Dalmore carries improving form to Affirmed upset; Drefong, Dynamite Charge highlight Horses to Watch list at Santa Anita
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July 5th, 2016
SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK
There was a single graded race this past week at Santa Anita.
Affirmed S. (G3): Big Chief Racing’s DALMORE (Colonel John) drew even with 1-5 favorite Danzing Candy (Twirling Candy) in midstretch and inched away to a half-length victory for trainer Keith Desormeaux. The improving sophomore colt registered his first stakes win and completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:40 4/5 with Kent Desormeaux.
Track Stats
From 43 dirt races held at the Arcadia, California racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 28 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 63 percent of the wins. Eleven races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (26 percent) and no turf racing was offered due to the installation of a new course.
Speed was good on the main oval for a second straight week, with many winners laying first or second before coming home best in the lane. Only 4-of-43 winners broke from outside of post 6.
Meet Totals
|
Races: |
|
331 |
|
Dirt: |
|
245 |
|
Turf: |
|
86 |
|
Favorites: |
|
109 (33%) |
|
2nd Choices: |
|
79 (24%) |
|
Turf Wire: |
|
13 (15%) |
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Dirt Wire: |
|
71 (29%) |
|
|
|
|
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (6/30)
2ND – Bob Baffert’s EMMZY (Eskendereya) took the lead early and never wavered in posting a second straight win in this affair. The sophomore filly came home swiftly under Mike Smith and should be stakes bound in this form cycle.
3RD – CHANGING KARMA (Exchange Rate) raced in second behind clear speed before pulling away to a very professional tally in our view. The Kelly Castaneda charge has won two in a row and looks primed for a class rise.
5TH – RADISH (Square Eddie) ran a big one in defeat and should be graduating soon for conditioner Doug O’Neill. The juvenile filly had to fight off a pair of pace foes early before finishing well clear of third behind a perfect-trip winner.
Friday (7/1)
3RD – SHE’S MY FIRST (To Honor and Serve) was always in the mix and finished up nicely to be a close third in a solid debut race. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee could be sitting on a big one next time and she figures to handle more ground down the road.
4TH – BENDABLE (Horse Greeley) proved her exciting debut tally was not a fluke while taking down a decent field today for conditioner Richard Mandella. The three-year-old took the lead at the top of the lane and won pretty easily beneath Flavien Prat, and the Kentucky-bred filly rates as a fine prospect with a lot of room for growth.
Saturday (7/2)
5TH – DALMORE has improved since adding blinkers a few back and has the look of a runner who may be productive during the second half of this season.
8TH – TO THE BAR (Kitten’s Joy) sped to the front and never looked back in posting a sharp 5 ½-length tally for trainer Ron Ellis. The five-year-old gelding came home in a swift :24 1/5 and should loom large in his return.
Sunday (7/3)
2ND – BESIDES THE POINT (Concord Point) broke best and finished that way, as well, en route to a comfortable debut score under Stewart Elliot. The two-year-old filly avoided a claim in this dash and might be a useful prospect going forward.
Monday (7/4)
4TH – DEFRONG (Gio Ponti) made it three in a row for Baffert in rolling home a facile winner. The three-year-old colt force a wicked early pace and never tired in one of the sharper performances we have seen at this meet of late. The Kentucky-bred is cut out to run longer and possibly on the lawn, and he is of stakes material for sure.
6TH – O’Neill’s DYNAMITE CHARGE (Super Saver) broke slow but quickly got the lead, and she never looked back in securing an impressive debut romp. The two-year-old filly toppled a group that appeared to have a few decent prospects and the bay lass will be headed to the stakes ranks.
A Look Ahead
There is no graded racing on tap at Santa Anita this weekend.
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