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SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK APRIL 10, 2013 by John Mucciolo There were a quartet graded races this Saturday at "The Great Race Place." Santa Anita Derby (G1): Kenney et al's GOLDENCENTS (Into Mischief) tracked the pace early, took a short lead in early stretch and held off a solid late threat to be a fine 1 1/4-length winner of this marquee event for conditioner Doug O'Neill. The sophomore colt endured nine furlongs on the fast main surface in 1:48 3/5 under the guidance of Kevin Krigger. Santa Anita Oaks (G1): Spendthrift Farms' BEHOLDER (Henny Hughes) took command soon after the start and cruised home a facile 2 3/4-length winner for conditioner Richard Mandella. The champion filly went 1 1/16 miles on the fast main oval in 1:43 under pilot Garrett Gomez. Potrero Grande S. (G2): Spendthrift Farms' JIMMY CREED (Distorted Humor) tracked the pace after a good break and drove clear in the lane in a fine stakes win for Mandella. The four-year-old colt sped 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast main surface in 1:15 beneath Gomez. Providencia S. (G3): Carver et al's SCARLET STRIKE (Smart Strike) reeled in a clear leader in the final furlong to post a half-length score in here under Rafael Bejarano. The Jerry Hollendorfer pupil earned her first stakes win in this one, traveling nine panels on the firm lawn in 1:47 2/5. Track Stats From a total of 36 races held at the Arcadia, California, racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 50 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 64 percent of the wins. From 20 frays contested on the dirt oval, just two animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (10 percent), while one of the 16 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (6 percent). Speed did not dominate on the main oval, but many of the winners were surely forwardly placed, with a bevy of those prompting the pace in second early on. Just six of 20 winners on the dirt this week broke from posts 1-3, and just one from the rail, hinting that the rail may not have been the best place to be. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (4/4) 1ST -- CHIEF HAVOC (Giant's Causeway) didn't top much in this field, but the maiden winner did so in style with a big closing run in his second try for conditioner Peter Miller. The well-bred sophomore could be one to watch as the season unfolds. 5TH -- MIDNIGHT CROONER (War Chant) was much the best in his first try with claimers for conditioner Bob Baffert and we were very surprised that no one put a claim in on the stakes winner. Tab the colt for future success if he stays with similar, over even slightly better, next time out. Friday (4/5) 3RD -- Hollendorfer made a potentially nice claim in this one, when grabbing race winner TOOMANYTOMATOES (Downtown Seattle) out of here. The in-form four-year-old filly has run a trio of nice races in succession and topped a talented class dropper today in the process. 5TH -- THE ONLY KEY (Key of Luck) beat a questionable bunch in this affair but surely looked the part in doing so, streaking clear under the wire to be a dominant winner. The Dean Greenman trainee left little doubt late under Krigger and could be stakes bound next out. 7TH -- HE BE FIRE N ICE (Unusual Heat) showed vast improvement second off the layoff and was best in a fairly solid field today. The John Sadler trainee was game late in holding off late runners after striking the lead in early stretch. Saturday (4/6) 2ND -- CHERRY ON THE CAKE (Yes It's True) was very resilient in here and could be a solid claim for the barn of Gary Stute in this one. The four-year-old filly looked beaten in late stretch, but found another gear and inched clear late in a solid showing, hinting she may be capable of getting more ground in the future. 3RD – DECLASSIFY (Orientate) dominated this field in a very professional first run for Baffert, flying home in a powerful finish which saw the sophomore stop the teletimer in a wicked 1:08 4/5. There is no telling how good this one can be. 6TH -- BATTLE FORCE (Giant's Causeway) made a big late run and got up late in a superb stakes tally in this one for conditioner John Shirreffs. The consistently good four-year-old rallied from well off the pace to beat an accomplished group, running one mile on the firm turf in a swift 1:32 4/5, which included a rapid :22 final quarter. He could be a big player here all year. Sunday (4/7) 1ST -- The Stute-trained WORLD RENOWNED (A.P. Indy) won his second straight race in a seven-day span when getting up late in his debut run with winners in here. The five-year-old has been much improved since adding blinkers three back and could win right back if placed properly in this fine form cycle. A Look Ahead Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes is the lone graded race during the penultimate week of racing at Santa Anita.
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