Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 21, 2015

by John Mucciolo

A pair of Grade 2 events headlined the fourth week of racing at Santa Anita.

La Canada S. (G2): Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer et al's THEGIRLINTHATSONG (My

Golden Song) tracked the early leader to the top of the lane, inched clear of

that one by midstretch and poured it on late en route to a 4 1/4-length romp

under the guidance of Rafael Bejarano. The four-year-old filly picked up her

first graded win, finishing off 1 1/16 miles on the fast main oval in 1:43 4/5.

Santa Monica S. (G2): Hollendorfer et al's SAM'S SISTER (Brother Derek)

rated kindly behind a pace duel and asserted herself in the stretch, recording

her second straight graded tally at this meeting. The four-year-old filly

finished 1 1/4 lengths clear under the wire and clocked seven-eighths on the

fast main oval in 1:22 2/5 under Elvis Trujillo.

Track Stats

From a total of 43 races held at the Arcadia, California racetrack during the

past week, favorites won at a 37 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 56 percent of the wins. From 29 frays contested on the dirt oval,

five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (17 percent), while three of the 14

grassy tilts were taken all the way on the front end (21 percent).

The racing was a bit upside down this past week. Speed was very good on the

lawn and not so good on the dirt surface.

A trio of winners led at every call on the green this week and another

handful or so were right up close early on. The turf seriously favored late

runners during the first few weeks here, but we will start to give forwardly

placed runners a long look going forward.

The main oval still produced five wire jobs, but horses from off the pace

performed as well as they have for the entirety of the meeting up to this point.

Meet Totals

RACES:		147
DIRT:		104
TURF:		43
FAVORITES:		58 (39 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		29 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE:		5 (12 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		26 (25 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (1/15)

3RD – BENCH WARRANT (Street Boss) was ridden patiently to early stretch and

closed gamely along the fence to eke out a narrow victory for conditioner John

Sadler. The Kentucky-bred colt looks to have a nice future on the green and this

course.

7TH -- LUCKY J LANE (Lucky J. H.) moved into the picture approaching the turn

for home, took the lead right after midstretch and drove home with excellent

energy to defeat this field by open lengths. The Richard Baltas trainee should

be a player right back with a similar type of performance.

Friday (1/16)

1ST -- MAGNA WARRIOR (Magna Graduate) rated along the inside behind the pace

to the top of the lane and took over with ease when given his cue, earning a

second straight fine score for Keith Desormeaux. The four-year-old gelding could

turn out to be a fine claim for conditioner Donald Warren.

3RD -- ANNIVERSARY KITTY (Tribal Rule) returned to the races in a big way,

going last to first to win clear at the end for conditioner Craig Dollase.

Unraced since April, the filly proved her class in the lane over a field that we

thought was useful and she should be stakes bound in the very near future.

7TH -- BOBBI GRACE (Big Bad Bob) looked like the class of the field going in

and sure ran like it for conditioner Tom Proctor, overcoming a poor break to

blow past her foes in the lane. The sophomore import could have a big year with

steady improvement.

Saturday (1/17)

7TH -- FANTICOLA (Silent Name) took the lead soon after the start, rated

kindly on the front and held off a few nice mares on her way to a fine tally

under Martin Garcia. The Phil d'Amato pupil came home in a solid :23 2/5 and is

about as honest as they make them.

Sunday (1/18)

4TH -- The addition of blinkers have surely helped HOLY ASCENSION (Rockport

Harbor), as the filly has run two good ones in succession, including this mostly

facile maiden tally. The Simon Callaghan charge can surely make noise right back

if properly placed in her subsequent outing.

CODED MESSAGE (Desert Code) missed the break but got into contention and

closed with fine energy to finish a clear second, more than two lengths clear of

her nearest foe, in a good debut offering for David Hofmans. Tab the sophomore

for a big run next time, especially with a better post and break from the gate.

6TH -- BERT'S MELODY (Benchmark) was a hunch play for us in this affair, and

surely looked the part, drawing away late in her grassy debut for trainer Sean

McCarthy. The California-bred charge is kin to a nice turf performer and we'd

imagine she will stay on this surface for now.

Monday (1/19)

3RD -- FANTASTIC STYLE (Harlan's Holiday) led from start to finish and

established herself as a fine prospect for trainer Bob Baffert. The

three-year-old filly came home swiftly and will likely get her chance with

stakes runners this spring.

NEVER ENDS (Successful Appeal) broke well, rated on the outside and came home

with energy to be a very good second in this debut offering under Elvis

Trujillo. The Hollendorfer trainee ran into a nice one and should be sitting on

a win with even minor improvement.

6TH -- We thought that GUGGENHEIM (Smart Strike) might like this course but

we were surprised with the ease in which the colt won, rolling home a facile

victor for trainer John Shirreffs. The four-year-old could evolve into any kind

on the green.

A Look Ahead

No graded races will take place at Santa Anita. Saturday is California Cup

Day, with five stakes races being offered: $250,000 Derby, $250,000 Turf

Classic, $200,000 Oaks, $150,000 Sprint and $150,000 Filly and Mare Turf Sprint.