3/5 (SA): SA Hcp, Kilroe , Oaks (G1's)

[algobbi]

4th (1:35) Santa Anita Oaks (G1)

1 1/16 Miles (Sand) | Fillies | 3 Year Olds | Purse: $250,000

1 May Day Rose M. Garcia 122 Lbs B. Baffert - L
2 Zazu J. Rosario 122 Lbs J. Sadler - L
3 Turbulent Descent D. Flores 122 Lbs M. Puype - L
4 Kilograeme (HOL) G. Gomez 122 Lbs M. Mitchell - L
5 A Z Warrior R. Bejarano 122 Lbs B. Baffert - L

5th (2:10) Clocker's Corner H.

6 1/2 Furlongs (Turf) | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up | Purse: $75,000

1 Bab At The Bowster (IRE) B. Blanc 115 Lbs B. Cecil - L
2 She's Cheeky J. Rosario 117 Lbs P. Eurton - L
3 Minute Limit (IRE) V. Espinoza 117 Lbs J. Sadler - L
4 Linda Lou M. Garcia 115 Lbs R. Mandella - L
5 Ash Zee D. Flores 117 Lbs N. Drysdale - L
6 Well Deserved P. Valenzuela 116 Lbs D. Hofmans - L
7 Reba Is Tops J. Talamo III 121 Lbs M. Glatt - L
8 Unzip Me (HOL) R. Bejarano 125 Lbs M. Jones - L
9 Broken Dreams G. Gomez 118 Lbs T. Proctor Blk-On L

9th (4:38) Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. (G1)

1 Mile (Turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up | Purse: $300,000

1 Liberian Freighter M. Garcia 118 Lbs N. Drysdale - L
2 Fluke (BRZ) (HOL) R. Bejarano 118 Lbs H. Ascanio - L
3 Acclamation C. Santiago Reyes 120 Lbs D. Warren - L
4 Caracortado J. Talamo III 118 Lbs M. Machowsky - L
5 Square Eddie J. Rosario 118 Lbs D. O'Neill - L
6 Sebastian Flyte (GB) G. Gomez 118 Lbs B. Cecil - L
7 Lieve (BRZ) C. Nakatani 118 Lbs A. Avila - L
8 Times Gone By V. Espinoza 118 Lbs R. Mandella - L
9 Jeranimo D. Flores 118 Lbs M. Pender - L
10 Gallant Son M. Smith 118 Lbs F. Lucarelli - L

10th (5:12) Santa Anita H. (G1)

1 1/4 Miles (Sand) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up | Purse: $750,000

1 Soul Candy G. Gomez 114 Lbs P. Gallagher - L
2 Spurrier A. Quinonez 115 Lbs B. Baffert - L
3 Gladding R. Bejarano 117 Lbs J. Sadler - L
4 Pode Ir (BRZ) D. Flores 112 Lbs A. Avila - L
5 Twirling Candy J. Rosario 122 Lbs J. Sadler - L
6 Setsuko V. Espinoza 112 Lbs R. Mandella - L
7 Quindici Man M. Pedroza 115 Lbs C. Lewis - L
8 First Dude M. Garcia 116 Lbs B. Baffert - L
9 Tweebster M. Smith 116 Lbs B. Baffert - L
10 Aggie Engineer J. Talamo III 118 Lbs P. Gallagher - L
11 Game On Dude No Boy 115 Lbs B. Baffert - L

[hagginwood]

What a great day of racing. Really looking forward to it!
Even though the Oaks is a small field, I look forward to the rematch of Zazu and Turbulent Descent.

Love the matchup of Unzip Me and Reba is Tops as well as Caracortado vs Fluke and Square Eddie (odd to see him in this particular race)

Nice full field in the Big Cap - would love to see Twirling Candy win big here.

[jenn52318]

Why is Sidney's Candy not in the Kilroe? Isn't that his best distance and surface?

[Diver52]

I believe Sidney had some minor issue.

I should also point out that the weather forecast was sunny and 73F last time I looked.

I think I'll bet all the Bafferts to show and pray that TC runs out of the money.

[Hermes]

Johnny V! on Game on Dude...in the entry I received on DRF.
Garcia took the First Dude as I thought he would.

