Inside Horse Racing http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/ en Copyright 2008 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:35:26 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.01 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Nakatani may shine today at Santa Anita Take a look at two horses today at the Great Race Place -- the Ron Ellis-trained Fire Wood in the third and Scott's Poppy in the nightcap. Both horses will be ridden by Corey Nakatani, who's riding high these days following his first victory in 13 tries in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/04/nakatani_may_shine_today_at_sa.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/04/nakatani_may_shine_today_at_sa.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:35:26 -0800 Second today at Santa Anita Take a close look at the Mike Mitchell-trained Sting'n Inthe Rain in today's second race at Santa Anita. He was an unlucky loser last time, retains the services of Tyler Baze and should get the job done in his sixth career start.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/04/second_today_at_santa_anita_1.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/04/second_today_at_santa_anita_1.html Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:20:40 -0800 Second today at Santa Anita Take a close look at the Mike Mitchell-trained Sting'n Inthe Rain in today's second race at Santa Anita. He was an unlucky loser last time, retains the services of Tyler Baze and should get the job done in his sixth career start.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/04/second_today_at_santa_anita.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/04/second_today_at_santa_anita.html Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:20:40 -0800 Live ones at Santa Anita today Well, the best-laid plans of mice and men. Our three best long shots of the day Saturday -- Hot Grip, America's Starlett and I'll Prey for You -- all ran out, but I'll Prey for You was right there for second at 18-1 before having to settle for a close fourth. The thing is, when you play long shots, all you must do is hit a very low percentage and you make money. Imagine how long a horse like Peace Pledge (81-1) can keep you going.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/live_ones_at_santa_anita_today.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/live_ones_at_santa_anita_today.html Sun, 09 Mar 2008 09:48:23 -0800 What a day for the races!! Heading out to The Great Race Place today, on what appears to be a gorgeous day? Well, I happen to believe Santa Anita is offering a better deal today than any savings rate you're gonna get at Bank of America ... yeah, a little more risky, but hey ... why not take a few risks in this lifetime? And a word to the wise -- never wager what you can't afford to lose because no matter what you hear from anyone who gives you a tip, there are four or five other people giving out tips on different horses in the same race.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/what_a_day_for_the_races.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/what_a_day_for_the_races.html Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:19:05 -0800 Check out the fifth at Santa Anita It seems like we just started this winter-spring meet at Santa Anita, but with the start of the race week today, there are only seven more weeks to go. It's not the greatest of cards today, but one that offers a few plays that could turn out handsomely. Take the fifth race, with Ymustichasethecat, who is going up a notch in class but comes in off a third-place effort in which he closed ground in the stretch. The 4-year-old gelding, trained by Peter Eurton, retains the services of Chantal Sutherland, who got to know him in his last start. Ymustichasethecat is 10-1 on the morning line and is worth an across-the-board wager at those odds. I like a horse that just ran well and is being stepped up in class. It's a sign that the connections think the horse is sharp and ready to win.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/check_out_the_fifth_at_santa_a.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/check_out_the_fifth_at_santa_a.html Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:50:50 -0800 Horsing around out at Santa Anita It seems like we just started this winter-spring meet at Santa Anita, but with the start of the race week today, there are only seven more weeks to go. It's not the greatest of cards today, but one that offers a few plays that could turn out handsomely. Take the fifth race, with Ymustichasethecat, who is going up a notch in class but comes in off a third-place effort in which he closed ground in the stretch. The 4-year-old gelding, trained by Peter Eurton, retains the services of Chantal Sutherland, who got to know him in his last start. Ymustichasethecat is 10-1 on the morning line and is worth an across-the-board wager at those odds. I like a horse that just ran well and is being stepped up in class. It's a sign that the connections think the horse is sharp and ready to win.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/horsing_around_out_at_santa_an.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/horsing_around_out_at_santa_an.html Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:39:46 -0800 Santa Anita dropping the ball Track management has not done a good job of getting the word out about whether they're racing Wednesdays or not. I mean, you're going to get small turnouts on days when people aren't sure if you're racing.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/santa_anita_dropping_the_ball.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/santa_anita_dropping_the_ball.html Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:50:53 -0800 Santa Anita Handicap post mortem Heatseeker was a deserving winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, sitting fourth much of the way and then holding off a late-charging Go Between in the final eighth of a mile. And what a perfect ride by Rafael Bejarano, who I believe is going to become a fixture on this circuit for many years to come.
A few other observations about the 71st running of the Big 'Cap:

