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SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK APRIL 3, 2012 by John Mucciolo There were no graded races this week at "The Great Race Place." Track Stats From a total of 34 races held at the Arcadia, California, racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 41 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 62 percent of the wins. From 21 frays contested on the dirt oval, just three animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (14 percent), while three of the 13 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (23 percent). Speed was far from dominant this week, with not a single horse leading at every call on Saturday or Sunday. Inner posts also suffered, with just three winners coming through on the main oval breaking from post 1-through-3, including just a single rail runner. That combination suggests a slight bias here. Of the trio of turf wire jobs during the week, two came in route events, and one came in a downhill dash. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (3/28) 1ST -- CANELO (Proud Citizen) put in a fine display off the 11-month layoff for Vladimir Cerin, and while the colt was maybe never getting to the winner, he could get a lot of fitness out of this race. 3RD -- SUANCES LUCK (Suances) made a sweeping move to bury her foes and really looked the part in this maiden claiming debut for trainer Darrell Vienna. Four-year-old filly might not have topped much in here, but the way she did it was very impressive and we'd imagine they'll give her a try with starter foes next out to see what they have. 6TH -- DUBAI YOU X Y Z (E Dubai) seemingly always fires and put in a fine late rally to be a clear second in this one for conditioner Eric Kruljac. The capable gelding hadn't run since June and we also think he's better going a mile or more, hinting that his next could be even better. Friday (3/29) 2ND -- ONDINE (Medaglia d'Oro) broke slowly and had too much to do late, but the Bob Baffert trainee put in a fine late run to make it a bit interesting late in a fine runner-up showing. The sophomore filly shouldn't be a maiden for long. 7TH -- PROCUREMENT (Milwaukee Brew) showed big improvement off of his last race and finished a nice second behind a good one for Tom Proctor. The three-year-old colt is surely of stakes quality and we like his turn of foot. He should be heard from all spring and summer out west. Saturday (3/30) 2ND -- ODEON (After Market) followed up a fine maiden win with a nice second in this one and had the misfortune of running into a lone pace winner who crawled in the early stages. The improving John Shirreffs pupil will be a major player in his second try with winners next time. 3RD -- KEYBOARD COURAGE (Speightstown) really reversed his fortune in a hurry on this day, rolling home a most impressive winner for conditioner Peter Miller. The four-year-old gelding came home in :12 4/5 under basically no encouragement and should be taken seriously in his comeback, likely with a class rise. Sunday (3/31) 2ND -- NIGHT DANCE (Street Sense) didn't win, but gave the 1-5 winner all he could handle in finishing more than 15 lengths clear of third. The four-year-old miss should be a major factor next out for trainer Mike Mitchell if placed with similar. 5TH -- Grade 1 hero LIASION (Indian Charlie) took a short lead in midstretch and stayed on gamely to hold off a nice one in a winning return to the races in this spot for Baffert. The four-year-old, who was unraced since the summer, toppled a stakes-quality bunch and came home in a strong :24 1/5 under Martin Garcia. A Look Ahead One of the biggest weekends is upon us at Santa Anita. A slew of graded races will be contested on Saturday, led by the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby. Also included for this fine day is the Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks, Grade 2, $150,000 Potrero Grande Stakes and the Grade 3, $150,000 Providencia Stakes.
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