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! 

Notes/comments will remain posted through the conclusion of the meet.

SANTA ANITA HOLLYWOOD MEET

FRIDAY, APRIL 18

R2 Eltonsingsanother (#3) away slow while bobbling at the break, raced well behind rivals early on, brought outside down backstretch, began rally approaching turn, used hard on turn while wide, lugged in while tiring through stretch. This race can be tossed out and mare deserves another look at next time.

R3 Zeyaraat (#4) bobbled out of the gate, was asked to go after leaders when recovered, settled nicely to track leaders, asked on turn but didn't respond under Maldonado. Mare may need softer rivals.

R4 Winds of Freedom (#4) gelding is learning out to rate now for Bob Hess stable. Solid effort here as son of Stanford is sharp. Follow.

R5 Miso Phansy (#4) much the best here in a troubled filled race. Filly overcame all sorts of trouble to get the win under Rispoli. Trailed early, scraped paint into lane, shut off and checked through stretch, taken outside and re-railled with an explosive late kick for the win. Sharp. Follow.

R8 Crown Magic (#2) liked this gelding here but son of Grazen was eliminated at the break when he walked out of gate. Well back early, he never got involved. Draw line through this race.

R9 Flyover (#2) firster from Sadler stable was worth the buzz. Rocketed out of the gate, opened up and kept on going to the wire in a very impressive debut. Follow.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

R1 Cheering for Layla (#1) didn't break sharply from the rail post, allowed to settle while well back, began to make move on turn while splitting rivals, made some late impact while well back for third. Give look back next time vs. similar and a better post.

R2 Bruckner (#1) away slowly from rail slot, made progress down backside while kept inside, sped inside to reach contention, raced behind leader on turn, trapped inside, had room thru stretch but wasn't able to recover from slow start and tired some late while turning in a better-than-looked effort. Worth following.

R6 The Old Nine (#6) finally come around now. Ultra game maiden win here as colt looks to be on the improve. Worth following vs. winners.

R9 Lil Richards Bello (#5) offered up for the tag here and have always felt gelding is better on the turf. Useful race here second start into comeback, look for an improved run next time on turf.

R10 Prestige Fungson (#2) walked out of gate to be well back early, found stride backside while being held by Hernandez, sent inside while in traffic on turn, continued bottled up on turn, angled out for stretch drive, grinded away outside to finish will good energy. Solid debut race, follow.

SUNDAY, APRIL 20

R1 The White Lady (#2) making North American debut here off some solid a.m. drills, broke okay but lagged well off the pace, began making progress down backside outside, began rolling on turn, found stride in lane but wasn't able to catch winner. Figures to move forward off this local bow. Follow.

R6 My Bucket List (#13) solid win here and bottom-level claimer could come right back to take another. Broke okay from outside, outrun early on, reserved early while held by Pereira, made sweeping wide move on turn, swung out 6-wide into stretch, gelding drew off for fun in a visually impressive win. Worth following.

R7 Cabo Spirit (#3) classy gelding was cleverly handled here under Mike Smith, allowed to cruise on the lead early and took 'em all the way. Follow, old-timer is sharp again.

R9 Cat The Confidante (#10) broke well from outside post, tracked leaders early, continued nicely down backside while under restraint by Berrios, sent up while wide into stretch to engage leaders, gamely battled to wire to win photo. Looks to have a bright future.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

R3 Sunset Grazen (#1) broke okay, taken in hand and sat behind horses early while inside, reserved in last down backstretch, found best stride early stretch, bumped rival inside 16th pole and continued on to just miss at 14/1. Solid effort worth following.

R7 Word Play (#10) broke against the bit and awkward, taken hold of and guided to the rail, patiently handled while in hand, began rally on turn between horses, swung out for stretch drive, explosive late run for second. Post hurt her here.

R8 Barbara T (#9) ultra impressive win here in return for Michael McCarthy stable under Rispoli. Filly has quality and should be followed.

R9 Smokem Hot Girl (#4) broke thru gate prior and was a late vet scratch.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

R1 Broski (#1) rating tactics deployed this afternoon for gelding. Sat nicely early behind leaders inside, trapped inside behind horses turn, continued trapped inside while full of run, split horses late to just miss. Unlucky. Follow.

Wolf Away (#10) very washy going to gate, lathered in sweat. Broke okay, kept wide out very wide into turn and offered very little in second career start for O'Neill. If you liked this guy today toss this race out.

R2 Smooth Cruisein (#5) nice win here over wet fast track. Colt has been always well thought of by connections. Deserves to be followed. Has talent.

R5 Fast Buck (#8) employed rating tactics today, sat nicely early from outside post, made nice sweeping move on turn, took leading into stretch and won impressively. Talented gelding deserves to be followed as Kimura fits him nicely.

R7 Son of Hill (#7) always have liked this mare. Hopped up at break to be off slowly, trailed out of gate, well back past stands, stayed inside on turn, sat and handled nicely by Pereira, began to pick it up on turn inside, checked briefly into stretch behind horses, kept inside and found a path, split rivals late for second. Huge effort as mare was left with too much to do late. Follow.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27

R2 Adebayo (#6) away a bit awkwardly here, quickly found best stride under Herrera to range up outside backside, split rivals to go after leaders, got into second on turn while being urged, got to lead into stretch, opened up but tired and lugged out late while holding on to barely win photo. DQ'ed via Stews for lugging out. Impressive. Follow.

R3 Malibu Rocks (#3) broke well, rider took hold of off speed duel, rank and pulling hard, kept inside while gelding still rank and pulling, trapped inside heading into backstretch, had room inside while relaxed some into turn, asked and urged on turn while still inside, kept on for third. Not the best of trips here and deserves to be followed.

R5 Touchdown Brown (#11) broke sharp from outside post, couldn't get over and very wide into turn, continued wide down backside while tracking, 3-wide on turn, 5-6 wide into stretch, tired through lane. Covered lots of ground here. Toss this race.

R6 Lady Gregory (#2) horrible unlucky trip here to have her streak snapped. Broke sharply, remained inside to track down backside, trapped inside on turn while loaded, checked and steadied on turn while behind horses, tried to come inside through lane, checked and steadied, angled between horses late surged late to just miss in photo. Should have been unsaddled.

R8 Princess Daddy (#3) broke okay, settled mid-pack under Orantes, kept after on turn, clear into lane while finding best stride, dove down inside to finish with some eye-catching interest. Follow for Palma.

R10 Supermazel (#7) speedster bobbled at the break to be off slowly to lose best chance here. Ran well for 4th. 

FRIDAY, MAY 2

R1 Bruckner (#7) expected much more here from this gelding. Broke on top, got to lead and over to save ground into turn, traveling nicely down backside, realistic pace, headed on turn, battled, folded early stretch. Disappointing effort.

Kawazaki (#2) loaded into lane when shut off inside actually hitting the rail. Much best here. Follow.

R8 Cornelia Fort (#11) stumbled at the break from outside post, quickly found stride to range up and taken hold of to track into turn, little ran down backside, asked on turn, checking and steadying between rivals, continued grinding to wire in a solid second place finish. Sharp try here. Follow.

R9 Major Tom (#3) walked out of gate here to race far back early, began picking it up on turn, swung wide into lane to finish with some late run. Strong gallop out. Follow.