Selections for races 8, 9, 10 BC Saturday. Santa Anita

[bigalkie]

Race 8 )

Spanish Moon - Is a classic late bloomer who was a well bred under achiever, until late in his four year old campaign. He is really hitting his stride as he comes to this off back to back wins at the highest levels in Europe and both of those scores came at this taxing distance. He has speed and should be closely tracking Precious Passion. As mentioned previously, his trainer is a BC veteran with three winners to date. He adds lasix, and gets a rider switch to Fallon, as Moore sticks with Conduit. The one to beat.

Conduit ( Ire ) - Trainer Stoute looks to hold a hot hand here, with the top two choices. This guy came off the bench to try Sea The Stars in The Arc and he was only beaten a couple of lengths while taking a lot of support at the windows. He should be much tighter this time around and there are no Sea The Stars or Youmzain's in the line up today. He is a three time winner going the trip. He has regular rider Moore and he too adds lasix. He was good enough to take this last year, but won't offer much of a return. He is an obvious player here.   

Precious Passion - Has home field advantage and is pretty sharp these days. He loves a hard and fast turf course and will get that here. He is gifted with a ton of natural speed and this track has been kind to front runners the past week.He is making his second start in this form cycle and could be ignored at the windows with all of the big name Euro invaders lined up here. It wouldn't be a complete surprise to so see him take this down for the home team.

Monzante - Really found his best stride late last season when he took down the Eddie Read at Del Mar. He was laid up shortly after that and it must have been a large issue as he didn't resurface for another 54 weeks. He was very well prepared by trainer Mitchell to grab the place award in a minor stakes event. His connections them sent him into the Goodwood over the pro-ride surface and he was a flat seventh. With those two conditioning events out of the way, he gets back to his preferred footing, gets a rider switch to the red hot Bejarano who fits him well. He is listed at 30/1 ML and should go up from there. He may be worth a few bucks as a saver and could easily slip into a tri and boost the return.  

Race 9 )

Colonel John - Is making his fourthstart back after a long time away and he keeps getting better. He loves this track and came up a neck shy in The Goodwood a month ago.He has been working brilliantly in the mornings and regular rider Gomez gets the call. With home track advantage and a natural affinity for synthetic racing, he has several advantages over runners who trying to adapt from turf racing and traveling from Europe. He is listed at 12/1 ML and with all of the attention that Zenyatta and Rip Van Wikle will receive, this guy could score at long odds.

Regal Ransom - Something went wrong in The Kentucky Derby and this guy had to laid up until mid September when he came back and jogged in the Louisiana Super Derby. He served notice that day and he has been absolutely flying around in the mornings getting ready for this big test. He has a few local drills and they have been sparkling, so pro-ride shouldn't pose a problem. He does race for Godolphin and they have been on a tear since Saratoga, this guy could catch the wave. His 20/1 ML may drift up. He looks live.

Quality Road - Was everybody's winter book favorite for the Kentucky Derby and he was right on schedule to find his place in history before he was laid up and had to miss the Triple Crown Series. He resurfaced in August and romped in the Amsterdam easily disposing of the likes of Capt Candy Man. He wasn't quite good enough for Summer Bird in The Travers and The JC Gold Cupbut those two races came in the slop, a surface that may not have agreed with him. He now tries pro-ride for the first time. Pletcher thinks that he fits in this spot, we will have to agree. He was always thought to be a special horse. He too will offer a healthy return. Maybe.  

Rip Van Winkle ( Ire ) - Will likely go off as chalk based on his intimidating UK form. He had a nice tightener in the QE 11 stakes when he easily put away the likes of Zacinto and Delegator. The word from the clockers is that the footing doesn't really agree with him and he can get settled down. If he is washed in the post parade, I will draw a complete line through his name and make Zenyatta my fourth choice. He is best at mile but is pure class, if he can draw on that, he should hit the ticket. 

Zenyatta has beat nothing all year and will be grossly overbet. She could hit the tri ticket but we will take a firm stand against her on the front end.  

Race 10 )

Meteore -

Battle of Hastings ( GB ) -

Rendezvous -

Massone -