Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

APRIL 23, 2008

by John Mucciolo

The San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. (G2) was the closing-day feature at

Santa Anita this past Sunday.

San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. (G2): Anastasi et al's BIG BOOSTER (Accelerator) did his best running in the lane when

blowing by his six foes en route to a daylight win in this 1 3/4-mile marathon.

Trained by Mike Mitchell and ridden by Rafael Bejarano, the respective winners

in their divisions for the meet, Big Booster finished off the firm turf test in

2:45 2/5 to become the second consecutive winner in this race for Mitchell.

Santa Barbara H. (G2): Warren Williamson's FOXYSOX (GB) (Foxhound) gave her best run in midstretch and

held off a pair of spirited challengers to take this affair for trainer Carla

Gaines. The mare, who had yet to regain her 2006 form prior to this showing,

traveled 10 furlongs on the firm lawn in 2:00 2/5 under Victor Espinoza.

San Simeon H. (G3):

Marsha Naify's STONESIDE (Ire) (Marchand de Sable) finally broke through with a

signature win on U.S. soil with a determined score in here for Julio Canani.

The four-year-old had yet to make his mark in the states in four tries for

Canani, but looked good in here beneath Martin Pedroza. The winner went about 6

1/2 furlongs down the hill in a snappy 1:12 2/5.

Track Stats

From a total of 38 races held over the Arcadia racetrack during closing week,

favorites won at a 33 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for

52 percent of the wins. From 25 frays contested on the Cushion Track, just two

animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (8 percent), while two of the 13 grassy

tussles went all the way on the lead (15 percent).

Posts 4-6 won 21 of the 38 races for the week, while the inside three slots went

winless on Thursday, and won in just two of the 11 events on Sunday.

Favorites won four of the nine races on Friday, and the top two choices combined

for seven of the 11 wins on Sunday.

Meet Totals

RACES: 697

DIRT: 484

TURF: 213

FAVORITES: 221 (32 percent)

2ND CHOICES: 133 (19 percent)

TURF WIRE: 47 (22 percent)

DIRT WIRE: 77 (16 percent)

Post Positions (wins)

RAIL: 70 (10 percent)

1-3: 215 (31 percent)

4-6: 272 (38 percent)

7-out: 211 (31 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

The following is a list of horses that impressed me at the meeting and should be

watched throughout the year.

DIAMOND DIVA (GB) (Dansili [GB]) had good European form, brought a ton of money

at Tattersalls in December and looked like a beast in cruising home in the

American Beauty H. in her U.S. debut. The James Cassidy trainee could be among

the top handful of female turf distaffers out west. She looks strong in the

Wilshire H. (G2) on Wednesday.

We spent a bunch of time touting SUNDAY DRESS (General Meeting) over the past

weeks, and we feel that, if properly placed, she can win a few at Hollywood. The

six-year-old has won three-of-four starts year this year.

EVER A FRIEND (Crafty Friend) "freaked" when stretched out in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) for Mike Mitchell. The gray posted a monstrous 110 BRIS

Speed figure in the Kilroe and would be tough to stop with efforts like that.

The question remains: was his last a fluke?

ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) is phenomenal and looks capable of anything for John

Shirreffs. The long-striding four-year-old has impressed a great deal in each of

her four outings, but really answered a lot of questions with an Apple Blossom

H. (G1) masterpiece. She could be Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) bound if she

continues to improve.

CROWN OF THORNS (Repent) left a big impression on me for Richard Mandella and

I'm regretful that we didn't get a chance to see him on the Derby trail. The

superb sophomore should return in the fall, if no sooner, and one could only

hope that he returns as good or better than he was prior to the injury. He might

have been the most talented three-year-old colt on the West Coast.

A Look Ahead

The action shifts to Inglewood on Wednesday with the opening of

Hollywood Park. California Gold Rush Day is Sunday, with 10 stakes races for

Golden State-bred runners.