Sidney has been out reported more than a week ago...he had a quarter crack, missed training, is back training now.

edit to add JV is not named on any other mount at SA that day and I'd have to think he isn't coming out for the one average stakes mount in the outside post against the Sweet Beast. More likely means Baffert will scratch one of the four and move a rider. And PVal is open among others if he doesn't.

[algobbi]

Johnny V! on Game on Dude...in the entry I received on DRF.
Garcia took the First Dude as I thought he would.

Sidney has been out reported more than a week ago...he had a quarter crack, missed training, is back training now.

edit to add JV is not named on any other mount at SA that day and I'd have to think he isn't coming out for the one average stakes mount in the outside post against the Sweet Beast. More likely means Baffert will scratch one of the four and move a rider. And PVal is open among others if he doesn't.

I think BB will wait to see if another horse scratches out. JV is at Gulfstream.

[Lookin At Lucky]

I think I'll bet all the Bafferts to show and pray that TC runs out of the money.

Hey, I like your spirits, Diver!!! I will be most interested to see how Baffert fillies will do, with Martin on MDR and A Z Warrior returning. Also, wich Baffert horse do I want to win the Big Cap??? So many horses from the Baffert stable!!! Per Bloodhorse, only Charlie Whittingham ever had as many starters. So, looking forward to (Lord willing) an awesome and fruitful day for the BAFFERT stable. GO BOB!!!

[algobbi]

So 3 trainers have 72% of the field of the Big Cap? Wow.

[Spahny]

Twirling Candy shows up, he wins. Game On Dude had a very good race over the track and I like him to run well, but TC could win this at 75 percent. He towers over these on talent. If it's easy enough maybe Sadler could think about a Dubai Double?

I like Fluke in the Kilroe but maybe I'm just pulling for Humberto Ascanio. I may single him. I can trust this horse to give his best every time. The Oaks will be a rider's race. May Day Rose has it her way on the front end but I think the light went on for Zazu last time. I liked her last race and expect another move forward. She's run her best 2 with Rosario up. I am pulling for Reba Is Tops in the Clocker's Corner. But they are all trying to catch Unzip Me.

[peeptoad]

What does the (HOL) next to Kilograeme's and Unzip Me's names mean? One is a FL bred and the other is a CA bred.

[ElPrado1]

Probably their home track, as in where they are stabled. Different surfaces.

[peeptoad]

Probably their home track, as in where they are stabled. Different surfaces.

Oh. That's not normally included in the entries though is it?

[algobbi]

Morning Line
1. Soul Candy (30-1)
2. Spurrier (15-1)
3. Gladding (6-1)
4. Pode Ir (50-1)
5. Twirling Candy (4-5)
6. Setsuko (30-1)
7. Quindici Man (30-1)
8. First Dude (5-1)
9. Tweebster (15-1)
10. Aggie Engineer (6-1)
11. Game On Dude (15-1)

[Paladin]

I think I'll bet all the Bafferts to show and pray that TC runs out of the money.

That's about the only way I could see TC losing, Divine intervention

Looks like another big weekend for Sadler with Twirling candy and Zazu

[Kennedy]

Santa Anita Oaks
In the Las Virgenes I was eager to oppose Turbulent Descent because it was her first start on dirt. It was the right idea but I didn't use the right horse against her. This time around I think that Turbulent Descent gets the job done. She looked okay but just a bit rusty in her first start of the year. She's worked well since then and I think she'll move forward. Zazu is the major danger and she certainly would be the obvious choice if Turbulent Descent doesn't move forward. I think that AP Warrior is likely the third best horse in the race at least at this point when she may not be quite as fit as the others.

Turbulent Descent
Zazu
AP Warrior

Frank E. Kilroe Mile
I've always loved mile races on the grass and the Kilroe has often seen very good milers emerge from it. I see this as a match between the tactical speed of Fluke and the devastating turn of foot of Caracortado. These two horses are likely among the top 5 North American milers, despite Caracortado never actually having run 8f on the grass. It's clear that the distance will not be an issue for him. He's a specialist in the making. I think I have a higher respect for the talent and potential of Caracortado than I do for the class and consistency of Fluke. I see Scarface mowing him down in the final 1/8th. I'd likely use a horse like Liberian Freighter for third.

