A few thoughts on Santa Anita today.

R1 #2 FALLOUT 6/1- This filly had every excuse in her debut at 15/1. She was sandwiched between two horses when the gates opened and then dueled between horses through the far turn and then with the heavy chalk for the length of the long Los Al stretch. After running a number in the debut that is in the ballpark for this level, she is now protected in start number two and over half of Hoffman’s second time starters improve off their first out figs.

R3 #6 AWESOME HEIGHTS 20/1- I got tipped off that this horse was a runner prior to his debut routing on turf and after betting a few bucks across, I got excited when he made a nice middle move and made up a little ground in the stretch to finish 5th. I added him to my stable mail was shocked when I saw him entered in this one turn dirt affair. Now this race appears loaded on paper however based on the clocker reports I have read, none of these are the second coming. Also, although this one was touted to prior to the debut his works have been significantly better since he got the start under his belt. Drysdale hits at close to 30% with second time starters. Bombs away.

R5 #10 MOON KITTY 4/1- I like the experienced ones best in this spot, for me the race goes through 8,9 or this filly. Although the comparison is not apples to apples, based on differences in the surfaces and distances of their debuts, I think she showed a great deal more ability finishing 6th following a wide and troubled trip sprinting on turf at Del Mar as the favorite. Based on Peter Miller’s numbers with second time starters and the fact that all of this gal’s siblings showed their best on dirt, I think she moves way up in this one and unless one of the firsters is a monster, it should be more than enough.

R6 #10 TOUGH SUNDAY 20/1- This is a bit of a reach however this horse definitely has some class based on pedigree and looking at his running lines he is coming out of good races in which the other horses are coming back and winning races. He has never raced on turf/hill however he is very fast, possibly even the fastest horse in the race and speed is deadly on the hill. He just may be able to clear from that outside post.