SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 26, 2006
by Bernard T. Moore
Full and contentious fields are expected to be the order of the day with the
renewal of the 2006 Sunshine Millions, which will occur at Santa Anita and
Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The Sunshine Millions, which is limited to
California- and Florida-bred runners, consists of eight races, with four each
being run at the aforementioned tracks.
At least four of the races are scheduled to be broadcast live before a
nationwide television audience. The events, which are scheduled to be run at
Santa Anita, are the Classic, the Dash for three-year-olds, the Filly & Mare
Sprint and the Filly & Mare Turf.
Early indications are that it promises to be a great day of racing for both
tracks. And, if you can’t be there in person, you can still catch most of the
exciting action on TV.
In a thrilling stretch drive, MAJOR SUCCESS (Mazel Trick) was able to come
away with a hard-earned neck victory in the Palos Verdes H. (G2) at Santa Anita
on Saturday.
The winner, trained by Bobby Frankel, dropped back to third place around the
far turn after stalking the early pacesetter down the backstretch. Attila’s
Storm (Forest Wildcat), who was allowed to relax a bit early on, scooted through
an opening along the rail to grab the lead around the far turn, but Major
Success was set down in earnest upon entering the stretch by jockey Tyler Baze
with Jet West (Western Fame) starting his rally just to his outside. The trio
began to distance themselves from the rest of the field, with Major Success, who
had the worst of it while racing between runners for most of the stretch run,
finishing determinedly in the final yards to register his initial stakes
victory.
Jet West was a tough-luck second, with Attila’s Storm only a head farther
back in third. With Distinction (Storm Cat) bobbled breaking from his rail post,
raced at the back of the pack and was always outrun.
The 10-furlong San Marcos S. (G2) for four-year-olds and up on grass was run
on Sunday. It was an evenly matched contest with 11 runners heading to the post,
and handicappers installed Atlando (Ire) (Hernando [Fr]) as the 3-1 post time
favorite. A close second choice in the wagering was THE TIN MAN (Affirmed),
whose affinity for the Santa Anita turf was instrumental in his length success
in the marathon turf route.
With Victor Espinoza aboard, The Tin Man stalked an honest pace carved out by
Whilly (Ire) (Sri Pekan) down the backstretch. He eventually wrestled the lead
away from that rival after entering the stretch, and held well to withstand a
belated rally from second-place finisher Milk It Mick (GB) (Millkom [GB]).
Whilly continued on gamely to finish third once displaced on the lead, with
Atlando rallying from the back of the pack to get fourth.
Pat Valenzuela’s lead shrunk a bit last week, as Garrett Gomez closed to be
within three victories of him in the jockey standings. Victor Espinoza gained
sole possession of the third spot on the list.
Frankel unseated Bob Baffert as the front runner in the race for leading
trainer, with Doug O’Neill holding on to third place once again.
The main track played evenly all week except for Thursday, when
come-from-behind runners fared best. The majority of turf sprints last week went
to horses that were close to the early lead while closers were advantaged in
route contests. The outside paths appeared best on Thursday.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (1/19)
3RD – MIRABILIS (Lear Fan) put forth an even effort in her North American
debut. She raced a bit wide vs. a quick pace and lacked a response when called
upon. The bay may be stretched out to a flat mile in second start off the
layoff.
5TH – OUR SOUTHERN PEARL (Runaway Groom) ran a good third off the Frank
Monteleone re-claim. She finished well to just miss the place off a brief rest.
Both wins in 2005 came at the $10,000 claiming level.
6TH – WIND WATER (Bold Badgett) was clearly not disgraced in his turf debut,
carving out a dizzying pace “down the hill” and understandably giving way in the
stretch. He was claimed by trainer Steve Knapp and in all likelihood will return
to the main track.
Friday (1/20)
2ND – NEW REGINA (Brz) (Royal Academy) was compromised by a tardy start in
her North American debut. She leveled off suddenly in midstretch and closed with
abandon to just miss in a three-horse photo finish. A Group 2 winner in Brazil,
she might be best over a middle distance of ground.
7TH – GERONIMO (Chi) (Gold Tribute) utilized the wrong tactics chasing a
loose front runner off a freshening. He gave ground grudgingly in the stretch to
finish third, and prefers to rate and make one run. Also, his closing kick is
most effective sprinting.
Saturday (1/21)
2ND – GONE CATTIN (All Gone) was compromised by a bit of a slow start in
addition to a wide trip. He finished with interest to get the show while
remaining well clear of the rest of the field. Doug O’Neill claimed him off this
effort.
4RD – INDY WEEKEND (Weekend Cruise) outran his 19-1 post-time odds in his
career debut. He was clearly second best chasing home the odds-on winning
favorite in a race that was quick for the class level, and should improve with
experience and distance.
6TH – SILK QUEEN (Touch Gold) exhibited surprising early speed to set a quick
and pressured pace from an outside. She understandably tired, slowly, in a good
effort.
Sunday (1/22)
1ST – ROBIN’S CAPE (Cape Town) simply whistled on the lead with the addition
of blinkers and dropping. He disposed of early pace pressure and then drew clear
under mild encouragement to win by daylight. It appears as if he could handle
starter allowance runners in his initial start against winners.
8TH – Whilly put forth a strong showing returning from a more than
three-month layoff. He held well dictating the pace and yielded the place
grudgingly in the final yards. The bay should have derived beneficial
conditioning from this effort and doesn’t need the lead to win.