Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

MARCH 11, 2015

by John Mucciolo

The Big Cap headlined a huge weekend of racing at Santa Anita.

Santa Anita H. (G1): Jungle Racing et al's SHARED BELIEF (Candy Ride) swept

to the front in early stretch and coasted home a superb 4 1/4-length winner in

the signature race of the meeting. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the

once-beaten champion endured 10 panels in 2:00 3/5 with Mike Smith along for the

ride.

San Felipe S. (G2): Kaleem Shah's DORTMUND (Big Brown) kept his perfect mark

intact with a 1 1/4-length tally beneath Martin Garcia. The Bob Baffert trainee

led at every call, finishing 1 1/16 miles in a strong 1:41 3/5.

Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1): West Point Thoroughbreds and St Elias Stable's

RING WEEKEND (Tapit) put in a big late rally from well off the early pace to

notch his first Grade 1 victory under the guidance of Drayden Van Dyke, who also

picked up his initial Grade 1 win. The four-year-old gelding was a length clear

under the wire in going a mile on the firm turf in a speedy 1:32 4/5 for trainer

Graham Motion.

San Carlos S. (G2): Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer et al's WILD DUDE (Wildcat

Heir) was forwardly placed from the start, inched to a lead near midstretch and

held sway late en route to a three-parts of a length score under Rafael

Bejarano. The five-year-old completed seven panels in 1:21 4/5.

Las Flores S. (G3): Halasz et al's HARLINGTON'S ROSE (Harlington) overcame a

poor break from the rail to run down her foes in the lane for a three-quarters

of a length decision for trainer Steve Knapp. The in-form filly got six panels

in 1:09 3/5 under Joe Talamo.

Track Stats

From a total of 37 races held at the Arcadia, California racetrack during the

past week, favorites won at a 24 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 51 percent of the wins. From 24 frays contested on the dirt oval,

three animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (12 percent), while none of the 13

grassy tilts were taken all the way on the front end.

For the third week in succession, horses coming from off the pace did best,

something we are not accustomed to seeing. Over the first three days of the

racing week, two runners on the main oval led at every call over 18 races, and

15 winners broke from outside posts 1-3 (83 percent).

No turf winners led throughout this week from 13 turf outings and closers

appear to have a slight edge on this surface, as well.

Trainers Richard Baltas and Steve Miyadi had fine weeks at Santa Anita, and

we would continue to ride those barns with nearly everything they saddle at this

juncture.

Meet Totals

RACES:		381
DIRT:		264
TURF:		117
FAVORITES:		142 (37 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		76 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE:		13 (11 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		52 (20 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (3/5)

3RD -- THERMODYNAMICS (The Pamplemousse) had burned a lot of money prior to

this but broke through with a solid turf tally and could be a tough next out

when facing winners. The three-year-old filly defeated elders and it looked like

she could have run longer for conditioner Dan Hendricks.

4TH -- MOONLIGHT MEETING (Malibu Moon) tracked a swift early pace and pulled

clear in the lane as a much the best winner for Simon Callaghan. The

four-year-old gelding stopped the teletimer in a fairly quick final time for the

level and should be live in his subsequent outing.

5TH -- SPANISH QUEEN (Tribal Rule) tracked at the rear of the field to the

top of the lane and exploded late to win going away by more than five lengths in

a fine debut offering. The Richard Baltas trainee didn't beat much but really

could be any kind going forward.

6TH -- GUY CODE (Blazonry) really made the short-priced favorite work hard in

this dash when firing from the start and just giving way late under Victor

Espinoza. The sophomore gelding has been a different animal since an equipment

change a few runs back and looms large next time after being well clear of the

show spot.

Friday (3/6)

5TH -- In a field with some solid prospects, SAMMY MANDEVILLE (Rock Hard Ten)

looked like a stakes runner when going last-to-first in a big winning run for

trainer Doug O'Neill. The four-year-old colt, who was a big second to a nice one

two prior, is in lifetime form and should be headed for a black-type race very

soon.

7TH -- In her first outing since the summer, the Blake Heap-conditioned LOST

BUS (Bring the Heat) overcame a wide post and being last early to inch clear

late in a strong return run. The stakes-quality filly will be tough next out as

she likely got a lot out of this performance.

Saturday (3/7)

4TH -- NEVER ENDS (Successful Appeal) did nearly everything right but win

this maiden dash and the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee will surely break through

soon after a couple of big placings. The sophomore miss was well clear of the

show spot just needs a bit of racing luck.

7TH -- PROSPECT PARK (Tapit) made a believer out of us with a visually

impressive late run to garner the place spot in this tilt. The Clifford Sise

pupil could be emerging as a serious sophomore at the right time, and should run

all day.

11TH -- We know SHARED BELIEF didn't top a strong field in this renewal of

the Santa Anita Handicap, but we are running out of words to describe the

gelding, who is routinely brilliant. Let's hope the Kentucky-bred stays sharp

and in training for a long time.

A Look Ahead

Saturday will play host to the $350,000 Santa Margarita Stakes (G1), while

the Sunday feature is the $200,000 Santa Ana Stakes (G2).