Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

MARCH 21, 2012

by John Mucciolo

A budding distaff star put on a fine display this weekend at Santa Anita.

Santa Margarita S. (G1): Jay Em Ess Stable's INCLUDE ME OUT took

command prior to the turn for home and waltzed home a most impressive 3

3/4-length tally under Joe Talamo. A daughter of Include, the Ron Ellis pupil

endured nine panels on the sloppy, sealed oval in a solid 1:47 3/5 to register

her first Grade 1 conquer.

Track Stats

From a total of 33 races held at the Arcadia, California, racetrack during

the past week, favorites won at a 36 percent clip and the top two betting

choices combined for 54 percent of the wins. From 26 frays contested on the

dirt, 12 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (46 percent), while none of the

seven grassy tussles went all the way on the lead.

Early speed was big over the final two days of the weekend, when the oval was

wet and washed off the turf racing. We've stated this in the past -- when this

dirt course is "off," speed has a fairly distinct edge. Nine horses led at every

call on Saturday and Sunday from 17 events held.

Meet Totals

RACES:		449
DIRT:		306
TURF:		143
FAVORITES:		158 (35 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		95 (21 percent)
TURF WIRE:		26 (18 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		98 (32 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (3/15)

2ND -- Ultra-sharp gelding MAUI MARK ran off to his second fine win in

succession and could turn out to be a heady claim for Bob Hess Jr. The

seven-year-old has flashed big speed and the ability to carry it as of late, and

could even rate some, making him double tough right now.

Friday (3/16)

4TH -- SENOR RAIN ran past what we thought was a very nice field in this one

under Eswan Flores and the Indiana-bred son of El Nino could be headed back to

stakes company for trainer Peter Miller time after running seven furlongs on the

fast main oval in a solid 1:21 2/5.

5TH -- We think conditioner Bill Spawr made a fine claim on the winner in

this one, CHARM THE CROWD, who has finished in the exacta in five straight.

Blinkers seemed to have done the job for the mare.

6TH -- CAFFEINE HIGH ran a huge second to a good one dropping into the

state-bred ranks last time, and this five-year-old should be plenty tough

against similar in his next outing for Ellis. He finished more than three clear

of his nearest foe in a swiftly run race.

Saturday (3/17)

5TH -- INNOCENT MAN showed why he was live at first asking for conditioner

Patrick Biancone in this one, leading at every call en route to a score under

Joel Rosario. The gelded son of Henny Hughes could be a nice sprinter in time.

Sunday (3/18)

2ND -- Trainer John Sadler claimed runner-up RISKY REWARD out of this one,

who was more than five lengths clear of his nearest foe while losing to a 2-5

winner. We think this one will get the job done next time if placed in a similar

spot.

7TH -- CANONIZE continues to impress on this oval, posting his third straight

fine try on the dirt. The Ellis pupil was always poised in this one and got his

final quarter-mile in a swift. :23 2/5!

A Look Ahead

The Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup headlines the action on Saturday at Santa Anita,

while Sunday plays host to the San Luis Rey and the Santa Ana, both Grade 2

events.