Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

JUNE 3, 2015

by John Mucciolo

Santa Anita featured a pair of graded races last week.

American Oaks (G1): Bederian et al's homebred SPANISH QUEEN (Tribal Rule)

tracked in third to midstretch and edged away late to record her first Grade 1

tally for conditioner Richard Baltas. The sophomore filly was three-parts of a

length clear under the wire, clocking 10 panels on the firm turf in 2:01 4/5

under Brice Blanc.

Californian S. (G2): Haras Santa Maria de Araras' CATCH A FLIGHT (Giant's

Causeway) reached even terms with Moreno (Ghostzapper) nearing midstretch and

got the best of that one late in securing a half-length tally beneath Gary

Stevens. The talented five-year-old clocked nine furlongs on the fast main oval

in 1:47 3/5 for conditioner Richard Mandella.

Track Stats

From a total of 26 races held at the Arcadia, California racetrack during the

past week, favorites won at a 50 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 69 percent of the wins. From 15 frays contested on the dirt oval,

five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (33 percent), while three of the 11

grassy tilts were taken all the way on the front end (27 percent).

The numbers on wire-to-wire winners on the dirt might have been skewed some

this week as three of the five who led at every call came in 4 1/2-furlong

sprint runs. The dirt surface appeared to play fairly to us, overall.

Two of the trio of turf winners who led throughout came in sprint offerings,

one going two turns.

Meet Totals

RACES:		788
DIRT:		539
TURF:		249
FAVORITES:		301 (38 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		154 (19 percent)
TURF WIRE:		41 (16 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		125 (23 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (5/29)

2ND -- BOLO (Artie Schiller) made a triumphant return to the turf, proving

much the best as he led throughout in a facile allowance tally for conditioner

Carla Gaines. The ultra-talented sophomore colt is being pointed to the $1.25

Belmont Derby (G1) on July 4.

3RD -- BABY BEA SCATTIN (Scat Daddy) had a slow start and some trouble in

this debut offering, but the Art Sherman pupil showed the determination to stay

on late and win at first asking. We're not sure what the filly beat in here, but

she looks like an intriguing prospect going forward.

4TH -- SHE SINGS ALONG (Aragorn) had no chance with the fine winner in this

first outing, but the Steve Miyadi pupil did rally well to be a clear second and

will be tough with even slight improvement in her comeback offering.

Saturday (5/30)

9TH -- PAY THE FINE (Square Eddie) moved to the fore at the top of the lane

and blew his rivals away in posting a big maiden romp on the downhill turf oval.

The sophomore colt has flashed big potential to this point and could be a nice

one with more seasoning for Doug O'Neill.

Sunday (5/31)

4TH -- MRAZEK (Square Eddie) may not have defeated the best field of all

time, but the O'Neill pupil really looked the part in doing so with a daylight

tally to start his career. The juvenile colt is headed to the stakes ranks next

time.

6TH -- Trainer Richard Baltas may have made a nice claim of ANXIOUS TIMES

(Tiznow), who tracked a fast pace and pulled away to a solid tally in this spot.

The four-year-old should have room for improvement for a barn doing a lot of

things right at this meeting.

A Look Ahead

The $100,000 Affirmed Handicap (G3) on Sunday is the lone graded event this

weekend.