Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

MARCH 8, 2012

by John Mucciolo

The 75th running of the Big 'Cap highlighted the weekend at Santa Anita.

Santa Anita H. (G1): Wachtel Stables et al's RON THE GREEK swept into

contention turning for home and drew off to a commanding 3 1/2-length score for

trainer Bill Mott. The East Coast invader took advantage of a wicked pace in

completing the 1 1/4 miles in 2:00 2/5 under pilot Jose Lezcano.

Las Virgenes S. (G1): Kaleem Shah's EDEN'S MOON handled the jump from

maidens to graded stakes with flying colors, posting a smashing 3 1/4-length win

under Martin Garcia. A daughter of Malibu Moon, the rising sophomore star dueled

on the lead and drew off from a good one in the lane for trainer Bob Baffert,

getting one mile in 1:35 1/5.

Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1): Gardner et al's WILLYCONKER got the jump

turning for home and held off a stern test from a very good one en route to a

fine victory under Joel Rosario. The gelded five-year-old former claimer

scorched a mile on the firm lawn in 1:33 4/5 to stay a neck clear late for

trainer Doug O'Neill.

Track Stats

From a total of 36 races held at the Arcadia, California, venue during the

past week, favorites won at a 28 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 61 percent of the wins. From 22 frays contested on the dirt, seven

animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (32 percent), while two of the 14 grassy

tussles went all the way on the lead (14 percent).

Of the two wire jobs on the lawn this week, one came in a downhill sprint and

the other in a route event. Both of those winners were fairly heavy favorites.

We thought the main oval played fairly as it has been for much of the

meeting. It was interesting, though, that no animal breaking from the rail won

for the entire week.

Meet Totals

RACES:		381
DIRT:		256
TURF:		125
FAVORITES:		134 (35 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		81 (21 percent)
TURF WIRE:		25 (20 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		79 (31 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (3/1)

2ND -- ROCKET ROAN was a very game second to a decent one in here and looks

like an excellent claim for trainer Dean Pedersen. The five-year-old gelding is

in very good current form.

3RD -- TIZ A BUD GIRL was a strong second off a long break in here for

Sadler, nearly running down a loose-on-the-lead winner while incurring some

traffic trouble. We think this one will be very dangerous coming back, even with

a minor class rise.

5TH -- TALKTOOMUCH oozed class in this spot and was not claimed out of this

winning race for conditioner Mike Mitchell. The eight-year-old mare really likes

this downhill course and will be tough in her subsequent run against similar.

7TH -- CAMELIA ROSE (Fr) (Oratorio [Ire]) was unlucky not to have won this

one after being blocked for a decent part of the stretch run in this one. The

four-year-old should be especially strong in her second start since August next

out.

Friday (3/2)

5TH -- DARLING DODIE looked like a serious one at first asking in here for

conditioner Mike Puype, drawing off to a 4 1/4-length score under Corey

Nakatani. The Cal-bred Good Journey filly could be any type.

Saturday (3/3)

2ND -- STIRRED UP got the best of his favored foe in a game stretch drive and

the Baffert trainee could be a sophomore to watch as this season progresses. The

Lemon Drop Kid colt has a nice late kick and is bred to run all day.

4TH --STRATIFY was a solid late third in here for Eoin Harty and the

improving sophomore could graduate next time at a fair price.

7TH -- INDUSTRY LEADER improved on the cutback in trip today and is best at

one-turn racing for trainer Kristin Mulhall. The four-year-old was unlucky not

to have won this race.

11TH -- SETSUKO (Pleasantly Perfect) was closer to the early pace than any of

the other top six finishers in this spot and ran quite well to be second for the

second straight year in this race. The Richard Mandella charge remains a top

Breeders' Cup Classic contender for us later this campaign.

Sunday (3/4)

5TH -- ITALIAN RULES held off a stern test from a very nice one in here in

posting a one-length tally beneath Rosario. The seven-year-old has big early

speed and a lot of heart, and deserves a stakes chance in the very near future.

6TH -- Trainer Vann Belvoir made what could be a fine claim of SWEET NECTAR

in here, after the debuting Atticus filly ran this group off their feet late.

The sophomore is kin to a graded winner and could have a nice future.

7TH -- THE BLACK returns here after blowing by this group late in a sharp

starter allowance score for trainer Doug O'Neill. The three-year-old Cherokee

Run colt has put in a pair of good races in succession and is likely for a class

rise, possibly a listed stakes try.

A Look Ahead

The Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes will be held on Saturday, while the

Grade 3, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes tops the action on Sunday.