Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

JUNE 10, 2015

by John Mucciolo

There was a single graded race at Santa Anita last week.

Affirmed H. (G3): Watson, Weitman and Pegram's GIMME DA LUTE (Midnnight

Lute) reached level terms with the odds-on choice Prospect Park (Tapit) inside

the final furlong and got the better of his rival late, securing a half-length

win for trainer Bob Baffert. The three-year-old colt covered 1 1/16 miles on the

fast main oval in 1:41 2/5 under Martin Garcia.

Track Stats

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

past week, favorites won at a 39 percent clip and the top two betting choices

combined for 58 percent of the wins. From 25 frays contested on the dirt oval,

three animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (12 percent), while one of the 11

grassy tilts was taken all the way on the front end (9 percent).

Speed was not great on the dirt this past week where the middle and outer

post slots appeared to be having the best of it. Of the trio of dirt wire jobs,

one came in a 4 1/2-furlong dash, one in a regular sprint and the other going

two turns.

Meet Totals

RACES:		824
DIRT:		564
TURF:		260
FAVORITES:		315 (38 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		161 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE:		42 (16 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		128 (23 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (6/4)

5TH -- GOMO (Uncle Mo) dueled early, took a short lead turning for home and

tired some in the lane finishing third in her debut. The Doug O'Neill-trained

juvenile filly took a lot of early money and will be tough next out, exiting

what we thought was a nice field.

6TH -- KISS AT MIDNIGHT (Decarchy) was well reserved early and showed a huge

turn of foot putting this field to rest, recording a powerful tally for Richard

Baltas. The sophomore miss was easily best and looms a big chance right back.

Friday (6/5)

6TH -- We tabbed NYQUIST (Uncle Mo) going into this race and the juvenile

colt made us look good with a game and powerful debut win for O'Neill. The

$400,000 purchase overcame the rail post and pressure throughout to hold off a

short-priced favorite in the lane and could be a nice one.

Saturday (6/6)

3RD -- LOOK TWICE (Lookin at Lucky) got on even terms in midstretch and

inched clear inside the final furlong, graduating at first asking for trainer

Carla Gaines. The sophomore colt came home in a fast time, defeating a pair that

appears to have some ability, and we expect to hear a lot more from the colt

with expected improvement going forward.

Sunday (6/7)

1ST -- The Gary Sherlock-trained LONDON LEGACY (Grace Upon Grace) swept to

the front turning for home and exploded late in posting a daylight maiden tally

under Rafael Bejarano. The three-year-old gelding came home very swiftly and

might evolve into a nice one with more seasoning.

3RD -- Glad to see PROSPECT PARK back racing and given he may have needed

one, we thought he gave a nice account of himself. The talented sophomore

figures to be heard from quite a bit this summer and fall for Cliff Sise Jr.

A Look Ahead

A pair of graded races on Saturday will lead the way at Santa Anita. The

$400,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1) is the headliner and will be joined by the $100,000

Adoration Stakes (G3).