Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

OCTOBER 1, 2014

by John Mucciolo

A handful of Grade 1 races took place during the opening weekend at Santa

Anita.

Awesome Again S. (G1): Jungle Racing et al's unbeaten champion SHARED

BELIEF (Candy Ride) went widest of all the entire way around the oval but still

gamely secured a measured, neck win for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The standout

sophomore went nine panels on the fast main strip in 1:48 2/5 with Mike Smith in

the silks.

Zenyatta S. (G1): Spendthrift Farm's champion BEHOLDER (Henny Hughes)

took command in early stretch and held off a stubborn foe in the latter stages

to post a popular score by three-parts of a length under Smith. The Richard

Mandella trainee endured 1 1/16 miles on the fast main oval in 1:42.

Frontrunner S. (G1): Zayat Stable's homebred AMERICAN PHAROAH (Pioneerof

the Nile) was sent to the front soon after the break and showed a big closing

gear when asked in the lane, recording a fine 3 1/4-length tally for Bob

Baffert. The ultra-talented juvenile colt earned his second straight Grade 1 win

in completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 4/5 beneath Victor Espinoza.

Chandelier S. (G1): Siena Farms' homebred ANGELA RENEE (Bernardini)

tracked the early speed along the rail, deftly angled to the two path

approaching the turn for home and ran clear late in posting a 1 1/2-length

victory for conditioner Todd Pletcher. The juvenile filly stopped the teletimer

in 1:43 2/5 for 1 1/16 miles under Rafael Bejarano.

Rodeo Drive S. (G1): Juddmonte Farms' homebred EMOLLIENT (Empire Maker)

tracked early near midpack, swung out wide for the stretch drive and powered

home a classy half-length winner for trainer Bill Mott. The four-year-old filly

went 10 furlongs on the firm lawn in 2:00 1/5 under the guidance of Rosie

Napravnik.

John Henry Turf Championship (G2): Dye and Venneri's BRIGHT THOUGHT (Hat

Trick) forced the pace from the start, moved to the fore at the top of the lane

and held sway in a fine closing run late to secure a three-quarters of a length

tally for trainer Phil d'Amato. The Cal-bred five-year-old, who was piloted by

Tyler Baze, went 10 panels on the firm lawn in an excellent 1:58 1/5.

Eddie D. S. (G3): Tarabilla Farms' HOME RUN KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) was

last for the opening half-mile, swung into contention late and got up by a nose

under a well-timed ride from Joe Talamo. The David Hoffmans trainee sped the

about 6 1/2 furlongs on the firm downhill course in 1:11 4/5.

Track Stats

From a total of 29 races held at the Arcadia, California racetrack during the

past week, favorites won at a 45 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 59 percent of the wins. From 19 frays contested on the dirt oval,

four animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (21 percent), while two of the 10

grassy tilts were taken all the way on the front end (20 percent).

Speed was good on the main oval but not dominant, especially on Sunday when

horse running from off the pace may have held a slight advantage. Staying close

to the tempo was still a good thing during Friday and Saturday, however, and we

still would give forwardly placed runners an edge going forward.

It's too soon to say anything about the lawn, with only 10 races run upon the

grass oval. This course often plays especially fairly, though.

Meet Totals

RACES:		29
DIRT:		19
TURF:		10
FAVORITES:		13 (45 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		4 (14 percent)
TURF WIRE:		2 (20 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		4 (21 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (9/26)

3RD -- MEDICINE BUTTE (Old Fashioned) showed speed and hung on nearly all the

way before ultimately finishing second in a fine first outing for conditioner

Robertino Diodoro. We don't think this was a very strong field the juvenile

filly faced, but it was a great start to her career and she should graduate in

the near future.

5TH -- EXPO AND FIG (Star Dabbler) looked like a standout and lone speed on

paper, and the Phil d'Amato trainee delivered with ease in a dominant maiden

score. We're a bit surprised that no one claimed this speedy gelding, who should

be a player right back with winners.

8TH -- INDIANAPOLIS (Medaglia d'Oro) pressed a fast early tempo, took command

inside the final furlong and held on late in a fine return to the races for

conditioner Bob Baffert. The talented stakes winner should build upon this one

going forward, and will be stakes bound very soon once again.

Saturday (9/27)

4TH -- PUNCTUATE (Distorted Humor) was shuffled back to last after a tardy

break, began to pick up momentum approaching the turn for home and proved best

late in inching away to a 1 3/4-length tally under Rosie Napravnik. The

Baffert-trained juvenile out of the superb Pepper's Pride could be any kind

going forward after beating a field with seemingly a lot of potential.

6TH -- CALCULATOR (In Summation) ran his second straight big one in a Grade 1

race behind a horse we have a lot of respect for, so the Peter Miller charge

deserves a ton of credit as the second best juvenile out west so far. The

Florida-bred should not be ignored in the upcoming Breeders Cup Juvenile (G1)

even though he's still a maiden.

8TH -- Baffert has FED BIZ (Giant's Causeway) in excellent form and he should

be a big factor in his next outing, likely the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

9TH -- ALEXIS TANGIER (Tiznow) rallied along the rail in the stretch to post

a strong score over a nice field in this downhill dash. The Mandella pupil is

now unbeaten from a trio of runs on the lawn, and looks like a chip off the old

block being produced from downhill supremo Cambiocorsa.

10TH -- Angela Renee ran like a seasoned runner in this mostly facile victory

and though the final time was not the swiftest ever recorded here, the way she

did it leads us to believe that the filly is the one to beat in the Breeders'

Cup Juvenile Fillies.

A Look Ahead

The Saturday card boasts a trio of graded races at Santa Anita. The Grade 1,

$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship will be accompanied by the Grade 2,

$200,000 City of Hope Mile Stakes and the Grade 3, $100,000 L. A. Woman Stakes.