big effort to be a clear third at huge odds in his debut for Beau Greely, who often gives them a few outings before getting the best out of his runners. 9TH -- Bob Black Jack and Kasparoff deserve another mention in this Notebook for what they pulled off in here off the long break, winning this race so easily. Kudos to both the trainer and horse, but especially to the five-year-old California-bred who immediately put his name atop the list of sprinters out west. Sunday (2/21) 5TH -- We're done tabbing TIMES GONE BY (Giant's Causeway), who had every chance turning for home under Victor Espinoza. The blue-blooded five-year-old was overly restrained early in here, but he still has no excuse for not putting up more of a fight late. He might need to run on dirt. A Look Ahead The $150,000 Sham S. (G3) on Saturday is the lone graded test to be held during the upcoming weekend.
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