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/santa_anita_handicap_post_mort.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/santa_anita_handicap_post_mort.html Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:50:39 -0800 Tiago is the choice in Santa Anita Handicap You could do a lot worse than to play 2007 Santa Anita Derby winner Tiago in today's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap. The half-brother to 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo is coming up to the race perfectly for trainer John Shirreffs, who didn't have the 4-year-old Pleasant Tap colt fully cranked for the San Fernando or San Antonio but has a horse today who is sitting on a win.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/tiago_is_the_choice_in_santa_a.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/03/tiago_is_the_choice_in_santa_a.html Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:33:54 -0800 Solis Going Strong at Santa Anita Hmmm, Alex Solis in decline, huh? For the past couple of years, many in the industry have talked about the 43-year-old jockey being a shadow of his former self. Some have even gone so far as refuse to bet the native of Panama. Well, I seem to remember a day not so long ago they were saying the same things about a guy named Laffit Pincay, Jr., who then proceeded to find his second wind and end a scintillating career on a high note before being forced to retire because of injury.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/solis_going_strong_at_santa_an.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/solis_going_strong_at_santa_an.html Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:27:18 -0800 Early Pick Four at Santa Anita On a day when we're celebrating the end of the synthetic-track mess at Santa Anita with the announcement that a new surface will be put in at the end of the winter-spring meet, let's add to the festivities by playing an early pick four. The ticket will cost $24 and I think we got an excellent shot at winning.
First leg -- Minister Blair and Soupy
Second leg -- Warren's Grandslam, Sherry's High, Flamingo Princess and Berjando
Third leg -- Skimmetry
Fourth leg -- Renees Beauty, Ellkin's Time and Spanish Heat.

The key to a HUGE payoff is the fourth race and Ellkin's Time, who is 30-1 on the morning line but is capable of pulling a major upset and prompting a big pick-four payout. Ellkins Time has had a race over the track and closed in the stretch while racing three-wide in his debut. He gets the services of Isaias Enriquez, who is a capable jockey who boots home some long shots.

Good luck!!!

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/early_pick_four_at_santa_anita.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/early_pick_four_at_santa_anita.html Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:22:29 -0800 Super High 5 carryover at Santa Anita There is a $274,952 Super High 5 carryover at Santa Anita today. The exotic wager, in its first year of existence, requires bettors to select the first five finishers in the day's final race in their exact order. It's a $1 minimum bet, and you can wager as many combinations as you like. This is the biggest pool yet for the Super High 5, and though I don't play it myself, there are a couple of horses in the eighth race that I would recommend including if you want to take a shot.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/super_high_5_carryover_at_sant.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/super_high_5_carryover_at_sant.html Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:18:06 -0800 Medjool won like a good 3-year-old The David Hofmans-trained Medjool came charging down the stretch to win Monday's ninth race at Santa Anita like he could be something special. He was facing a field that included eight other colts nominated to the Triple Crown races. Michael Baze had him fifth in the field of 12 much of the way before moving to second at the head of the lane and then drawing off to win by 4 1/2 lengths over a revamped synthetic surface that is not playing nearly as quickly as last Wednesday or during the Cushion Track, i.e. 605 Freeway, days. Perhaps what was most impressive about the way Medjool won was that he wasn't chasing lightning-quick fractions. He sat behind an average pace of :23.73, :48.20 and 1:13.10 before making his final late charge and running the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.06

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/medjool_won_like_a_good_3earol.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/medjool_won_like_a_good_3earol.html Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:42:20 -0800 Chasing $1.2 million at Santa Anita Hmmmm .... $1.2 million pick-six carryover at Santa Anita? Guess where I'm going to be today?
But before you get too excited ladies and gents, this is a TOUGH card ... I mean, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if we had a four-day carryover into Wednesday, and wouldn't that send track officials into a frenzied tizzy with anticipation of a record pick-six pool?

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/chasing_12_million_at_santa_an.html http://www.insidesocal.com/horseracing/2008/02/chasing_12_million_at_santa_an.html Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:59:32 -0800