Ziconic makes Horses to Watch list along with Atascadero & Dreamologist at Santa Anita
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February 23rd, 2016
SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK
A single graded race took place over the weekend of the winter/spring meeting at Santa Anita.
Buena Vista S. (G2): KM Racing’s PAULINA’S LOVE (Mizzen Mast) took the lead nearing the top of the lane and held off a stern late test to post a neck tally for conditioner Richard Baltas. The four-year-old chestnut stopped the teletimer in 1:36 for one mile on the ‘good’ turf under Gary Stevens.
Track Stats
From a total of 27 races held at the Arcadia, California racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 34 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 58 percent of the wins. From 22 frays contested on the dirt oval, six animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (27 percent), while none of the four grassy runs this past week were taken in wire-to-wire fashion.
We thought the main oval played fairly for the most part, with a slight edge to those who were close in the early going. There were three wire-to-wire winners on both Friday and Sunday during the three-day race week – four in sprints and two coming in route runs, overall.
Meet Totals
|
Races: |
|
301 |
|
Dirt: |
|
224 |
|
Turf: |
|
77 |
|
Favorites: |
|
116 (38%) |
|
2ND Choices: |
|
55 (18%) |
|
Turf Wire: |
|
14 (18%) |
|
Dirt Wire: |
|
61 (27%) |
|
|
|
|
HORSES TO WATCH
Friday (2/19)
1ST – DREAMOLOGIST (Tapit) ran off to a second straight fine tally down the hill and is going extremely well right now for trainer Richard Mandella, who seems to have figured out the talented filly. The well-bred four-year-old will be stakes bound soon.
5TH – SHAZARA (El Corredor) never challenged the top pair in this maiden run but did show some energy late in a productive debut performance. The John Shirreffs pupil should only improve from this and likely will not be a maiden for long with expected growth going forward.
7TH – EVERQUEEN (Colonel John) has shown nice improvement in each of her runs since joining Ron Ellis, recording back-to-back tallies. We like the development of the sophomore – she posted a 103 Late Pace figure here - and look forward to seeing her stretch out.
Saturday (2/20)
2ND – LIAM THE CHARMER (Smart Strike) had an impossible 12 post and a slow break, but the Mike McCarthy trainee ran a big one finishing second, five lengths clear of third in the turf event. The three-year-old colt surely will graduate very soon with any improvement off this performance.
3RD – Much has been written about ZICONIC (Tapit) already, but we feel inclined to make him one to watch after a big closing effort from way back in his first offering. The three-year-old colt could obviously be a good one with improvement for John Shirreffs.
7TH – BAD READ SANCHEZ (Warrior’s Reward) got back to running well on a major class drop and we are a bit surprised nobody put in a claim for the stakes-placed runner. The Doug O’Neill pupil is likely in line for a class hike off this fine showing.
Sunday (2/21)
1ST – ATASCADERO (Eskendereya) was in the hunt from the break and pulled clear to a convincing win at first asking for Jerry Hollendorfer. The four-year-old gelding may not have defeated a very strong group, but it was a very good start to what could be a nice career.
A Look Ahead
There is no graded racing this weekend at Santa Anita.
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