12/30: Santa Anita (4th-9th)

[Kasept]

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