Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

DECEMBER 31, 2014

by John Mucciolo

Champion Shared Belief highlighted the huge opening weekend of the

winter/spring meeting at Santa Anita.

Malibu (G1): Jungle Racing et al's SHARED BELIEF (Candy Ride) tracked near

the pace while wide throughout and gamely held off a stubborn foe in posting a

neck tally under the guidance of Mike Smith. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee

added to his stellar resume, speeding seven panels on the fast main oval in a

wicked 1:20 3/5, and earned a 107 BRIS Speed rating.

La Brea S. (G1): Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer et al's SAM'S SISTER (Brother

Derek) rated kindly near midpack, picked up steam approaching the turn for home

and wore down the clear leader late in posting a half-length upset in this

affair beneath Elvis Trujillo. The sophomore filly turned seven panels on the

fast main oval in 1:22 2/5 en route to her first stakes tally.

Mathis Brothers Mile S. (G2): Peter Redekop's ALERT BAY (City Zip) rallied

between runners in midstretch and held off a late threat to post a neck tally

under the wire beneath Tyler Baze. The Blaine Wright trainee finished off a mile

on the firm lawn in 1:35 to post a 9-1 upset.

Midnight Lute S. (G3): Alan Klein et al's DISTINCTIV PASSION (With

Distinction) pressed the pace early on, moved to the lead approaching the turn

for home and never looked back in posting a 1 3/4-length victory for conditioner

Jeff Bonde. The fleet four-year-old colt endured 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast main

oval in 1:14 2/5 beneath Mike Smith.

Robert J. Frankel S. (G3): Triton Racing, LLC's LADY PIMPERNEL (GB) (Sir

Percy) surged between runners nearing late stretch and held a very good one with

momentum at bay late, posting a nose victory under the guidance of Victor

Espinoza. The Carla Gaines pupil went nine grassy panels in 1:49 4/5.

Daytona S. (G3): Alesia et al's BETTY'S BAMBINO (Unusual Heat) took off the

pace early and made a surging late run to hold off a stern test and come through

by a half-length in this turf dash. The Peter Eurton trainee stopped the

teletimer in 1:12 2/5 for the about 6 1/2 furlongs with Martin Garcia in the

silks.

Track Stats

From a total of 27 races held over the Arcadia, California racetrack during

the past week, favorites won at a 33 percent clip and the top two betting

choices combined for 63 percent of the wins. From 18 frays contested on the dirt

oval, four animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (22 percent), while none of the

nine grassy tilts were taken all the way on the front end.

We thought being forwardly placed was pretty important this week, especially

on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, horses up close and a few paths off the rail

might have had the best of it. Saturday had three of the four wire jobs from six

dirt races on the card, all in sprints. The Sunday racing was fair from what we

saw.

No runners led all the way on the green and some deep closers made big runs

this past week. We will favor horses from off the pace on the turf for now.

Meet Totals

RACES:		27
DIRT:		18
TURF:		9
FAVORITES:		9 (33 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		8 (30 percent)
TURF WIRE:		0 (0 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		4 (22 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (12/26)

2ND -- MAY B (Werblin) was always well placed, took a short lead in the lane

and then drew off late with something in the tank as a fine winner under Gary

Stevens. The four-year-old gelding clearly has ability and could be ready to try

allowance foes next time.

4TH -- MICKS MIRACLE (Wildcat Heir) was no secret at the windows and ran like

a very nice prospect in posting an authoritative 5 1/4-length romp in this sharp

debut. The Phil d'Amato trainee sat a dream trip behind a dueling pair but it

might not have mattered where he was early, as the colt was tons the best in the

lane.

WABEL (Curlin) won the battle but lost the war in finishing a clear second

after dueling for much of this dash. The Bob Baffert trainee should be

graduating before long.

9TH -- DEA (Midshipman) put in a sterling run inside the final furlong to put

this field away like a good thing under Gary Stevens. The juvenile filly could

be a nice grass prospect going forward for trainer Mark Casse.

Saturday (12/27)

3RD -- LONGSTOCKING (Into Mischief) was wide and well off the pace early but

put in a sustained run against a track bias to be a clear third in a good second

try for Mac McCarthy. We still think the two-year-old filly has a lot of talent

and that we have not seen her best as of yet.

6TH -- In a weekend full of impressive performances, none may have topped

that of BOLO (Temple City), who aired in a fantastic turf stakes win for Carla

Gaines. The juvenile colt tracked while close and left no doubt in the lane in

drawing clear of a useful field, hinting that the best may still be ahead of

him.

8TH -- THREE HEARTS (Hat Trick) was blocked in the lane and had nowhere to

go, so to be beaten a neck and a nose on the wire is a fine feat for this lass.

We'll tab her as a strong contender wherever she appears next time for

conditioner Neil Drysdale while in this fine form cycle.

A Look Ahead

Three Grade 2 runs will be contested this weekend at The Great Race Place.

Saturday will play host to the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes and the $200,000

Santa Ynez Stakes, while the Sunday feature is the $200,000 Monrovia Stakes.