HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB

SANTA ANITA

ADAMANT: Broke 10th in a 12-horse field from the rail and then rushed up to the lead and went wire-to-wire after setting fractions of :21.2 and :44.4. Can repeat vs. winners.

BULLET TRAIN: Didn’t break alertly and then made a middle move before tiring in a disappointing effort. Still too early to give up.

CROCKER ROAD: Went four wide early in return from a four-month layoff and disappointed as the favorite. Can make amends.

FLETCHERS COVE: First starter set a fast and pressured pace in :21.1 and :44.2 en route to a wire-to-wire win. Likely repeater in first start vs. winners.

HOT STUFF HONEY: Outran 36-1 odds for third in difficult two-turn turf assignment in career debut, and might have finished second if not for traffic. Likely graduate back on the grass.

MANANAN LCLIR: Needed a race off of a year layoff, but didn’t do badly for fourth while chasing a loose leader. Can improve in second off the layoff.

MARIMBA RYHTHM: Showed good interest both early and late, but had too much ground to make up after shuffling back to seventh while wide on 12/28. Don’t overlook in next.

ORO DE OLE’: Broke poorly and then hustled up toward the pace and could do no more than chase the leaders home on 12/28. Can rebound.

PRINCESS KINZIE: Outran 49-1 odds for fourth vs. stakes foes in first start since Del Mar. Should turn into a nice 3-year-old.

SAINT CHRISJON: Broke slowest in an 11-horse field and then moved up to set the pace before yielding to the closers. Deserves another shot.

SCADU: Broke slowest in an 11-horse field in his career debut, but still ran a good race for fourth. Can graduate with a clean start.

SMOKEY WHITE EYES: Dueled for the lead with two others and still managed to finish third in a race where he ended up far ahead of his early challengers. Threat to shake loose up front.

WE ALL LOVE ALEYNA: Was behind the eight ball after breaking last in a 10-horse field. Still just missed third and should improve in second race off the freshening.

 

4STARSPECIAL: REFINERY: Finished off the board after losing ground four wide on both turns. Candidate for an immediate turnaround.

LONGSHOT: PURE INCENTIVE: Made a premature move into a duel for the lead and ended up finishing fourth, just a neck and a head out of second. Worth another try.

 

LOUISIANA DOWNS/FAIR GROUNDS

CHASES COMET: Returned from September-layoff and overcame stretch battle to prove best over nine rivals; gritty gelding takes another.

DIAMOND BAND: Broke slow and rallied for fourth when making her first start over this course; clearly capable of better.

HER MISSION: Managed a fairly even sixth-place finish when beaten only five lengths in a group of 12 when making her return from a three-month break; improves.

MAGIC BERTI: Set early pace and came up second best behind blowout winner in crowded group most recently; his turn next time.

MIGHTY BAD LADY: Has shown early speed and given way in each of her two starts since back from a September-layoff; steps up at square ticket for winning Norman barn.

POLISH GROVE: Overcame some early traffic to middle-move well to make the lead and then fade when apparently in need of a race off the bench; talent to work with.

SCAT CAT JAMEY: Tried to cut back in distance for latest and managed third following prior impressive win at route; always respect this 12-time winner who rarely runs a poor one.

SHE’S A PREMIUM: Showed improved early speed and overall interest when a wide fourth in her latest; stamp diploma past due for daughter of Point Given.

VICTORY PARK: Appeared headed in the right direction prior to sour seventh-place finish in her latest; gets benefit of doubt for winning barn.

 

4STARSPECIAL: PURELY CLASSIC: Battled early and faded in off-the-turf race when making his first start since late-October; steps up in big way back on turf.

LONGSHOT: TEXAS SPICE: Got on track a bit too late when fourth in her most recent start; primed to upset the right group in upcoming third start of current form cycle.