HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB LEAD

FAIRPLEX / SANTA ANITA

 

AMP AND ADRENALIN: Went up to press a very fast two-turn pace and held on the best of the front-runners for second behind a winning perfect set-up deep closer.

BIG MACHER: Stumbled out of the gate from the tricky rail post at Del Mar to start last in a 12-horse field and lose his best chance at the gate. Fits well vs. maiden claimers.

EASY GOES BY: Got hooked up front in a three-length-gap speed duel and managed to outrun 25-1 odds for third. Still a threat to shake loose up front.

GELILA: Was the only horse in her race to make a dent from off the pace when closing for a clear second in a race otherwise ruled by front-runners.

GHOST N YOUR HEART: Broke slow to be 5 lengths behind the rest of the field early, but closed well and lost by just 1 ½ lengths despite finishing off the board. Don’t ignore.

GOTTA SKEDADDLE: Got caught in a three-length-gap speed duel and still outran 26-1 odds for fourth at Del Mar. Looms large vs. the local competition.

GRAZENTTE: Broke slowly in fairly well-bet career debut, but was the only horse in the race to do damage from off the pace when passing a bunch of horses for third. Just needs a good start.

HALF DOME DUDE: Outran 18-1 odds for third in prep return from a four-month layoff, and looms ready to win now.

HIDINGINPLAINSIGHT: Set a pressured and extremely fast :21.2 and :44 pace and got cooked as a result. Still a threat to shake loose up front, especially at Fpx.

HURRY HOME CLOVER: Pressed the pace too close-up to hot fractions when losing ground wide from post 10. Don’t ignore off that third-place finish.

MAKE MORE MONEY: Bush league shipper broke slowly when needing a race off a brief layoff and then rushed up and still finished second at Del Mar. Perfectly set-up for a Fairplex win.

TALE BE TOLD: Was crowded in traffic to begin far back in 5 1/2F sprint prep return race off a year+ layoff. Live in return from the long layoff.

THE GATEKEEPER: Got caught in an early 4 ½-length-gap speed duel in fast 7F fractions, then never got a breather up front and still finished third while by far the best of the early speed horses.

TORNADO ALLIE: Got caught in a 2 ½-length-gap speed duel at Del Mar and held on well for second behind only the winning 7-5 favorite. Ready to win off the claim.

TRUELEE SCRAPPIN: Broke through the gate prior to the start and was far back in the early running before making a big late run for fourth, beaten less than two lengths. Keep an eye on him in the post parade and give him another chance.

TEBOWING: Missed the break and lost all chance at the start in recent fifth-place finish. Can rebound with a clean start.

TIME FOR ANGIE: Lost all chance in the Barretts Debutante when bumped and forced out extremely wide into and around the first turn. Toss out that race and try again.

BEST BET – WARREN’S SUGARBUZZ: Surged late but ran out of ground after getting caught in traffic in mid-stretch. Lost by less than a length while a head out of second and just needs a clean trip.

LONGSHOT – REACH A DECISION: Got hooked in a fast three-length-gap speed duel in unrealistic route fractions and Fairplex and finished off the board as a result, but missed third by just a head and a neck while 20 lengths clear of his early speed challenger.

 

ARLINGTON

 

CAMAGIN: Set a pressured pace with a four-length-gap back to the rest and held on strongly to just get nipped by a nose. Looms a dangerous speed threat.

GLAMOUR N GLORY: Was roughed-up at the start and then floated out and interfered with late in unlucky second-place finish in return from a brief layoff. Gets the glory in next.

IT’S A BAD RAPIT: Got bumped around and shuffled back at the start which was too much to overcome at 5F. Try again in second off the layoff.

KITCHEN BOSS: Got shut off in mid-stretch and then came flying home but too late due to that troubled trip. Just needs a clean trip.

LITTLE MICHAEL: Broke last in a seven-horse field and then rushed up to press a loose speed horse en route to a third-place finish. Can win with a better break.

MISS DARLA: Got shuffled back right at the start and then rushed up to press the pace and still just missed despite getting carried out in deep stretch. Better luck next time.

RIGHTOUS PARTY: Broke a step slow from the rail and then rushed up to set the pace and held on as long as he could before getting caught only by the 7-5 favorite. Dangerous speed only needs a clean start to graduate.

ROCK AND ROLL STAR: Was too close to a crazy pace in a race that set up for closers in what was her return from a four-month layoff. Should get a better pace scenario in next.

SHAMROCK EDGE: Got hooked in a five-length-gap three-way speed duel with the 7-5 favorite and won the battle but lost the war in a race that set up for closer/stalkers. Looms a threat to shake loose up front at a price.

SOUTHERN BLING: Closed late for second behind an unofficial track record in sprint prep return from a three-month layoff. Try again in return from the layoff.

STERLINGTEN: Emerged from an early four-way, six-length-gap battle royale for the lead and shook loose and nearly held on before getting nipped in the last stride by a perfect-trip stalker. Knocking on the door and ready to win.

BEST BET – RIO CHAMA: Bobbled at the start and then got caught four wide chasing a loose wire-to-wire winning odds-on favorite, but still nearly caught that rival in a big effort from too far off the pace for second. Must respect.

LONGSHOT: BANDED: Well-bet out-of-town invader ran better than it looks when finishing fifth after getting shuffled back in traffic. Too early to give up on her.