Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 12, 2014

by John Mucciolo

There was a trio of Grade 2 races during the week at Santa Anita.

Robert B. Lewis S. (G2): C R K Stable's CANDY BOY (Candy Ride) gained

a small edge in late stretch and inched clear to a solid half-length score for

trainer John Sadler. The talented colt stopped the teletimer in a brisk 1:41 4/5

under Gary Stevens.

San Marcos S. (G2): Hronis Racing's VAGABOND SHOES (Beat Hollow) got

in the clear nearing the turn for home and exploded late to post a 1 1/4-length

win under the guidance of Victor Espinoza. The seven-year-old gelding finished

off 10 panels on the firm lawn in 1:58 4/5 for conditioner John Sadler.

San Antonio S. (G2): Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss' BLINGO (Artie Schiller)

was well back early but found his best gear in the stretch and finished a

half-length in front under the wire beneath Aaron Gryder. The five-year-old

gelding finished off nine panels in 1:47 4/5 for conditioner John Shirreffs.

Track Stats

From a total of 34 races held at the Arcadia, California racetrack during the

past week, favorites won at a 32 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 53 percent of the wins. From 22 frays contested on the dirt oval,

four animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (18 percent), while two of the 12

grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (17 percent).

Three of the four wire jobs on the main surface came on Friday, as stalkers

and closers had a fine week of dirt racing at Santa Anita. This marks two

straight weeks where horses on the front end had a hard time holding on.

Of the pair that led at each call on the turf, one was in a route race and

the other in a downhill sprint.

Meet Totals

RACES:		257
DIRT:		170
TURF:		87
FAVORITES:		97 (38 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		49 (19 percent)
TURF WIRE:		13 (15 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		26 (15 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (2/6)

8TH -- MELATONIN (Kodiak Kowboy) finally broke through after a few decent

races and could be a nice one with further progression for conditioner Jeff

Bonde. The sophomore colt was very handy and came home quite well in his best

race to date.

Friday (2/7)

2ND -- BOB CONSULTATION (Memo) was into the race a lot earlier today and left

little doubt who was best in the field with a thoroughly dominating performance

beneath Tyler Baze. The four-year-old gelding finished off six panels in a

wicked 1:08 1/5 for the level and will likely be protected on a class rise in

his return.

6TH -- FURY KAPCORI (Tiznow) was hounded through some very fast splits early

on, but the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee never wavered and rolled home a superb

winner for the second straight time on this oval. The four-year-old colt should

be graded stakes bound after this performance.

Saturday (2/8)

5TH -- IMPERATIVE (Bernardini) moved through on the rail to confront the top

pair early, held an edge in the lane and stayed on very gamely in a superb

runner-up showing under Kent Desormeaux. The gelding wasn't given much chance

against this caliber but ran arguably the best race in the field.

7TH -- Vagabond Shoes concluded his 2013 campaign with a good try in the

Breeders' Cup Turf and kicked off this year in fine fashion, powering home in a

pretty easy win. The import could be set for a huge year if he keeps his form.

Sunday (2/9)

1ST -- RANULF (Malibu Moon) streaked home to post a third straight score and

also went unclaimed yet again for trainer Bob Baffert. The red-hot four-year-old

colt will likely be in line for a class rise before long.

3RD -- SWEET PROFIT (Candy Ride) tracked the pace, took over from the

favorite before midstretch and cruised home a most impressive debut winner for

Sadler, who had a big week. The sophomore filly could be any type off of this

score.

7TH -- CHIEF LION (Wildcat Heir) proved capable of rating fore the first time

in a sharp third-place finish for Eoin Harty. We like the development of this

four-year-old and will continue to track him in the future.

A Look Ahead

Three Grade 2 tilts will be held over the Holiday weekend at Santa Anita. The

$200,000 Santa Maria Stakes will be on Saturday, the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes

is on Sunday and the Monday feature is the $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes.