No passing at Santa Anita!

Perhaps we are making way too much of this but I can't remember ever seeing it before. That doesn't mean of course it hasn't ever happened but in Santa Anita's third race on Saturday, January 29 the first five finishers ran in order all the way around the track without passing a rival! Hard to do? We think so!

Reba Is Tops is off to the breeding shed after winning her final start on Sunday. The gutty 7-year-old mare came from last to run down her rivals in the $70,000-added Wishing Well under Joe Talamo for trainer Mark Glatt. She finishes her career with 14 wins from 29 lifetime starts and has earned in excess of $408k.

Nice to see Martin Pedroza having a solid Santa Anita meeting. At 40-something years old now, the annual leading rider at Fairplex Park is currently riding like a bug boy and it seems he is attracting more live mounts than he has in the past. Maybe horsemen are figuring out what we knew a long time ago. This guy can ride!

Has anyone else checked out the fractions set in the Sunshine Millions Sprint on Saturday? Yes, they were legit fractions set by Cost of Freedom and Excessive Passion who must have thought they were at Los Alamitos running against quarter horses. Big time effort by Cost of Freedom who was only beaten by two heads for all the cash.

The familiar Evening Jewel returned  in the $300,000 Distaff as the James Cassidy filly returned to her top form and beat a decent field here under Victor Espinoza.

Switch didn't seem to miss Zenyatta one bit as she destroyed her rivals in the Grade I $250,000 Santa Monica under Joel Rosario for trainer John Sadler. The 4-year-old filly by Quiet American (Fappiano) out of Antoniette looks to have taken over as the top older filly or mare now that Zenyatta has gone to the breeding shed. She returned $2.60 to her backers.

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Santa Anita slowing down?

If the sand that was added to the main track at Santa Anita this past week was to slow down the track we haven't seen it yet. Track officials have said that the mixture was to be gradual as to not effect the horses and cause injury. A dramatic change in the track would do that. As of Sunday we are still seeing a speed favoring track, albeit times have been a bit slower. We know it will take time to get it right and it does seem to be heading in the right direction now.

We understand that with the Eclipse Awards now past us it's easy to dwell and focus on something else. But really, isn't it too early to start talking Kentucky Derby? Com'on folks, it's still January and already we are hearing people talking about who is going to win the 2011 Kentucky Derby. LOL Okay. Us, we insist on waiting for a few more preps, drills and such before making a decision on who is going to win a race that is run over a 1 and a quarter for 3-year-olds in four months.

Hard to believe but Santa Anita has had only two Pic 6 carryovers since opening day on December 26 with the second carryover occurring on Saturday, January 22 for over $104k.

We didn't really give him much of a chance to be honest with you but we sure did like the way Sqaure Eddie won on Friday, January 14. Having been away since December 2009, the Doug O'Neill trained 5-year-old won like he had raced three weeks ago under Joel Rosario and paid a nice $7 to his backers. He should be heard from again soon.

Tapizar, the talented 3-year-old colt from the Steve Asmussen barn took down the Grade III $100,000 Sham and is one such 3-year-old being talked about in regards to the 2011 Kentucky Derby. The son of Tapit did look good in his win and returned $4.20 to his supporters. Asmussen has said he'll remain in California to train for his next start and is being pointed towards the Santa Anita Derby.

California Nectar took down the Grade II $150,000 Santa Ynez for Doug O'Neill and was ridden nicely by Patrick Valenzuela at $8. The 3-year-old filly by Stormy Atlantic was winning for the third time in seven lifetimes starts.

A speed favoring course helped Indian Firewater hold off stablemate Tweebster in the Grade II $150,000 San Fernando and trainer Bob Baffert didn't care who's number came up as he trained both. The winner was ridden by Mike Smith and returned $13.

Heavily favored Eclipse Champion Blind Luck wasn't able to run down Always a Princess in the Grade II $150,000 El Encino and that had 'Luck's trainer Jerry Hollendorfer whining about taking her out of the state unless Santa Anita's track slows down. Boo hoo. What about Blind Lucks other loses, which took place back east? Is it possible she hasn't shown her 2010 form as of yet? 'Princess paid a nice $9.80 to her backers and is from the Bob Baffert barn. She was ridden perfectly by Rafael Bejarano.

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Something stinks in Santa Anita's 6th race Sunday

Okay, okay, we know. It may all be innocent enough and we hope it is. But the wagering in Sunday's 6th race at Santa Anita on Sunday stinks to high heaven. It involves Bad Boy, the 7-year-old gelding that was on a five race win streak and going for new connections off the claim on Sunday. Bad Boy, opened at 1/9 and drifted up to 1/5 where he remained for most of the wagering. However, a few minutes before post, he drifted upward as high as 4/1. Then, when the gates opened he was hit down again to close at 9/5. It's been reported that around $40k is in question. It could be as innocent enough as "somebody" purchased a wrong ticket and had the money put back into the pool on the correct horse. We truly hope that will be proven to be the case as racing certainly doesn't need anything like this right now.

