Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

APRIL 11. 2012

by John Mucciolo

The top sophomores on the grounds went to battle this weekend at Santa Anita,

headlining a big Saturday of racing.

Santa Anita Derby (G1): J Paul Reddam's I'LL HAVE ANOTHER gradually

wore down the pacesetter and got the best of Creative Cause after a long duel

with the runner-up to win for conditioner Doug O'Neill. The ultra-talented

Flower Alley colt clocked 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 4/5 beneath Mario Gutierrez.

Potrero Grande H. (G2): Trainer Bill Spawr and Sanford's AMAZOMBIE got

back to his winning ways with a professional, three-quarters of a length victory

under Mike Smith, who earned his 5,000th career win with this result. The

six-year-old gelding sped 6 1/2 panels in 1:14.

Providencia S. (G3): Hronis Racing LLC's LADY OF SHAMROCK (Scat Daddy)

trailed turning for home but put in a furious late rally to dust her foes in

here for trainer John Sadler. The superb sophomore miss went nine panels on the

lawn in a sharp 1:46 4/5 with Smith in the controls.

Track Stats

From a total of 35 races held at the Arcadia, California, venue during the

past week, favorites won at a 48 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 66 percent of the wins. From 22 frays contested on the dirt, four

animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (18 percent), while three of the 13 grassy

tussles went all the way on the lead (23 percent).

Of the three turf wire jobs, two came in sprint events and one in a route. We

say several winners on the lawn last or close to it turning for home this week,

as well as a few on the lead and more pressing the early pace. We love the

well-balanced grass racing here.

Speed hasn't been dominant for a few weeks now on the main oval, but the

right runner could easily lead at every call.

Meet Totals

RACES:		554
DIRT:		371
TURF:		183
FAVORITES:		199 (36 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		115 (21 percent)
TURF WIRE:		36 (20 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		112 (30 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (4/5)

4TH -- The Bob Baffert-trained SPLENDID FORTUNE left little doubt in this

one, leading at every call en route to a dominating tally. The talented

sophomore daughter of Giant's Causeway came home in a swift :24 under little

encouragement, and should be stakes bound before long.

6TH -- MILDLY OFFENSIVE was a stylish winner in this one and is another who

should be up against stakes foes, likely graded, in her return for conditioner

Carla Gaines.

AMERICAN LADY put in a fine late run following a slow start to be a good

second in her first start since August for trainer Bob Baffert. The

four-year-old makes a ton of sense in her subsequent outing.

Friday (4/6)

5TH -- HE'S A DANCE STAR was a sharp wire-to-wire winner in his first start

for the Paddy Gallagher barn, keeping a comfortable margin throughout in his

first appearance since the Del Mar meeting.

8TH -- NATALIE'S ACADEMY ran a winning race in defeat here for trainer

Michael Machowsky and the sophomore miss should be even more fit second off the

long break in her return.

Saturday (4/7)

2ND -- SOLAR ROCKET (Songandaprayer) rolled to his second straight easy win

at this level, clocking 6 1/2 furlongs in a swift 1:14 1/5 on this day. We'd

imagine the gelded six-year-old will be in line for a healthy class rise next

out.

9TH -- ROMAN THREAT ran incredibly well in just his second lifetime start and

the Roman Ruler colt could be among the top sprinters in the nation with steady

improvement over the spring and summer.

Sunday (4/8)

7TH -- STARRY SKIES made it two straight to begin her career going down the

hill, taking over late today in a sharp showing. The Marty Jones charge is bred

to get more ground and would be no surprise if she tries a mile next out.

A Look Ahead

Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap is the lone graded race

carded for the penultimate week of the meeting at Santa Anita.