4/5 (SA): Santa Anita Derby (Gr. I) + 3 Gr. II Stakes

#1 04-02-2008, 06:24 PM

El Gato Malo by 3.

#2 04-02-2008, 06:43 PM

I think they're hoping to see Nic Hines do his best Hulkamania impersonation in the winners circle.

And really who can blame them?

As for me picking El Pollo Loco...well the way I see it is you can be a tortoise in the early stages of these route races out there and really all you need is a closing kick and a jockey who knows to go at least 10 wide down the stretch.

There are only 3 horses in this race with a realistic shot of winning.

Yankee Bravo
Colonel John
El Pollo Loco

The others will have to improve dramatically to win.

jcs11204 · #3 04-02-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I think they're hoping to see Nic Hines do his best Hulkamania impersonation in the winners circle.

And really who can blame them?

As for me picking El Pollo Loco...well the way I see it is you can be a tortoise in the early stages of these route races out there and really all you need is a closing kick and a jockey who knows to go at least 10 wide down the stretch.

There are only 3 horses in this race with a realistic shot of winning.

Yankee Bravo
Colonel John
El Pollo Loco

The others will have to improve dramatically to win.

no el gato ? i dont like el gato, but im assuming he goes off the chalk with john close behind

#4 04-02-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcs11204

no el gato ? i dont like el gato, but im assuming he goes off the chalk with john close behind

I think El Pollo Loco is a much better horse.

jcs11204 · #5 04-02-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I think El Pollo Loco is a much better horse.

interesting

jcs11204 · #6 04-02-2008, 09:53 PM

RolloTomasi · #7 04-02-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I'm not sure Signature Move will be 30-1, but what am I missing with him? Say he really did have a lung infection at the Fairgrounds and you throw the race out. His "impressive" allowance race looks good on the surface. but a closer look shows it was a 4 horse field and a horrible field at that. So where's his good race? I'm not trying to talk anyone off a longshot, but I'm just trying to see where you guys that like him are coming from.

Just to be fair, I think one of the horses out of his allowance race (the Brian Koriner runner) came back to win by open lengths in another first condition, though it may have come on turf. Signature Move did win that race fairly comfortably and prior to that looked staving off multiple challenges in his maiden win, so he has potential to be a good horse. His numbers aren't great, however, and after missing the San Felipe last month you have to wonder about how sharp he is for this race, his toughest by far, particularly when he has to improve to win.

On paper, you can expect improvement from his throw-out Risen Star run, but that might only mean a decent 4th or 5th place finish here. I suppose at huge odds, he has exotics appeal, too.

10 pnt move up · #8 04-02-2008, 08:06 PM

continuing a my straight up roi killer this meet....give me the turf horse Polonious.

#9 04-02-2008, 09:47 PM

Colonel John could possibly be one of the greatest 3 year olds ever considering how well he's doing with that trainer.

GPK · #10 04-02-2008, 09:58 PM

I love the way Polonius looked in his maiden breaker and in the Pasadena. Anxious to see how his form will be on the synthetic, but I love the way he moves. Obvious class test, but he will be on my ticket.

hockey2315 · #11 04-02-2008, 11:03 PM

I've liked Polonius since his maiden breaker, too. . . Not sure how he'll do on the new surface and with pace pressure but I'll play him for a few.

letswastemoney · #12 04-02-2008, 11:18 PM

I don't know much about Polonius other than he's a turf horse. So...he's a front runner? I was hoping he'd be a stalking type.

hockey2315 · #13 04-02-2008, 11:24 PM

He was on the front in his last. . . I think he stalked when he broke his maiden. . .

Thunder Gulch · #14 04-05-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPK

I love the way Polonius looked in his maiden breaker and in the Pasadena. Anxious to see how his form will be on the synthetic, but I love the way he moves. Obvious class test, but he will be on my ticket.

Thinking the same thing. The works surely give some confidence he'll make the surface switch at a nice price.

cakes44 · #15 04-03-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Colonel John could possibly be one of the greatest 3 year olds ever considering how well he's doing with that trainer.

Now that is funny...and I could not agree more.

jcs11204 · #16 04-02-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I'm not sure Signature Move will be 30-1, but what am I missing with him? Say he really did have a lung infection at the Fairgrounds and you throw the race out. His "impressive" allowance race looks good on the surface. but a closer look shows it was a 4 horse field and a horrible field at that. So where's his good race? I'm not trying to talk anyone off a longshot, but I'm just trying to see where you guys that like him are coming from.

go to calracing.com and watch the replay of the allowance race... definition of in hand...... did not ask the horse for any run, just cruised.

jcs11204 · #17 04-02-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I've seen it. He looked visually impressive of course, but it came in a 4 horse race where he sat a perfect trip against much weaker than he is facing on Saturday. I also have seen enough horses "cruise" home and look like they can go faster, yet don't seem to in their subsequent starts. We'll see on Saturday.

im just looking for some value for a small exacta box with john, my money will be spent at Aqueduct on Saturday, and a little keenland on friday, the only reasson i will even play my signature move-colonel john exacta box is because they are showing this race on NBC with the wood.

Bigsmc · #18 04-03-2008, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcs11204

im just looking for some value for a small exacta box with john, my money will be spent at Aqueduct on Saturday, and a little keenland on friday, the only reasson i will even play my signature move-colonel john exacta box is because they are showing this race on NBC with the wood.

You actually play races because they are going to be on TV? So if it wasn't on TV, you wouldn't be playing? Wow.

I love having people like you putting money into the pari-mutuel pool....

cakes44 · #19 04-03-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

You actually play races because they are going to be on TV? So if it wasn't on TV, you wouldn't be playing? Wow.

I love having people like you putting money into the pari-mutuel pool....

I see no reason to rip a guy because he wants to put a couple bucks on a TV race just for a little action. Some people actually enjoy a beer or two while playing the races too, and can also beat the public every now and then.

Mike · #20 04-03-2008, 01:06 PM

I only recently obtained high speed internet, but don't have a dish and no HRTV or TVG. So, I,too, like it when a big race is on television, and will bet the race, even it's just $2 for the action play. I also talk up the race to friends who are casual bettors(once a year Derby types, weekend gamblers on football games, etc.) as these people have little interest in betting on obscure races that are not on tv. It's also fun to watch these races with friends, as mainly this is a solitary hobby