Strub Stakes (G2)

[Paladin]

Santa Anita Park - February 4, 2012
Race 8 - 4:07 PM
Strub S. (Grade II)
Purse $200,000.For Four-Year-Olds. One And One Eighth Miles.

PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainer
1 Jaycito (KY) M Garcia118 B Baffert
2 Prayer for Relief (KY) R Bejarano123 B Baffert
3 Beer Meister (KY) G W Corbett118 M Ortiz, Sr.
4 Ultimate Eagle (KY) M A Pedroza123 M Pender
5 Clubhouse Ride (KY) V Espinoza118 C A Lewis
6 Indian Winter (KY) J Rosario118 J Hollendorfer
7 Tapizar (KY) C S Nakatani123 S M Asmussen
8 Balladry (KY) J Talamo118 E G Harty

[Ty88]

Taps!

[Diver52]

Jaycito? I'll believe it when I see it.

[The Tin Man]

Probably Tapizar ... But I'm wanting The Eagle.

Tapizar/Eagle exacta box ... Tapizar LOVES this track.

[Secretariat Forever]

Jaycito? I'll believe it when I see it.

Same here. But if it's FINALLY for real....YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!


Seems like a pretty tough race for him to be coming back in after months off, when you first look at it. But Prayer for Relief is slow. Tapizar has never proved to be able to stretch out this far, his one try last year in the Robert b Lewis on this track, he was 5th. Though, you could blame it on the injury or the fast fractions. So if he can get away with a fairly easy pace, he will probably be very tough to run down. Ultimate Eagle has never run on dirt, though 3 tries on Hollywood Park's synthetic track which is supposedly most like dirt than the others, with two 3rd places, and one 5th place finish. Baffert has been saying all along now that the more distance the better for Jaycito, hopefully he is right.

[Lookin At Lucky]

Tapizar will probably blow them away, but this looks like a nice return race for Jaycito. Hope he can keep it together for a while.

[The Tin Man]

Ultimate Eagle has never run on dirt.

One thing though ... Behind the scenes(and in front of them, if one follows The Eagle), his trainer(Mike Pender) and owner(B. J. Wright) both swear that The Eagle LOVES dirt and that it's his best surface. They swear by this and say he'll be a monster on it ... that they have just been waiting for the right time. That time is obviously now.

B. J. constantly chirps that The Eagle is the best 4 year old in the country. With this dirt try, we'll see if B. J. and Mike are spot on or not. The time is now!

For the record, The Eagle has trained on dirt before. Multiple times at Santa Anita last year too ... And they say he loves it!

Guess we'll see ... I sure hope they're right ... I LOVE The Eagle! He's such a cool horse with such a wonderful personality. Very unique.

Best of luck to The Eagle ... But Tapizar will be tough. I don't really worry about any other horse finishing ahead of The Eagle in this race.

Tapizar and The Eagle will likely be burning speed on the front end for this race ... We'll see who keeps going and who backs out soon.

[Secretariat Forever]

One thing though ... Behind the scenes(and in front of them, if one follows The Eagle), his trainer(Mike Pender) and owner(B. J. Wright) both swear that The Eagle LOVES dirt and that it's his best surface. They swear by this and say he'll be a monster on it ... that they have just been waiting for the right time. That time is obviously now.

B. J. constantly chirps that The Eagle is the best 4 year old in the country. With this dirt try, we'll see if B. J. and Mike are spot on or not. The time is now!


Tapizar and The Eagle will likely be burning speed on the front end for this race ... We'll see who keeps going and who backs out soon.

should set up nicely for Jaycito then.


I don't under stand why if he's so much better on dirt, they have never tried him on it until now?

[The Tin Man]

should set up nicely for Jaycito then.

If they BOTH melt down ... And Jaycito is on his game.

But I'm betting only 1 melts down ... Just a question of who.

I've read where Pender is going to let Pedroza make the call on The Eagle. So I'm thinking The Eagle will let Tapizar have the lead and run on his hip ... within a length or two. Try to save a little energy and then try to pounce at the end, when Tapizar hopefully starts to lug a bit.

[Secretariat Forever]

Tinny, will you be there to take pictures?!

[The Tin Man]

I don't under stand why if he's so much better on dirt, they have never tried him on it until now?

As far as why The Eagle hasn't started on dirt until now?

Well ... He was set to be B. J.'s Derby horse last year, but got a severe case of colic and either almost died or died momentarily and was brought back. Regardless, he pretty much nearly died.

Well ... Needless to say, that shot to Hell the Derby aspirations. By time The Eagle was back in order and able to make his debut ... It was the HP Spring/Summer meet(Synth) ... Then came Del Mar(Synth ... So he ran on Turf. 2 wins.) ... Then Fairplex(Not gonna run him there) ... Then Oak Tree(The Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby on Turf. Which he won. So that was a good move. 3 race win streak on Turf and 1st Graded win.) ... Then back to HP(Synth ... So he won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Turf. 4 race win streak on Turf.) ... Now back to Santa Anita(Grade 2 Sir Beaufort. 4 race winning streak on Turf. So why stop?) ... He lost the Sir Beaufort ... Streak ended ... So basically, this is really only his 1st logical chance ... Now that his Turf win streak has ended.

[The Tin Man]

Tinny, will you be there to take pictures?!

Yes I will be! Who do you want Sec?

[Secretariat Forever]

Yes I will be! Who do you want Sec?

Yay! Jaycito of course!


Assuming he runs. lol

[Secretariat Forever]

As far as why The Eagle hasn't started on dirt until now?

Well ... He was set to be B. J.'s Derby horse last year, but got a severe case of colic and either almost died or died momentarily and was brought back. Regardless, he pretty much nearly died.

Well ... Needless to say, that shot to Hell the Derby aspirations. By time The Eagle was back in order and able to make his debut ... It was the HP Spring/Summer meet(Synth) ... Then came Del Mar(Synth ... So he ran on Turf. 2 wins.) ... Then Fairplex(Not gonna run him there) ... Then Oak Tree(The Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby on Turf. Which he won. So that was a good move. 3 race win streak on Turf and 1st Graded win.) ... Then back to HP(Synth ... So he won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Turf. 4 race win streak on Turf.) ... Now back to Santa Anita(Grade 2 Sir Beaufort. 4 race winning streak on Turf. So why stop?) ... He lost the Sir Beaufort ... Streak ended ... So basically, this is really only his 1st logical chance ... Now that his Turf win streak has ended.

We'll see how he transfers to dirt!

[The Tin Man]

Yay! Jaycito of course!


Assuming he runs. lol

Big assumption huh?

And you've got it! I'll get Jaycito for you as long as he makes it to the paddock.

[The Tin Man]

We'll see how he transfers to dirt!

Yep! We'll see if Mike and B. J. are on point. When you look into their eyes when they're saying it, they 100% believe it. But it's one thing to believe and another for it to happen ... After all ... It's horse racing!

Either way ... I'm eager to see it. If The Eagle wins, look for me in the winner's circle. I've got stroke with these guys. Also, look for me in the paddock. I'll be there for sure!

Bottom line though ... As long as The Eagle comes home safely. That's the main thing. But of course I'd love him to win though!

Tapizar will be tough though. It appears he's on his "A" game and he loves this course.

[Secretariat Forever]

Big assumption huh?

And you've got it! I'll get Jaycito for you as long as he makes it to the paddock.

thank you!!

[The Tin Man]

thank you!!

You're welcome.

[The Tin Man]

SF ... As a teaser ... Here is a really nice pic I got of Jaycito in the paddock at Del Mar last Summer ...

Hope you like it!

[Secretariat Forever]

Thanks! How tall is he?!