Toews on Ice romps in Santa Anita stakes as times slow down on main track

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

There was a single graded race this past weekend at Santa Anita.   

Twilight Miss S. (G3): Aithon Stable LLC’s BELLE HILL (Sky Mesa) moved to second at the top of the lane and got the better of a long duel in the lane en route to a half-length tally beneath Leslie Mawing. The Larry Ross trainee completed one mile on the good turf oval in 1:35 in posting her first graded stakes tally.

Track Stats

From a total of 34 races held over the Arcadia, California, racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 29 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 53 percent of the wins. From 22 frays contested on the dirt oval, two animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (9 percent), while four of the 12 grassy tilts were taken all the way on the front end (33 percent).

We thought horses from off the pace had a nice chance this past week on the dirt. The final times were slow for the most part on the main oval and front runners had little advantage from what we saw on the tiring surface.

Speed on the lawn was good, and for the week, three of the quartet of turf wire jobs occurred going a route of ground.

Meet Totals

RACES:              133
DIRT:                  91
TURF:                 42
FAVORITES:       39       (29 percent)
2ND CHOICES:   30       (23 percent)
TURF WIRE:       10       (20 percent)
DIRT WIRE:        13       (14 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (10/15)

6TH – REALLY A PRINCESS (Marino Marini) dueled for the lead, opened up a slight edge in the lane and battled gamely to the final jump in a sharp runner-up try for conditioner Jeff Bonde. The three-year-old filly will be very tough right back with a race of this nature at a similar level.

7TH – WHAT A VIEW (Vronsky) tracked a moderate pace, inched to the lead nearing midstretch and cruised home an emphatic, 3 1/4-length allowance winner under Kent Desormeaux. The Kenny Black pupil has ability for sure and will be a major contender next out with even slight improvement.

Friday (10/16)

4TH – LILY POD (Bernstein) made a big move in the lane after taking command at the top of the lane and was a no-doubt winner in this one for conditioner Richard Baltas. The sophomore filly didn’t beat a stellar cast but did so with authority, and she makes sense as a contender with winners in her subsequent outing.

Saturday (10/17)

1ST – PARASAIL (Surf Cat) took a lot of money at first asking and showed why in this one, taking over in the lane and driving home a sharp winner for conditioner Gus Headley. The three-year-old filly didn’t run terribly fast but gave the impression of a runner who might be cut out to get a bit more ground with seasoning.

3RD – SUTTON’S SMILE (Paddy O’Prado) took over with ease in early stretch and powered home a most convincing, 6 1/4-length maiden winner in this turf run under Rafael Bejarano. The two-year-old filly may not have topped the best field of juvenile runners, but she did so with ultimate ease and could be any kind with a stakes assignment likely next time out.

Sunday (10/18)

2ND – TOEWS ON ICE (Archarcharch) proved his stakes win at Los Alamitos was no fluke in dominating this group for conditioner Bob Baffert. The two-year-old colt tracked the pace and took over with ease late, and has really turned it around after his first pair of lifetime runs.

6TH – SHE’S A WARRIOR (Majestic Warrior) made the winner sweat some late with a nice closing run and the first timer shouldn’t be a maiden for long with any improvement off of this one. Trainer Peter Eurton doesn’t win with many first-time starters, making this performance even that much more impressive.

A Look Ahead

The $200,000 Twilight Derby (G2) on the turf will head the Saturday card, while Sunday racing will be led by the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy S. (G3).