Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 9, 2006

by Bernard T. Moore

With the Sunshine Millions in our rearview mirror, we are getting into the

meat and potatoes portion of the Santa Anita meet, with Triple Crown prep races

and handicap contests for older runners popping up with greater frequency. Last

weekend's stakes action was a perfect example of what we can expect in the

future.

BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold) continues to beat up on much softer

three-year-old competition. This was evident by his dominant score in Saturday's Sham

S. (G3). The Bob Baffert-trained runner disputed a pedestrian pace

before eventually drawing away in the stretch to win by 4 1/2 widening lengths.

After the race, Baffert alluded that this will be the last time Bob and John

faces cream puffs, and from here on out, he will be squaring off against

the division leaders. It appears as if this runner is ready for prime time.

Also on the Saturday card, HIGH LIMIT (Maria's Mon) made it two victories in

a row when he emerged victorious in the Strub S. (G2). Reverting to pace-pressing tactics under jockey Pat Valenzuela, High Limit enjoyed a perfect

outside stalking trip down the backstretch. He was well within himself as he

engaged the front runners around the far turn, and then spurted away from the

field to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Top This and That (Old Topper) rallied from the

back of the pack to get the place by a half-length over Giacomo (Holy Bull),

last year's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner who was making his initial start as a

four-year-old.

On Sunday, SPELLBINDER (Tale of the Cat) came away with a well-deserved

victory, proving best by three-quarters of a length in the San Antonio H. (G2).

This contest was reduced to a virtual match race with Spellbinder and With

Distinction (Storm Cat), the eventual runner-up, racing just heads apart as they

showed the way down the backstretch. The pair remained virtually inseparable as

they reached the eighth pole, with the Richard Mandella-conditioned Spellbinder

slowly edging away in the final yards to score. With Distinction held gamely to

take down the place, with Wilko (Awesome Again) closing well late to just miss

second by a head. Buckland Manor (Bien Bien), the 5-2 favorite in the wagering,

was caught a bit wide around the first turn. He flashed speed for the opening half-mile before backpedaling

to finish last.

There was no movement in the jockey standings last week, with Valenzuela,

Garrett Gomez and Victor Espinoza holding on to first, second and third,

respectively.

Baffert continues to lead all trainers, with Bobby Frankel just two victories

behind in second. Jeff Mullins gained sole possession of third-place in the

standings.

The main track appeared to play uniformly all week except for Sunday, when

early speed runners dominated the results. No particular running style held an

advantage in either sprints or routes on the grass all week. There were no

detectable path biases last week.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (2/1)

2ND - MISTO QUENTE (Brz) (Royal Academy) ran a good second off the shelf for

Frankel. Outgunned on the far turn, he continued on well in the stretch

to be best of the rest. Ten furlongs appears to fit him like a glove.

3RD – LAINIES LION (Lord Carson) switched back to the dirt and finished a

good third. He chased a quick early pace and then failed to improve his position

in the stretch behind a dominant winner. May be best suited to sprints, as his

sire was winless in route contests.

8TH – PIETY (Pulpit) sorely needed his return effort off a prolonged layoff

while making his turf debut in a sprint. The chestnut broke a tad slowly and

then found his best stride to late, narrowly missing the place. He should have

derived beneficial conditioning and experience from this effort.

Thursday (2/2)

4TH – FLORIDA KEYS (Stormy Atlantic) was a good second off the layoff while

breaking from the rail. He made a good middle move to vie for the lead, only to

be out-finished by a fresh closer late. All three of his turf wins have come at

Santa Anita while sprinting, and he will make his next start for trainer John

Sadler off the claim.

7TH – STORMIN AWAY (Skip Away) put forth a sharp effort off the shelf while

returning to grass. The gray four-year-old finished strongly late reverting to

rating tactics, chasing home the odds-on winning favorite. New found ability to

relax from off-the-pace should prove beneficial going forward.

Friday (2/3)

1ST – EDEN SIMONE (Old Topper) was hard used disputing a hot early pace and

tired. She would probably benefit from a slight drop in class and a softer pace

scenario.

5TH – DANCLARE (Stravinsky) was forced to steady when caught heavy traffic

racing down the backstretch. She eventually finished with good energy when

outside of rivals in the stretch as the race quickened late and appears better

suited to a mile.

Saturday (2/4)

2ND – CHANDTRUE (Yes It's True) ran a sharp second while switching back to

the main track. He held determinedly setting a quick and pressured pace and

appears to be at his best sitting just off the early pace.

8TH – Giacomo came off the prolonged layoff to run an encouraging third. He

finished with good energy late behind modest fractions and a perfect trip

winner. The four-year-old was not abused late and has plenty of room to progress off

this effort.

Sunday (2/5)

3RD – HAVASU (Sefapiano) ran a useful third in her well-bet debut. She

contested the early lead with the wire-to-wire winner into the stretch before

giving way. The three-year-old should have derived beneficial conditioning and

experience from this effort.

6TH – YES HE'S A PISTOL (Yes It's True) was a dominant winner in this one in

a fast time. He disposed of early pace pressure and drew away under modest

encouragement. It appears as if he could win right back if not ambitiously

spotted in his next start.

8TH – Wilko put forth a much improved effort around two turns switching to

jockey Gomez. He lacked running room at a strategic point in the race and would

have been closer with clear sailing. Since he hasn't visited the winner's

circle since winning the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), the four-year-old would obviously

benefit from a confidence-building win.