HORSE TO WATCH LIST

Horses entered on this list are horses that caught our horse handicappers and/or clockers eye with a better-than-looked performance. They should be followed when they are entered in a upcoming race! 

Comments will remain posted through the conclusion of the meet.

SANTA ANITA CLASSIC MEET

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26

R1 Mas Rapido (#8) broke well, allowed to settle early, well back early on, began a rally while caught in tight between and behind horses while checking and steadying. Never had a chance to stretch his legs in the lane and finished with much left in reserve. Follow.

R2 Madaket Road (#1) broke a step slow, found stride to race inside, kept position inside down backside, tracked, was kept busy by Hernandez and angled out for stretch-drive, made up ground while green and was up for the win. Still plenty of room for improvement.

R6 JB Strikes Back (#3) gelding has never been better. On improve and gamely took down the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Stakes. Follow.

R7 Easter (#2) away a step slow which is not unusual for gelding, raced well back early kept inside, kept inside and reserved backside, began rally on turn, angled out for drive and kept to task willingly for a nice effort. True gerlding may have lost a step or two but keeps firing in defeat. Still may have big effort left in him.

R9 King of Gosford (#1) has never been better. Put on the lead this afternoon and took 'em all the way in a stylish win. Follow.

R10 Accuracy (#2) cut back in distance for this and failed to show any speed at all. Kept back off pace, split riavls on turn while making a run, hard ridden on turn and failed to fire. Finished okay late. Draw line through this race.

R11 She Feel's Pretty (#8) flashy winner here and sure hope we get to see this filly again. Broke well, stalked and made sharp move into stretch to draw off for fun. Very classy and should be followed.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27

R1 Avoir (#2) bit of trouble crossing dirt crossing. All-in-all a decent even try here.

R2 Silver N Black (#7) broke sharp, was very wide into turn, remained wide down backside and into turn, swung out wide to engage for the lead, opened up into lane but tired from this wide trip. Better-than-looked try and should be followed.

R4 Pursuit of Freedom (#4) broke well, flashed good speed away, in hand, :21.81, :44.55, got a bit weary coming into lane but fired for a barn that usually takes it time with babies. Look for improvement next time.

R5 How About Abby (#2) acted up in paddock, real handful in warm-up under Rosario, broke okay away from gate, easily got to lead, under hold early, got late in lane. Will improve off that effort for Michael McCarthy outfit.

R8 Our Moonlight (#4) nice maiden debut winner. Showed lots of maturity here for Dean Pederson barn. Tracked leader between horses, kept after on turn, swung out for drive, and looked good late drawing away late for win. Looks to have some talent.

R9 Investalot (#1) broke well, steadied early while rank, pulling hard on turn, steadied on turn while taking hold, kept again inside to brush rail, real handful while hard to ride, ranged up backside inside, checked again and steadied while pulling, waited behind horses on turn, angled out late and finished okay. Much better-than-looked effort from him. Follow.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28

R5 The G M (#3) solid looking maiden debut winner for the Mike Puype stable. Follow this gelding through his conditions.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29

R3 Fifth Street (#2) broke a step slow, found stride, taken in hand early, bobbled crossing dirt, hopped up when back on turf, restrained backside, raced outside in contention into turn, 4-5 wide into lane, flattened out through lane. Draw line through race.

R5 Rascality (#8) handful in gate prior to start, broke okay but was never in contention. Filly didn't have her mind on running today. Give look next time.

R7 Precision (#8) broke okay in North American debut, made wide premature move on backside to engage leader, battled until stretch and tired. Looked to need this race. Follow.

R9 Take Another Card (#2) nice looking visually impressive win after a slow and awkward start. Found stride and raced into contention while kept inside, continued to make up grand backside easily under Dettori, angled out on turn to begin rally and drew off in lane for ultra impressive maiden debut win. Follow.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1

R2 Oveta's Hobby (#4) nice looking winner. Didn't break all that sharply, battled early, opened up on turn and sailed home while kept busy. Follow.

R3 Nanci Griffith (#5) sat second here trying to rate, tracked, took lead mid-stretch but wasn't able to hold off two rivals at the wire. May be better when allowed to roll early? Follow.

R7 Mirinda (#2) got to lead and ran off early while trying to be restrained by Maldonado. Set blazing fractions and tired through lane. Toss this race.

R8 Berlin Wall (#1) walked out of the gate to be well back early while being urged by Pereira, made headway inside rivals on turn, tracked, angled out for stretch-run, finished full of run for third. Better-than-looked here and deserves to be followed.

R9 My Summer Dream (#4) dwelt at the break, far back early, wasn't hard-used while making up ground in the stretch. Toss this race and give a look next time.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3

R2 Madame Secretary (#4) stumbled slighly at the break, turned in much improved effort here. Filly has ability and should be followed.

R9 Max n' Lou (#1) broke okay, allowed to settle early while kept inside, tracked a hot pace down backside, angled out and was caught in tight between horses heading into turn, angled out for stretch drive and came up empty. Not a great trip here under bug-boy and deserves another shot next time.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4

R4 Annie's Joy (#1) restless in gate before break, broke nicely, taken hold of, began to pull going into the turn, rank, kept on inside and checked off horses heels, settled, raced behind horses on turn, found room in lane but tired in stretch-drive. Draw line through this race.

R5 Barnes (#2) proved he's the real deal here with an impressive win. Improved in second start. Follow.

R6 Maria Tallchief (#4) broke a step slow, quickly found her stride to get into contention a few strides away, raced inside while moving up, traced leaders and was in tight to check hard on turn, came inside when finding room for stretch, finished nicely in a troubled start. Follow.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

R1 Day Dawning (#9) sent to the lead from outside post, dried some to remain wide into turn, cleared off backside, set solid fractions and tired through the stretch. Tough trip here. Worth following.

R3 Sugar Beets (#5) broke okay but was checked and steadied soon after break, rank and dropped back to last, was allowed to settle inside, reached contention on turn, sat and settled down, was sent inside to engage leaders on turn, got to a brief lead and tired. Not the best of trips here and this race should be tossed out.

R6 Smiling Tizzy (#7) huge number here on tote (90/1), broke okay but showed no speed, found best stride in lane and came running inside late. Solid gallop out. This one is worth following.

R9 Teddy's Triumph (#11) broke okay and taken hold of out of gate. Tracked leaders and made nice winning move on turn to win going away. Impressive here. Follow.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16

R9 Spiritual Advisor (#3) broke awkwardly, outrun into turn, made up ground inside to be in contention backside while pulling, fought for lead into turn, got to a clear lead at 1/4 pole, battled length of stretch in a huge effort. Follow.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

R1 Aggro (#3) hustled hard out of gate, taken hold of and rated nicely, tried hard in a solid effort. Follow.