Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

by John Mucciolo

A single graded race took place this past week at Santa Anita.

San Carlos S. (G2): Fog City Stable and Bolton's THE FACTOR

sped to the front and gamely held off a late challenge en route to

the win in this dash under pilot Martin Garcia. The talented Bob

Baffert-trained War Front colt finished off seven panels on the fast

main oval in a brisk, 1:20 2/5 while crossing under the wire a

half-length in front.

Track Stats

From a total of 34 races held at the Arcadia, California, venue during the

past week, favorites won at a 35 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 56 percent of the wins. From 20 frays contested on the dirt, seven

animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (35 percent), while four of the 14 grassy

tussles went all the way on the lead (29 percent).

Speed was not especially advantageous this week, with horses winning from all

parts of the track on the main oval. Friday saw three of the five winners lead

at every call, but we thought the oval was pretty balanced on a whole.

Of the four winners who went wire-to-wire on the lawn, two came in downhill

sprints and the other pair in route races.

Meet Totals

RACES:		345
DIRT:		234
TURF:		111
FAVORITES:		124 (36 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		69 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE:		23 (21 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		72 (31 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (2/23)

5TH – UNUSUAL HOTTIE proved tons the best in this turf debut for trainer John

Sadler and the sophomore daughter of Unusual Heat should be very live right

back. We would expect the sophomore filly to try stakes foes sooner than later.

Friday (2/24)

5TH -- BROWN IS BEIGE could turn out to be a solid claim for conditioner Jeff

Mullins, who grabbed this filly out of her fine tally in this one.

6TH --VELOCE CANZONE is full to a good one and this four-year-old might turn

out to be pretty useful herself after coming off the long break to wire this

field. The Patrick Biancone pupil endured one mile off the 14-month break, and

should be even tighter next time.

Saturday (2/25)

7TH -- SWAY AWAY put in a serous late run off the long break to finish a

superb second in this high-quality field and the Jeff Bonde trainee should be a

factor in the sprint ranks all year if he stays healthy.

Sunday (2/26)

3RD -- THUNDER CANYON, in his first run since Del Mar in the summer,

steamrolled this field for trainer Robert Hess Jr. The gelded four-year-old

should face open foes in his next try.

7TH -- SAHARA SKY put in another huge late run and nearly got the job done in

this one. The furious late closer has proven he can run especially well on the

dirt and should always be viewed as a contender for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

BATTI MAN has now shown big speed in both starts in the U.S. and only a

sensible pace to work with in order to come out on top for conditioner Mike

Puype.

A Look Ahead

The Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap tops the action on Saturday, with

the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile and Grade 1 Las Virgenes also on tap.