Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

OCTOBER 19, 2011

by John Mucciolo

A pair of sharp stakes performances headlined the third week at Santa Anita.

Oak Tree Mile S. (G2): B J Wright's ULTIMATE EAGLE led at every call

in posting a big upset in this one for conditioner Michael Pender. The sophomore

Mizzen Mast colt stopped the teletimer for nine panels in 1:47 under the

guidance of Martin Pedroza.

Harold C. Ramser S. (G3): Ramsden et al's UP IN TIME was always well

placed, took command in midstretch and powered home a 1 1/4-length winner

beneath Martin Garcia. The three-year-old English-bred miss endured one mile on

the firm lawn in a swift 1:34 1/5 for conditioner Simon Callaghan.

Track Stats

From a total of 35 races held over the Arcadia racetrack during the four-day

race week, favorites won at a 51 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 60 percent of the wins. From 24 frays contested on the dirt oval,

10 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (42 percent), while four of the 11 grassy

tussles went all the way on the lead (36 percent).

The main oval played much better for speed types this week, with 10 horses

leading at every call on the dirt, including seven from 13 races over Thursday

and Friday.

On the lawn, speed held fairly well but played evenly for all, for the most

part. Of the four wire jobs on the green, two of each came in sprint and route

races.

Meet Totals

RACES:		108
DIRT:		74
TURF:		34
FAVORITES:		46 (42 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		19 (17 percent)
TURF WIRE:		8 (23 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		17 (23 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (10/13)

3RD -- MADRE LUNA showed improvement from her debut to this start and the

Rahy filly could be poised for her best third time out for Julio Canani. The

price could be nice, as well.

Friday (10/14)

1ST -- LIAISON, a two-year-old by Indian Charlie, wasn't overly impressive in

this questionable field, but the Bob Baffert pupil leveled off nicely inside the

final furlong and could mature into a real nice one.

5TH -- MIRACULOUS BABY really responded to the addition of blinkers here, and

we think the 26-1 upsetter it no fluke for trainer Francis Meza. The final time

of 1:16 2/5 for maiden claimers at 6 1/2 furlongs is huge!

Saturday (10/15)

4TH -- DEPTH finally got the job done in this one and could win right back

for trainer John Sadler, who has keep this one in pretty good form.

5TH -- The graded-placed QUIET OASIS made a superb return to the races for

trainer Ben Cecil, easily taking this field down in a stylish run. We should see

this one challenging stakes fields from here on out.

7TH -- CROSSING THE LINE made a huge late run to almost corral a clear leader

inside the final panel in a smart try for Sadler. The nine-year-old still has

plenty of run left in him.

Sunday (10/16)

3RD -- LA MALAGUENA put in a huge run from off the pace in a sharp debut for

trainer Neil Drysdale, who doesn't get them wound up first time out. The

juvenile English Channel filly should be tough next time with any kind of

improvement.

A Look Ahead

There are no graded races this weekend at Santa Anita.