Caracortado
Fluke
Liberian Freighter

Santa Anita Handicap
Twirling Candy is a championship caliber horse. He may be the best horse in the country. It may be foolish to try and oppose him but I'm actually going to give it a shot. I don't see him as particularly vulnerable other than the 10f being a question. I think he will stay 10f but perhaps not on his first try. This is a horse with Ghostzapper type ability in that I think his best distance is near a flat mile but he is simply so good he can outrun almost anyone at any distance. He has had some focus issues as well so I'm kind of hoping that might come into play. The horses I'd use against him are the Gallagher pair of Aggie Engineer and/or Soul Candy. Aggie Engineer was on a good roll until his last start. He just seemed completely out of it that day. I noticed that his works leading up to his last race were quite dull in comparison with other works. Gallagher took him away from SA after his last race and he's been working at HP. His morning sharpness has returned and I think he's a live horse and will give Twirling Candy his toughest test. Soul Candy is unproven on dirt but if he handles the surface he's got a huge shot. He handles the distance well and is in very good form of late. It would not shock me to see a career best out of him if he handles the dirt. I think that Gladding also has a big chance but it's hard to see him getting left alone on the lead. I think he'll be folding it in late. I'm not thrilled with any of the Baffert quartet but realistically any of them could hit the frame. First Dude has the most talent and has been working well but can Baffert unlock that talent? I will definitely not jump on board the first time. Tweebster seems to be the most solid Baffert horse but one wonders if he really would be good enough to win a race like this even if the favorite failed. I'd likely look at boxing the Gallagher horses with Twirling Candy.

Aggie Engineer
Soul Candy
Twirling Candy

[The Tin Man]

Morning Line
1. Soul Candy (30-1)
2. Spurrier (15-1)
3. Gladding (6-1)
4. Pode Ir (50-1)
5. Twirling Candy (4-5)
6. Setsuko (30-1)
7. Quindici Man (30-1)
8. First Dude (5-1)
9. Tweebster (15-1)
10. Aggie Engineer (6-1)
11. Game On Dude (15-1)

I love these odds!

If by chance, Twirling Candy goes off at even money, there could be some pretty nice trifecta and superfecta payouts even if he wins.

IMHO Spurrier, Quindici Man, Tweebster and Game On Dude have legitimate shots at hitting the top 4 at high odds.

And I'm as sold on TC's greatness as the rest of us, but it wouldn't shock or stun me if Gladding, First Dude, Aggie Engineer or even Game On Dude pulled the upset ... I'm NOT predicting it to happen, but it certainly wouldn't stun me if it did.

That being said, I want TC to romp here. I'm thinking he may be the top older male in the country and I'm hoping he continues to remove all doubt.

If I try to beat him, it'll be on the cheap. My main bet will be with him as long as he hits the dirt at 4/5 or higher. I'll look for some high odd value underneath him via a trifecta or super.

[algobbi]

Extra incentive for Joe Talamo this weekend. Family's in town.

[islandgirl45]

I love these odds!

If by chance, Twirling Candy goes off at even money, there could be some pretty nice trifecta and superfecta payouts even if he wins.

IMHO Spurrier, Quindici Man, Tweebster and Game On Dude have legitimate shots at hitting the top 4 at high odds.

And I'm as sold on TC's greatness as the rest of us, but it wouldn't shock or stun me if Gladding, First Dude, Aggie Engineer or even Game On Dude pulled the upset ... I'm NOT predicting it to happen, but it certainly wouldn't stun me if it did.

That being said, I want TC to romp here. I'm thinking he may be the top older male in the country and I'm hoping he continues to remove all doubt.

If I try to beat him, it'll be on the cheap. My main bet will be with him as long as he hits the dirt at 4/5 or higher. I'll look for some high odd value underneath him via a trifecta or super.

I'm rooting for First Dude. He's been training well and it's just his time.

[algobbi]

Post time for the Santa Anita Handicap has been moved to 5:12 p.m. PT.

[stark]

Post time for the Santa Anita Handicap has been moved to 8:12 p.m. ET.

Why not say 5:12 Pacific Time since the venue is actually in the west, not east.