Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

MAY 20, 2015

by John Mucciolo

There was no graded action at Santa Anita this past week.

Track Stats

From a total of 36 races held at the Arcadia, California racetrack during the

past week, favorites won at a 42 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 69 percent of the wins. From 30 frays contested on the dirt oval,

seven animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (23 percent), while one of the six

grassy tilts was taken all the way on the front end (17 percent).

Both ovals played about as fairly as one could hope and with favorites coming

home at a 42 percent rate, we have plenty of confidence in that assertion.

Of the seven wire-to-wire winners on the main oval, four came in sprints with

the additional trio occurring in two-turn events.

Meet Totals

RACES:		718
DIRT:		495
TURF:		223
FAVORITES:		267 (37 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		141 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE:		36 (16 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		110 (22 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (5/14)

1ST -- HIGH INTENSITY (Olmodavor) grabbed the early lead and never looked

back in a vastly improved effort for trainer James Cassidy. The three-year-old

filly drew off by more than eight lengths late, closing like a horse who could

surely get more ground.

3RD -- We have little idea what FAITH PACER (Lucky Pulpit) beat in this sharp

debut performance, but the Jeff Bonde-trained juvenile was very game and could

be a nice one. The juvenile filly broke well, was passed in the lane and came

back with authority, pulling away some in the latter stages.

6TH -- We really liked the big move into and through the lane by the Carla

Gaines-trained CAUTIOUS GIANT (Giant's Causeway), a talented sort who could

evolve into a stakes player with more efforts like this one.

Friday (5/15)

8TH -- LUVURYAN (Artie Schiller) made a nice move approaching the turn for

home and while he had little chance with a sharp winner on this day, the

three-year-old filly stayed on well to finish more than nine lengths clear of

her nearest foe. We expect her to be graduating in the near future for Vann

Belvoir.

Saturday (5/16)

2ND -- FANTASTIC STYLE (Harlan's Holiday) jumped to the front early and could

not be caught en route to a fine 3 1/4-length romp beneath Rafael Bejarano. The

Bob Baffert pupil finished up in a nice final time and beat what we thought was

a very good field despite facing only four foes.

7TH -- BIG MOVE (Mr. Big) has now flashed big speed in each of her pair of

lifetime outing for conditioner Tim Yakteen and this speedy lass figures to

graduate soon after falling just a head short in this heat.

Sunday (5/17)

3RD -- L X SUNRISE (Kodiak Kowboy) finally broke through in this one

following 10 second-place finishes and the Mike Pender pupil will be intriguing

next time out against winners.

6TH -- FOREST CHATTER (Dixie Chatter) ran off to a fourth straight tally on

this downhill course and has to be given a stakes try next time for conditioner

Richard Mandella. The California-bred topped what was a fairly deep field for

the level and is a superb specialist on this course.

9TH -- The final race of the week featured one of the better performances,

with Bruce Headley's debuter STRINGENT (Lemon Drop Kid) turning in an awesome

performance at first asking. The sophomore didn't have a lot of early foot but

closed with a fury in a very fast final time, registering a commendable 95 BRIS

Speed rating for the 2 1/4-length victory, and we have high hopes for this

Kentucky-bred gelding.

A Look Ahead

The Holiday Weekend features the $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1) on Monday, with

the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap (G3) the same afternoon as well.

Sunday will play host to the $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2) at 1

1/2 miles on the turf.