Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

MARCH 31, 2005

by Bernard T. Moore

The long winter/spring Santa Anita Park meet is beginning to wind down as we

head into April. The Santa Anita Derby (G1), which will be held on April 9, is

not that far off, signaling that racing across town is just around the bend.

Before the action shifts to Hollywood Park, plenty of racing still

remains at Santa Anita. Last Saturday, three-year-old sprinters basked in the

spotlight in the San Pedro S. at 6 1/2 furlongs. The race

highlighted a battle of two unbeaten geldings, HIGH STANDARDS (High Brite) and Sea My Halo (Hay Halo). Sea My Halo wound up a slight favorite in the

race, despite only a victory against straight maidens on his resume.

Nonetheless, it was High Standards who took down top prize as he kept his

perfect record intact.

Trained by Martin Jones and ridden for the first time by

Mike Smith, High Standards dueled the pacesetting favorite into defeat racing

around the far turn. He was then able to settle into the stretch with a slight

advantage and then proceeded to slowly edge away from his competition late. His

final margin of victory was 1 1/4 lengths, as Ransom Demanded (Meadowlake)

closed belatedly to grab second. It was three lengths farther back to Talking to

John (Souvenir Copy) who rallied for third after trailing the field down the

backstretch. Sea My Halo, making his first start for new connections since

purchased privately, gave way badly once displaced on the lead and finished

last.

The featured event on Sunday was the San Luis Rey S. (G2) on grass for

older runners going 1 1/2 miles. Meteor Storm (GB) (Bigstone) the 3-2 favorite

in the field of 10 runners, gained a tenuous lead in the stretch and appeared on his way to yet another victory. Unfortunately for

his supporters, he could not stave off the late charge of STANLEY PARK (Swain)

in what had to be viewed as a mild upset.

The result was somewhat surprising since Stanley Park's lone victory against older runners came against maidens

and he had not won since 2003, when he annexed the Bay Meadows Derby (G3)

at three. Those statements notwithstanding, he won the San

Luis Rey "on the square," rallying smartly around the far turn and out-finishing

a game Meteor Storm by one length. Epicentre (Kris S) ran a much improved

third switching to turf for trainer Bobby Frankel. Star Over the Bay (Cozzene),

the second choice in the wagering, set the pace for 10 furlongs before tiring

slowly in the stretch and reported home fifth.

Needless to say, this was a satisfying victory for the connections of Stanley

Park. He had to be placed on the shelf after suffering an injury in November of 2003, and the fact that he was able to be victorious at such a high level of

competition is remarkable. His owners are certainly deserving of this success,

and more.

Tyler Baze maintained his three-victory lead over Pat Valenzuela in the

jockey standings, with Rene Douglas remaining in third. Victor Espinoza and

Garrett Gomez continue to hold down the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

Doug O'Neill owns a 20-win edge over Jeff Mullins in the race for leading

trainer. Bobby Frankel and Steve Knapp are tied for third with Bob Baffert

rounding out the top five.

The main track appeared basically free of any significant biases all week.

The grass course played fair all week as well.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (3/23)

4TH - CABO'S DAWN (Charismatic) ran "sneaky well" in his turf debut off a

layoff. After being trapped inside down the backstretch and around the far turn,

he had to

steady sharply in the stretch while trying to split rivals and dropped back only to be

checked again toward the inside. Leveled off nicely when finally clear to just

miss the place.

5TH - MAYNE ATTIRE (Alfaari) won the pace battle but lost the war stepping up

and stretching out off the Mike Machowsky claim. Yielded late to a fresh closer after

setting a quick and pressured pace while clearly second best.

7TH - FRANKELSTEIN (Bertrando) suffered tough luck finishing third in his grass debut. Raced

a bit wide around the first turn and continued to contest a very fast pace down the

backstretch. Spurted clear upon entering stretch only to give ground grudgingly

as his early exploits began to take their toll. Might benefit from a cutback in

distance.

Thursday (3/24)

2ND - BULITA (Miswaki) might have won on the drop into a claimer if not

forced wide entering the stretch. Finished with good energy late to miss

by a neck in an abbreviated sprint.

6TH - DAUPHIN (Roy) wound up a troubled third while stretching out on the

drop. Sandwiched between rivals shortly after the start costing him valuable

position. Raced lethargically thereafter before leveling off on the far turn and

lost considerable ground entering the stretch. Finished with interest in a race

boasting a strong final eighth of a mile. Would benefit from a slight drop to

$12,500 level and a lively pace scenario to close into.

8TH - OVERNIGHTSENSATION (Bertrando) easily handled a preliminary field of state-bred runners

while stretching out to nine furlongs as the odds-on favorite.

Manner in which she won suggests she could handle a class hike in her next

start.

Friday (3/25)

3RD - RUSH COUNTRY (Wild Rush) finished a heartbreaking second turning back to

a sprint. Lacked room around the far turn and again in the stretch. Forced to

knife his way between rivals while rallying in the stretch and could have been

best. May prove to be a timely acquisition for owner/trainer Steve Knapp and is

eligible for Cal-bred contests.

6TH - BRAG (Mujadil) broke a tad slowly from the gate and fell back to

last off a prolonged layoff. Allowed to lag too far behind modest fractions on

the front end and was then floated wide entering the stretch. Finished with good

energy in her U.S. debut all things considered, beaten less than a length in

her first race beyond five furlongs.

Saturday (3/26)

1ST - JOHN'S KINDA GIRL (Lost Soldier) turned in a strong third-place finish in her main track debut

off the shelf. Failed to sustain her rally in the stretch and was outfinished

for the place late. Both wins to date have come on turf, so a return to that

surface seems inevitable.

8TH - SKYWALKER RED (Skywalker) tired slowly in the stretch after setting a

quick and pestered pace. All three career wins have come with jockey Gary

Stevens at the controls and a change in pilots seems likely.

Sunday (3/27)

8TH - Epicentre wound up a strong third returning to his favorite surface.

Closed well in the stretch after rating in midpack and appears to be slowly

rounding back into form. Lengthy intervals in his race record hints at

infirmities, but he may have finally put those ills behind him.