Is anybody else out there having problems with the 4-day racing schedule? While we understand what it is all about, we really miss Wednesday racing and hope that the horse population will rebound so that it does return. Wednesday's return to racing may be aways away though as entries at Santa Anita seem to be creeping lower again as the meet rolls on.

Handicappers flash! No need to handicap the races anymore at Santa Anita! Just bet on anything trained by Bob Baffert.

Quite the the racing oddity on Thursday at The Great Race Place when the sire, Unusual Heat sired the first four place finishers in the fifth race for the mile distance over the turf course for older maidens. Phi Beta Heat ($43.60), Bitt a Heat, Unknown Heat and Favoloso all were sired by Unusual Heat. Can't recall when this was ever done before. Trainer Barry Abrams saddled the winner and third place finisher.

The promising Fast Master made his long awaited debut on Friday in the 4th race and didn't disappoint under Garret Gomez at $4.60. Another racing oddity was seeing trainer Bob Baffert at the starting gate "overseeing" the load of the 4-year-old gelded son of Tiznow (Cee's Tizzy).

The Grade II $150,000 San Pasqual on Saturday went to Aggie Engineer who has certainly come into his own now for trainer Patrick Gallagher under Joe Talamo. returning $5.40 to his backers, the 6-year-old gelded son of E Dubai (Mr. Prospector) once again ran his rivals off their feet for the win.

We have now officially seen enough of Dakota Phone, the inconsistent Jerry Hollendorfer trainee that ran up the track in Saturday's San Pasqual.

May Day Rose took Sunday's Grade III $100,000 Santa Ysabel which was a three horse field when Zazu and Plum Pretty scratched on Sunday morning. Bob Baffert saddled the winner at $2.10 under Rafael Bejarano and this was basically a walk over for the 3-year-old daughter of Rockport Harbor.

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Get well wishes and a Pick 4 hit at 'Anita

Speedy get well wishes sent out to jockey Corey Nakatani who is nursing a bruised ankle suffered in a starting gate mishap and to jockey Omar Berrio who is resting at home after suffering a stroke on Thursday following the races. Hope to see both riders back at Santa Anita shortly!

Okay, just how game is Unzip Me, the 5-year-old mare by City Zip (Carson City)? Winning for the 10th time from 17 lifetime starts, the Marty Jones trained mare is now 4 for 5 at Santa Anita and posted yet another win Sunday in the 2nd race at Santa Anita. Look for her again soon!

Red Defense remains undefeated as the 4-year-old gelding scored in the 4th race at Santa Anita and this gelding from the Carla Gaines stable roared home the final 16th mile to post the gutty win under Joel Rosario. Perhaps it was the ground he covered to win late that made Rosario make the animated face as he was greeted by the connections in the winners circle. As we have said before he probably isn't graded material but he'll win races and pay his way.

Congratulations to our clients and handicappers when they cashed in on the Pick 4 for $686 on a $16 play! Want winners like this? You know where to go! http://www.horseracing-selections.com/ that's where!

California speed has returned at Santa Anita

Being old school handicappers such as we are, we have to admit that we love seeing the old fashion speed returning to the dirt track at Santa Anita. Back are the good old days when horses used to travel the oval with splits of :21 and change and :44 and change and keep going. But folks, the track is also playing fair as horses are coming from off the pace, too. Really, isn't that all any horse player wants? A fair course? The best horse doesn't always win the race but at least lets keep the track fair. So far so good.

Belated birthday wishes to all of our equine stars who turned a year older on Saturday!

Tales in Excess looked good winning the $75,000-added Blue Norther on Friday under Joel Rosario for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The 2-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat was winning for the second time in four career outings and this 2-year-old filly has yet to be off the board.

We aren't often excited about horses breaking their maiden but we did take a deep breath when Rumor won at first asking for trainer Richard Mandella on Friday in the 6th race. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, who by the way is winning on everything he takes a seat on, scored in impressive style and the daughter of Indian Charlie (In Excess) may have a bright future ahead of her. Mandella is noted for taking his time with his stock so when he unveils something like this you better take notice. Follow this filly for sure.

Friday's $75,000-added Eddie Logan went to Silver Medallion for trainer Steven Asmussen under Garret Gomez and paid $12.60 to his backers.

How fitting was it that in the inaugural running of the Grade II $150,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes on Saturday that a former assistant of Frankel won the race? Spring Style gamely held off the late run of Harmonious for trainer Ben Cecil to return an overlayed $15.80. The winner was ridden by Garret Gomez.

Racing will be back to a 4 day week at Santa Anita starting this week until March and we can't think of a better way for you to attend the races then bringing us along with you! Sign up for winning information right now at http://www.horseracing-selections.com