HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB

SANTA ANITA

 

AMAZING: Pressed a fast pace and held on best for second in a race otherwise dominated by deep closers. Looks good here on or Fla.

AROUND THE TWIG: Got caught in a fast :22.2 and :46 duel for the lead in a two-turn route and still held on for second. Worth another shot.

CHIC’N TONIC: Foreign invader broke slowly and raced in traffic on the first turn, yet still was the only horse in the race to close before losing a photo in a tight blanket finish in return from a layoff. Fits well vs. the local grassers.

FINE AND RARE: Had the lead in the stretch and settled for second when the final half-furlong caught up with her late in a 6 ½-furlong race when perhaps needing a race off a four-month layoff.

GILLIGAN: Broke poorly and had too much ground to make up on a speed favoring track in a race ruled by a loose wire-to-wire winner.

GLORY PRIDE: Broke slowly from the difficult rail post in a downhill turf sprint, but still recorded a solid third from that bad inside berth. Can win off the claim with a better post.

GOOD FRIDAY GAL: Got hooked in a duel for the lead and held on well for third on an anti-speed-biased day behind the 7-5 winner and a the perfect-trip closing runner up.

GUMPTION: Got caught in traffic on the turn and blocked in traffic when full of run throughout the stretch-run. Just needs a clean trip.

HANAKKUH: Battled for the lead in a three-way duel and held on best of the speedsters for second. Can win in return from the layoff.

IF YOU DO I SUE: Well bet first starter got bumped around at the start on a speed biased day and couldn’t make up for the bad break. Too early to give up on her.

JORDANELLE: Got squeezed back at the start when returning from a 10-month layoff, but still didn’t run a bad race for third, just a neck out of second. Try again.

LOV THE WAY YOUARE: Started too far back when needing a race off a layoff, but still made up 10 lengths en route to a third-place finish. Don’t ignore.

MAJESTIC DIAMOND: Outran 64-1 odds for a mid-pack finish despite the bad rail post and a bad trip in a downhill turf sprint. Can surprise at boxcar odds.

NOBLE COURT: Started too far behind in sprint prep return from a seven-month layoff. Prepped and ready to win.

PINK BLOSSOM: Fought for the lead on a blazing :21.2 and :44.1 pace in a 6 ½-furlong race and held on surprisingly well for third in first race back from an eight-month layoff at 24-1. Can’t be overlooked.

BEST BET: RUNFLATOUT: Aptly-named flat out runner debuted with a giant performance against 3-y-o maidens, beating a good favorite and destroying the field in 1:07.3 for six furlongs. Bound for stake races.

LONGSHOT: ARDOCORO: Set too fast a pace and lost late to the perfect set-up stalkers while still fending off the pace pressers. Can win off the four-month layoff.

 

HAWTHORNE

ACHIEVABLE: Got bumped and interfered with when closing outside against an inside bias, and was unlucky to lose due to that trouble in the stretch. Better luck next time.

CULLINAN: Disappointed thanks in large part to an outside trip on a gold rail day when last seen at Hawthorne. Can make amends.

DEPUTY SREVA: Stumbled and got bumped around at the start but then got rolling outside and passed half the field on an inside biased day in a race where no other horse made up ground from off the pace.

DON’T TOUCH MY GOLD: Was a victim on an outside trip on an inside-biased track back when Hawthorne was last open. Can improve.

FRANK’S CHOICE: Returned running from a year-and-a-half layoff, breaking slowly, rushing up into a three-length-gap speed duel and holding on for second behind a perfect-trip closer. Looms large in continued return from the layoff.

PUBLISH: Raced 5, 6, and 7 wide on an inside-biased gold rail day, but still held on for fourth in an underrated effort when last seen at Hawthorne.

RIVER OF NO RETURN: Had a terrible trip and was wide on the worst part of an inside-biased track in recent seventh-place finish. Candidate for a turnaround.

SLOW NICK C: Closed from far back to be second in a race otherwise dominated by horses racing up close to the pace. Looks good now in return from the layoff.

BEST BET: LISA’S TIGER: Was bumped and pinched back at the break but then managed to close from tenth to be second behind only a loose lone speed wire-to-wire winner. Just needs a clean start.

LONGSHOT: PROUD MCKEE: Got shuffled back at the start and had too much work to do from last in a 12-horse field, yet managed to finish only a neck out of fourth thanks to a five-wide rally on an inside-biased track.