Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

OCTOBER 9, 2013

by John Mucciolo

A pair of graded events topped the weekend at Santa Anita.

Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. (G1): Cervier and Martin's POINTS

OFFTHEBENCH (Benchmark) notched his second straight Grade 1 race with a

half-length tally for conditioner Tim Yakteen. The Cal-bred four-year-old

finished off six panels on the fast main oval in a brisk 1:08 with Mike Smith in

the controls.

City of Hope Mile (G2): Anthony Ramsden's NO JET LAG (Johar) made it

two-for-two since arriving in the U.S. with a half-length tally beneath Smith.

The Simon Callaghan trainee made a bold run through the lane and clocked a mile

on the firm turf in a swift 1:31 4/5, a tick off the stakes record.

Track Stats

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

the past week, favorites won at a 17 percent clip and the top two betting

choices combined for 40 percent of the wins. From 21 frays contested on the dirt

oval, two animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (9 percent), while none of the 14

grassy tussles went all the way on the lead.

This week was brutal on the handicappers with such a few percentage of

favorites coming through, and many missing the board altogether.

Speed was of no help this week with just a pair of wire-to-wire winners on

the dirt, as horses in the three-path and wider enjoyed the best part of the

oval for sure. We will have to watch the races closely on Thursday to see how

the oval might play going forward.

Through two weeks not a single runner has led all the way on the lawn and we

will continue to look for horses with a steady turn of foot here.

Meet Totals

RACES:		65
DIRT:		41
TURF:		24
FAVORITES:		15 (23 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		16 (25 percent)
TURF WIRE:		0 (0 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		7 (17 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (10/3)

5TH -- SCARY FAST (Congaree) led into the lane and held off a stern test to

win right back after breaking her maiden at Fairplex last time. The Carla Gaines

trainee was not claimed out of this and should be a player right back if placed

properly with similar types.

6TH -- Gaines' HEAT TRAP (Unusual Heat) made a big late run in her debut on

this oval and fell just a head and nose shy of winning this dash. The

four-year-old filly has a big turn of foot and seems best as a closing turf

sprinter.

Friday (10/4)

2ND -- Course specialist PURIM'S DANCER (Purim) showed her affinity for the

downhill course yet again following this fine triumph for conditioner Tom

Proctor. The four-year-old filly, who had been unraced since May, took command

readily and held off a late test under Gary Stevens. Expect the Kentucky-bred to

be stakes bound soon.

Saturday (10/5)

1ST --  LUCA (Tribal Rule) got the jump on the odds-on choice

approaching the turn for home and never looked back in posting a fine

four-length tally under Efrain Hernandez. The juvenile colt has now won two in

succession and could be live next out once again if placed in a reasonable spot

by conditioner E G Burnison.

2ND -- CUSTOMER BASE (Lemon Drop Kid) had to wait for a seam for a while and

just got nipped late after finding clear run in the final furlong. The Proctor

pupil will be very tough next time with even slight improvement.

4TH -- Simon Callaghan is reported as saying that NO JET LAG might be the

best runner he has had here over the past few years and we won't take his words

lightly. The sophomore gelding has a fine turn of foot and he could be a sleeper

if he's Breeders' Cup bound.

5TH -- CHIEF LION (Wildcat Heir) broke slowly, rushed to the lead, was passed

and then dug in to be a solid third for trainer Eoin Harty. We can see that this

juvenile has ability, and he could be a nice one when he stops running in

patches and puts a whole race together.

8TH -- We liked PEPPY BOLLY (Old Topper) coming into this race and she

delivered with a fine and game closing run to get up under Mike Smith. The Gary

Mandella trainee is much better on the dirt and will likely be a factor next

time as he is an honest performer.

9TH -- Grade 1 winner GOLDENCENTS (Into Mischief) ran another huge one and

continues to fire big races for Doug O'Neill. The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1)

is likely next for the high-quality sophomore and we give him a big chance in

that one.

Sunday (10/6)

3RD -- AOTEAROA (Good Journey) was last turning for home but put in a

spirited late rally to eclipse this race as the longest price in the field

beneath Corey Nakatani. The juvenile gelding ran down one we have high hopes

for, so the Cal-bred should not be taken lightly going forward.

7TH -- COLONEL JOAN (Colonel John) has put in big late runs in two straight

and won't be a maiden for long after this third-place stakes run. The Harty

pupil appears to have a nice future cut out for her.

A Look Ahead

There are no graded stales races carded this weekend at Santa Anita.