12/30: Santa Anita (4th-9th)
 

Rather a poor effort by me Friday at Aqueduct with the 6th race super/tri and nightcap triple the difference between salvaging the day and a total wipeout. As feared, the narrow approach we take to the P6 was far short of the mark with one hard to find 16-1 winner and a few "bet against but logical" types. Successful plays brought back a $35,000 prize.

At Santa Anita, a two day carryover came very close to turninmg into a 72 hour monster with the 8th race winner nosing a horse that would have meant Day 3 in Cali. In anticipation of that possibility, I looked at Arcadia today, and it's a great betting card.

When asked about the overflow fields that Santa Anita has seen since the start of the meet Tuesday, Racing Director Ric Hammerle explained to me how he has pulled it off. "Hammer" writes 2 week condition books, which gives him a great deal more control over the barns than many venues that write books for month long schedules. If trainers don't know what race conditions are going to be available in the next book, they are forced to race in the events that are immediately available. While it means literally twice as much work for Ric between now and April, it also provides him with the ability to coerce entries.


SELECTIONS -- Santa Anita, 12/30 (R4-9, P6)

.10 Superfectas in all races..

4th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 1m-T (DD, P3, P6)

1. #6 Film Fortune 10-1 9th
2. #11 Phar to Win 5-2 2nd
A. #3 Big Jon 7-2 3rd
B. #10 Gem Proof 15-1 WON

LONGSHOT/EXOTICS ADD: #8 Sydney Again 15-1 6th

$1 EX (10-11) $65.40
$1 TRI (10-11-3) $426.70


5th: MSW, 2yo, 8.5f (DD, P3)

Though just a 2yo MSW, this may turn out to be one of the most memorable races of the winter come Derby Trail time.. A fascinating and impossible to seperate group of juvies in the dying moments of their initial seasons includes the $1 million NY bred Time Squared from Biancone, (who may just be in to get that "start as a 2yo" in), and potentially important colts from the likes of Baffert, Hendricks, Mullins, O'Neill, Hoffmans, Van Berg, Sadler and Mandella..

1. #1 Southernmostpoint 8-1 12th
2. #12 Game of Skill 8-1 11th
A. #11 Silver Light 9-2 9th
B. #4 Level Red 7-2 WON

LONGSHOT/EXOTICS ADD: #10 Forward Commitment 8-1/#5 Wellnessfast 12-1


6th: Cal-bred OC/C, 3+, 6.5f (DD, P3, P4)

1. #5 POWER SHIFT 8-1 2nd
2. #7 Indian Chant 15-1 WON
A. #1 Hello Fame 3-1 6th
B. #10 Dr. Sinatra 6-1 5th

$1 EX (7-5) $42.00


7th: 12th Eddie Logan, $75,000, 2yo, 1m-T (DD, P3)

1. #4 KOLO 6-1 WON
2. #6 Unusual Suspect 9-2 4th
A. #7 Freesgood 5-1 9th
B. #8 Law Breaker 8-1 3rd


8th: 34th La Brea (Gr. I), 3yo fillies, 7f (DD)

The girls' version of the Malibu and simply a fabulous wagering event!

1. #5 Les Ry Leigh 12-1 7th
2. #4 Win McCool 5-1 5th
A. #10 Downthedustyroad 8-1 WON
B. #2 Bettarun Fast 15-1 4th

LONGSHOT/EXOTICS ADD: #8 River's Prayer 15-1 9th


9th: CLM, 3+, 1m-T

1. #2 SEEKING ANSWERS 7-2
2. #7 Run to the Border 8-1
A. #1 Triple X. 15-1 5th
B. #9 Ultimato 8-1 3rd


<$50 P4 Play:

6: 5-7
7: 4
8: 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-10 $1 Pick 3 (7-4-10) $243.00
9: 1-2-9

2x1x8x3 = $48


Good Luck!!
Steve

Some Important Scratches in the La Brea..
 

SANTA ANITA SCRATCHES

Race Changes
Last Update: December 30th, 11:46 am

Scratches for Dec. 30, 2006

Fast and firm



Race 1- Scratch #7 Up the Limit, #9 Redstone Arsenal, #12 Majestic American, #15 Victorville, #16 Ewarton

Race 2- Scratch #11 Lollapalooza, #12 Nancy's Rose, #13 Oliver the Moon

Race 3- No Changes

Race 4- Scratch #13 Iced Out, #14 Peter and Zoe, #15 Brooklime, #16 Full In; J Leparoux rides #5

Race 5- No Changes

Race 6- Scratch #6 Doctor Smart, #8 Sunday Nap

Race 7- Scratch #11 Malt Magic, #12 Deadshot Keen

Race 8- Scratch #9 Foxysox, #11 Getback Time; Overweight #6 +1

Race 9- Scratch #10 Time to Honor, #13 Hot Grip, #14 Traffic Update; J Leparoux rides #4

I didn't see this post until just now. I LOVE the field in the 5th and agree it could be a send-off to the Derby season.

In the 6th I like Power Shift as well and Kolo in the 7th, but I also like the #2Optari ....good luck to you and your ticket!

Thx 'Seek.. Go get 'em... !!

I'm not sure how you bet this but very well done!!!
10 / 11 / 3

nice steve ..we had the same thoughts on the 4th..the un predictable 6 in the first leg cost me the pick 4

Thx Nic.. I only played late P4... The Tri came back BOFFO here at $425.00! And that's with the 1st and 2nd choices running 2nd-3rd...!

You know.. You can't trust trainers AT ALL... Last night, when I called Hammerle at Santa Anita to find out about the P6 situation, we talked about this race. He's the racing secretary... He said Biancone told him he just wanted to get a start in before the end of the year for Time Squared so that the colt, a $1,000,000 New York bred, would have the requisite Derby voodoo "made a start at 2"... Then the darn thing comes 'a runnin' late here!

Hammerle said Biancone likes the FuPeg colt a bunch for next year.. Out of the A.P. Indy mare Indy Glory, a name that may mean something to you as a full sister of Stephen Got Even and... 2yo NYB stake winner Grand Merger... All out of the productive Cox's Ridge mare Immerse...

Funny, Biancone said that in the pre-race interview on HRTV as well....

just out of curiosity... why on earth would you trust the word of that particular trainer ever? I wouldn't trust him to tell me what color the sky is...:rolleyes:

Indian Chant wins....too bad he was bet down from the morning line. Power Shift 2nd...looking good for you so far!

"Oh mondieu.. Bethani.. but you know.. dis one, he may be especiale.. Pooh.. any type chevaux.. you know.. eh.."

next time you two are getting cozy and sharing secrets...do me a favor? tell him not to wear horizontal striped polo shirts....:D

le pant, le pant, le heave, le heave!!

Lion Heart agrees with Bethani!!!

that one actually isn't the one I have burned into my memory...a MUCH tighter blue and white job...it's been seen @ toga...you must know it.

Kolo..
 

:D :D That was close!

I am kicking myself right now because he was the DEFINITION of a sheet play if I have ever seen one

Hence the single Tommer...