Santa Anita Notebook

The calm before the storm is the best way to describe the recent four-day

race week at Santa Anita, as the Southern California track gets ready to kick

off its signature weekend, headlined by the $1 million Santa Anita H. (G1). A

pair of graded stakes were contested over the past week.

Las Flores H. (G3): Southern Equine Stables' HELLO LUCKY (Lucky

Lionel) capitalized on a strong early pace to run down the favored Selvatica

(Forestry) in this one. Trained by Eric Guillot and ridden by Michael Baze, the

five-year-old mare completed the six furlong feature in 1:09 1/5. Babe Hall (El

Corredor), who virtually missed the break, rallied impressively to garner show

honors.

San Luis Obispo H. (G2): Gary Seidler and Peter Vegso's OBRIGADO (Fr)

(Enrique [GB]) took the lead at the top of the lane and held all challengers at

bay en route to a score under Garrett Gomez. The four-year-old, who had placed

in four graded events in succession leading up to this event, proved that the 1

1/2-mile distance wasn't a problem for conditioner Neil Drysdale. The final time

for 12 furlongs on the firm turf was 2:27 1/5.

Track Stats

From a total of 35 races held at Santa Anita last week, favorites won at an

alarmingly high 46 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 57

percent of the wins for the week, the latter of which is on par for the current

meet. From the 26 frays contested on the main oval, six horses won in wire-to-wire

fashion (23 percent), while two of the nine grassy tussles were taken all the

way on the lead.

Meet totals for Santa Anita are as follows:

7TH – HONKY TONK BABY (Valid Wager) returned from a brief freshening to prove

much the best in this contest. The Kathy Walsh pupil was disregarded at nearly

49-1 in here, but easily outran the race favorite, pulling clear by 2 1/4 lengths at the

wire. The winner was no fluke, evidenced by her 93 BRIS Speed number.

Friday (2/23)

5TH – AIR RACE (A. P Jet) showed good late energy for the second consecutive

time over this oval for Lisa Lewis. The inconsistent New York-bred seems to

be happy in Southern California and should be a big factor when racing switches

to synthetic surfaces. The five-year-old earned a 90 Speed figure.

Saturday (02/24)

5TH – FETE (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) continues to impress, taking his sixth race

in his last seven starts by at least one length. The ultra impressive

four-year-old is unblemished in two starts down the Hillside Turf Course and is

almost certainly stakes-bound next out. The Rafael Becerra charge was given a

Speed number of 93.

7TH – Babe Hall lost all chance at winning at the start in her stakes

debut for trainer Bob Baffert. The improving lass made up for a poor beginning

by finishing with good energy to earn black-type placing in here. With a

clean trip and further improvement, the bay figures to be visiting the winner's

circle following a stakes race.

Sunday (02/25):

4TH – PRIME CATCH (Prime Timber) was very professional in her debut, getting

away late versus more seasoned rivals to register the 2 1/2-length tally in

here. The Baffert pupil clocked six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 and gives the

impression of a horse with a future. The Florida-bred posted a sparkling Speed

figure of 97 for her handy win.

Polyhymnia (Songandaprayer) broke slowly to lose all chance at the win, but

made a useful middle move that should make her a contender next out. The

expensive two-year-old purchase figured to need the race and ran into a good

one, so we'll forgive this one and look forward to her second start. Sprinting

on the sod may ultimately be in the sophomore's future.

A look ahead

The return of multiple Grade 1 hero LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) headlines

the action this weekend in the race simply known as the 'Big Cap. A full

and competitive field is expected to challenge the undisputed king of

California.

A trio of other stakes events will be held on Saturday, including the

$300,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) and

$75,000 China Doll S. On Sunday, we'll see three-year-old fillies travel 6 1/2

furlongs down the Hillside Turf Course in the $100,000 La Habra S.