Santa Anita Race 1: Post: 12:30 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 5-Dirty Words.
Backups: none

Forecast: In a race in which the projected speed is suspect, let’s go a second timer who displayed the ability to finish a bit in his debut. Dirty Words looked like he just ran evenly in a maiden special weight abbreviated grass sprint at Del Mar according to the running lines, but we though he was finding his best stride late and expect him to improve considerably with that outing underneath him plus today’s extra furlong to work with. With help up front, the first time Lasix-using son of Thousand Words should be capable of producing a winning late kick for trainer P. D’Amato.


______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 2: Post: 1:03 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 2-Jerry’s Spirit; 5-Zombo Bombo.
Backups: 6-Pratchett.

Forecast: Jerry’s Spirit exits infinitely tougher races, shows up today in a starter/optional $50,000 affair (he’s entered for the tag) and with his best effort should be a major player. He’ll likely settle in behind the leaders to the head of the lane and then kick home when given his cue. The concern is he’s had a couple of layoffs within his five race career and probably has issues, so what we see on paper may not be what we get. If he fails to the fire, Zombo Bombo may be the one to fear most. Himself returning off a layoff, the son of Munnings – a first time gelding - has rising speed figures and a recent work tab that should have him fit enough. He’s a bit quicker, too, than ‘Spirit, which might give him the edge he needs. We’;; both on the top line in our rolling exotic play.


______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 3: Post: 1:34 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 6-Long Mayshe Reign.
Backups: 3-Ms. McWhinney.

Forecast: Longmayshe Reign, first or second in four of five career starts over the local lawn, was worn down late when runner-up at this level last time out, but that was a fast, highly rated affair and this field looks like one she can daylight. The pace projects to be fairly soft, so gate-to-wire tactics surely will be employed. She’s a win play and main push in the rolling exotics at or near her morning line of 2-1.


______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 4: Post: 2:05 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 7-Morning Addiction.
Backups: 1-Broadway Tiger.

Forecast: Morning Addiction lands the cozy outside post and this veteran mare – a winner of 16 races during her long career – should take full advantage of a pristine trip while either on the lead or from an ideal stalking position throughout. This drop to the bottom makes her a standout, assuming she hasn’t sprung a leak that we don’t know about. She’s 2-1 on the morning line and that seems fair, but we wouldn’t take much less.

______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 5: Post: 2:35 PT Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 6-Sorrento Sky.
Backups: 7-Elwood Blues.

Forecast: Sorrento Sky (Ire) missed a recent stakes opportunity when the race was taken off the grass, but he should have no such worries today. Unraced since Dec. 1, the P. D’Amato-trained colt won over this tricky Hillside course two runs back in. race that produced a career top number, and recent workouts indicate he’s ready for top effort in his seasonal bow. The Irish-bred colt is a versatile sort that can win with a stalking trip or maybe even a bit farther back than that. At 5/2 on the morning line in a race that includes two other stablemates, we’ll use him in the win pool and as the main key in the various rolling exotics.


______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 6: Post: 3:05 PT Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 6-One Big Smile; 5-Not My Rodeo; 4-Getemdusty.
Backups: 8-Lurking Fear.

Forecast: Here’s a spread affair for restricted (nw-2) $5,000 older sprinters that offers three main players. One Big Smile is 1-for-20 during his career and isn’t one to trust, but his recent form has been consistent, and he did earn a big figure when breaking his maiden for $8,000 at Pleasanton two races back before finishing a willing second over the local dirt strip at this level last month. Not My Rodeo is in decent form as well and has several back numbers that make him a strong threat. The break in the weights with the addition of bug boy Americano won’t hurt, either. Getemdusty broke his maiden stylishly here after finishing a solid second to our top pick up north at Pleasanton. With another forward move, he’ll be right there.


______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 7: Post: 3:35 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 2-Feel the Magic.
Backups: 1-Crazy Cavalier.

Forecast: Feel the Magic, away since last summer, returns as a first-time gelding and with blinkers on while attracting F. Prat in a modest maiden $50,000 claiming turf sprint for older horses. We can’t say he’s bred to move up on the lawn, but this is a much softer group than he has faced in the past and the 88 Beyer speed figures that he earned in two of his four career outings would blow this field out. At age four still a maiden, then is where he belongs.


______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 8: Post: 4:05 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 6-Icy Mischief.
Backups: none

Forecast: Icy Mischief seems pretty solid in this restricted (nw-3) $8,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares. Nosed out in a similar affair here last month, the Pleasanton-based daughter of Curlin to Mischief will win today if she can turn in two alike. There are a couple of speed types drawn inside her, so we expect to see her in a comfortable stalking position before being asked for her best at the top of the lane. However, she’s 2-1 on the morning line probably isn’t worth much less than that on the tote.

______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 9: Post: 4:35 PT Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 5-Scipio
Backups: 2-Triple Diamonds.

Forecast: Scipio has two-turned in four subsequent starts after beginning his career sprinting over five furlongs last summer at Del Mar. Clearly capable at any distance, the son of Caravaggio strikes us as an ideal Hillside type, and with the removal blinkers we suspect his connections would like to see him settle early and blast home late. F. Prat knows him well and will employ the patient ride he prefers. With route numbers that are solid but not great, the price on the tote should be acceptable.


______________________________________________________________________________
Santa Anita Race 10: Post: 5:05 PT Grade: B
Main Ticket: 6-Pura Vida Princesa; 4-Inner Fury (Ire); 7-Calmate.
Backups: 5-Dandy Vandy (Fr)

Forecast: Here’s a deep and contentious maiden turf affair over nine furlongs for sophomore fillies. We’ll spread the race while putting Pura Vida Princesa on top. She removes blinkers (love that angle) after setting the pace but weakening late against similar competition at a mile, and while today’s extra furlong might be stretching her limit and her pedigree suggests she’d actually prefer to sprint, the projects to be modest we’re hoping she can get the trip. Inner Fury (Ire) ran well in her debut (fourth of 14) overseas last September and has worked well enough to be fit for a good effort in her stateside bow. She didn’t have nearly the trouble in her only start that the DRF trip line suggests, but she did gallop out well and should be right at home at this distance. Calmate appeared to find her best stride too late after encountering traffic through the lane in a turf miler here in late January. She’s a progressive sort and retains F. Prat, making her a “must use” on your rolling exotic ticket.


______________________________________________________________________________