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SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK APRIL 1, 2010 by John Mucciolo A pair of Grade 3 events headlined the weekend at Santa Anita. Tokyo City H. (G3): Anastasi et al's TAP IT LIGHT (General Meeting) took a short lead in the lane and held off a slew of foes in posting a three-quarters of a length victory in here for Mike Mitchell. Guided to the win by Tyler Baze, the gelding completed 1 1/2 miles on the Pro-Ride in 2:29 3/5. Santa Paula S. (G3): Tommy Hutton's TANDA (Sweetsouthernsaint) blitzed her foes in here beneath Alex Solis, setting a new stakes record along the way. The Dan Hendricks-trained filly was 4 1/4 lengths clear at the wire in finishing off 6 1/2 panels in a sizzling 1:14 1/5. Track Stats From a total of 43 races held over the Arcadia racetrack during the five-day race week, favorites won at a 39 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 65 percent of the wins. From 27 frays contested on the Pro-Ride oval, three animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (11 percent), while five of the 16 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (31 percent). From a total of 27 main-track races held during the week, just three of the winners broke from outside post 6. At the same time, just three of 27 led at every call on the main oval -- dispelling any inside bias theory. Early types did well on the green during the week and have captured one out of every four races for the meet, a number that we thought would be considerably lower. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (3/25) 8TH -- CREMEDELAGOLD (Formal Gold) was well-backed at the windows and ran to her odds in finishing a clear second in a solid debut under the guidance of Valdez. The Hector Palma-trained filly deserves a long look in her subsequent outing. Friday (3/26) 7TH -- DISTORTED DAVE (Distorted Humor) was on his game in this race and rolled home late to a daylight win beneath Joel Rosario. The sophomore still sports low BRIS Speed figures and is essentially a one-run closer, so we don't rate this victory that high and would warn against backing him at short odds next out. Saturday (3/27) 3RD -- BRADIUM (Forestry) was more than nine lengths clear of his nearest foe and has every right to improve off of this solid debut for conditioner Mark Glatt. 5TH -- DANZING TRIBAL (Tribal Rule) inhaled this group on the final turn and strolled home an emphatic, 5 1/4-length romper in this turf dash for Craig Lewis. We don't see many win by that much daylight on the downhill course, so this one could be any kind on this unique oval. 8TH -- We tabbed Tap It Light following a fine closing second in a recent allowance tilt, but we didn't expect the six-year-old to pick up a Grade 3 win in his next start. The California-bred is in prime form and should not be overlooked in major stakes this summer. Sunday (3/28) 6TH -- Trainer Vladimir Cerin did a fine job in getting BET ON VICTOR (Yankee Victor) ready in his first start since the summer, and the four-year-old topped a nice field in here. The gelding is one to watch throughout the year. 8TH -- ONE MAN'S DELIGHT (One Man Army) was no match for the winner late, but the gelding finished an admirable second in this one for conditioner Donald Warren. The five-year-old is going well right now. A Look Ahead The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) is the undisputed centerpiece of a four-stakes card this Saturday at "The Great Race Place." Also on tap is the $150,000 Arcadia H. (G2), $150,000 Potrero Grande H. (G2) and $150,000 Providencia S. (G2). The Sunday feature is the $100,000 Las Flores H. (G3) for fillies and mares.
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