Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

MARCH 18, 2015

by John Mucciolo

A pair of graded tilts for fillies and mares topped the week of racing at

Santa Anita.

Santa Margarita H. (G1): Benjamin Warren's homebred WARREN'S VENEDA

(Affirmative) rated at the back, slowly moved into contention approaching the

turn for home and exploded late in a most decisive 7 1/4-length drubbing beneath

Tyler Baze. The Craig Lewis trainee, who has now amassed three straight stakes

wins in easy fashion, got nine panels on the fast main strip in 1:48 3/5.

Santa Ana S. (G2): Flaxman's homebred HOOP OF COLOUR (Distorted Humor)

tracked in third to the top of the lane, moved into second by midstretch and

outfinished the leader to the wire in securing a three-parts of a length score

beneath Drayden Van Dyke. Trained by Graham Motion, the surging four-year-old is

unbeaten in two runs on U.S. soil after stopping the teletimer for nine furlongs

on the firm turf in 1:49.

Track Stats

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

past week, favorites won at a 26 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 44 percent of the wins. From 23 frays contested on the dirt oval,

five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (22 percent), while three of the 11

grassy tilts were taken all the way on the front end (27 percent).

Speed was a bit better on the main oval this past week, but we still are used

to pace horses dominating here, and it's time to give a slight edge to pressers

and stalkers after four weeks or so of this trend. Just a single horse won on

the main track from the rail, and a total of just three winners broke from the

three innermost post slots.

Of the five who led at every call on the main strip, four came in sprint

runs.

Each of the three of the 11 turf wire jobs occurred in dashes on the downhill

course.

Meet Totals

RACES:		415
DIRT:		287
TURF:		128
FAVORITES:		151 (36 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		82 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE:		16 (12 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		57 (20 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (3/13)

1ST -- PERFECTLY MAJESTIC (Majesticperfection) was slowest early but made up

steady ground and finished a fine second at first asking for conditioner Bob

Hess. The gelded sophomore was bet like a runner and we'd imagine he will be

graduating before long if properly placed.

2ND -- The Herbert Bacorn-trained RICHARD'S BOY (Idiot Proof) is now perfect

from a trio of lifetime runs after this game allowance win in his first try on

the turf. The California-bred was very stubborn late in holding off a sharp one

and must be taken seriously now.

6TH -- SHORT HEAT WAVE (Unusual Heat) has put in a pair of very good runs off

the shelf and made the class rise with relative ease in a fine allowance score

for trainer Joe Herrick. The five-year-old gelding dueled early and inched clear

late in a race we liked a lot.

7TH -- GLOBAL VIEW (Galileo) defeated just a single runner in this downhill

dash but in his defense, the multiple graded winner is much better with more

ground to work with and was defeated by less than four lengths in a tough field.

Tab this one for big improvement second off the layoff.

8TH -- K THIRTY EIGHT (Surf Cat) showed no ill effects from the 10-month

absence, graduating with a swift run in this finale. The Karen Headley pupil

came home fast and we think the four-year-old gelding will be a player right

back when facing winners.

Saturday (3/14)

4TH -- VOCALIST (In Summation) ran what we thought was a fine race in defeat

for trainer Mark Glatt. The four-year-old filly, who has been first or second in

each of her four lifetime runs, was outmoved in early stretch but showed a ton

of heart in coming back and falling just short late while well clear of third. A

better-timed ride could have made the difference in this affair.

5TH -- GO WEST MARIE (Western Fame) rolled to a third straight win at this

venue and is clearly in lifetime form for trainer Eddie Truman. The surging

four-year-old has a potent turn of foot and surely could be stretched back out

in trip soon.

Sunday (3/16)

3RD -- Conditioner Oscar Garcia might have made a brilliant claim of

HERECOMESKAT (Street Sense) after that one got by the clear early leader to

remain unbeaten from two career tries. The three-year-old filly came home well

for the level in a race where the top duo were more than seven lengths clear of

third.

5TH -- We're not sure how good this field was, but the Richard Baltas-trained

CHAULK O LATTEY (Silic) overcame the rail and a poor start to dominate this

field in a nice maiden conquer. We'd imagine the four-year-old filly will stay

on this unique course for the time being.

9TH -- AVENGE (War Front) sped from the break and was never headed throughout

in posting a superb maiden score for trainer Richard Mandella. The sophomore

filly will be very tough right back with winners with even minor improvement

next time out.

A Look Ahead

Saturday will play host to the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (G2), the lone

graded run over the weekend at Santa Anita.