2/6 (SA): Las Virgenes S. (G1); Strub & Bob Lewis (G2's)
 

3rd (1:31) Leriodesanimaux H.

1 Mile (Turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $65,000

1 Sudden War (ARG) Solis A 114 L
2 Quindici Man Rosario J 115 L
3 Fluke (BRZ) Talamo J 121 L
4 Battle of Hastings (GB) Baze T C 121 L
5 Mr. Big Smith M E 113 L
6 Cherokee Artist Leparoux J R 116 L
7 Blue Chagall (FR) Gomez G K 118 L
8 Great Siege (IRE) Espinoza V 116 L



4th (2:03) Las Virgenes S. (G1)

1 Mile (All Weather Track) | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $250,000

1 Summer Games Baze M C 116 L
2 Blind Luck Bejarano R 122 L
3 La Nez Smith M E 118
4 Switch Baze T C 116 L
5 Evening Jewel Espinoza V 118 L
6 Crisp Rosario J 118 L



5th (2:34) Wishing Well II H.

About 6 1/2 Furlongs (Downhill turf) | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $60,000

1 She's Cheeky Solis A 116 L
2 Mona de Momma Talamo J 115 L
3 Pasar Silbano (IRE) Flores D R 116 L
4 Dreamt (GB) Gomez G K 115 L
5 Step Softly (GB) Leparoux J R 115 L
6 Royal Taat (NZ) Rosario J 115 L
7 Dance to My Tune Bejarano R 116 L
8 Skedee Atkinson P 116 L
9 Empressive Lady Espinoza V 116 L
10 Porto Marmay (IRE) Sutherland C 117 L
11 Hermione's Magic (GB) Garcia M 116 L



8th (4:07) Robert B. Lewis S. (G2)

1 1/16 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Macias Espinoza V 117 L
2 Dave in Dixie Rosario J 115 L
3 Tiz Chrome Gomez G K 117 L
4 Caracortado Atkinson P 117 L
5 Tango Tango Bejarano R 115 L
6 American Lion Leparoux J R 117 L
7 Domonation Talamo J 115 L



9th (4:38) Strub S. (G2)

1 1/8 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 4 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $200,000

1 Eagle Poise Leparoux J R 117 L
2 Rendezvous Bejarano R 121 L
3 Square Eddie Talamo J 117 L
4 Viscount Gomez G K 117 L
5 Gallant Son Solis A 117 L
6 Diferentkindagreat Valdivia J Jr 117 L
7 Heavenly Wind Baze T C 117 L
8 Smart Bid Smith M E 119 L
9 Misremembered Espinoza V 121 L
10 Massone Rosario J 117 L

This is about as salty a race as you're gonna get for 65k:

3rd (1:31) Leriodesanimaux H.

1 Mile (Turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $65,000

1 Sudden War (ARG) Solis A 114 L
2 Quindici Man Rosario J 115 L
3 Fluke (BRZ) Talamo J 121 L
4 Battle of Hastings (GB) Baze T C 121 L
5 Mr. Big Smith M E 113 L
6 Cherokee Artist Leparoux J R 116 L
7 Blue Chagall (FR) Gomez G K 118 L
8 Great Siege (IRE) Espinoza V 116 L

NT

Battle of Hastings should be a lock for second.

I have to take a shot with Blue Chagall after being humiliated last out at short odds in the Citation. Not much of an excuse, but I thought Gomez moved too early into a soft-pace.

This is his make-or-break race and he might end up an overlay after the Hollywood fiasco.

I agree, Gomez kind of panicked in the Citation and launched that big wide move around the turn only to fall apart. Fluke, on the other hand, enjoyed a perfect trip and got through at the right time.

I think Battle of Hastings will make his presence known as well.

NT

Can someone please explain to me how the Las Virgenes is still a Grade 1?

I can't vouch for Stardom Bound (although she was a champion) or Golden Doc A, but Rags To Riches and Balance (2007, 2006) went on to win important races.

I wonder in general how long the Graded Stakes Committee gives a race before messing with its rank. Wasn't the Clark changed (one up, one down) two years straight?

The race has a great history as far as past winners goes...at least when it was run on dirt.

Rags to Riches won the last dirt running of it.

Look at '94 to '00...

'00 Surfside 1st - Spain 2nd - they eventually run 1-2 in the BC Distaff

'99 Excellent Meeting 1st - multiple Gr 1 winner Tout Charment 2nd

'98 Keeper Hill won - later took the Ky Oaks

'97 Sharp Cat won

'96 Antespend over Cara Rafaela and Hidden Lake

'95 Serena's Song won

'94 Lakeway won

Hard to beat that kind of a collection. Winning Colors actually was beaten by Goodbye Halo.

I hear you though ... the synthetic versions of this race have had disgustingly bad fields.

Serena's Song beat subsequent Acorn winner Cat's Cradle (a CA-bred) and Ashland winner Urbane.

Some decent broodmares pepper '90s renewals. Cara Rafaela (Bernardini), Antespend (Friend's Lake), Urbane (Suave), Rings A Chime (Country Star), Nice Assay (Came Home, AP Assay), Bright Candles (Grand Slam), Serena's Song (Grand Reward), Magical Maiden (Miss Houdini) etc.

Also, Derby hopeful Drosselmeyer is out of Las Virgenes winner Golden Ballet.

Fluke and Great Siege.

Fluke will probably have another perfect trip.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...2=-118.034&e=0

Don't get your hopes up for those turf races Saturday!

No f'n hand watering for a while.

Not just the turf, but the whole weekend card could be in trouble.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weath...ast_2009-12-31

This sickens me. I was going to be a (winning) Blind Luck bridge-jumper.

Injured and retired...

Tiz Chrome should win impressively on Sat.

Will be either Caracortado, or American Lion. Caracortado is all heart (all racehorse.) Don't like the connections, but he'll try to overcome it. Even if he throws a bad one in, he'll win next out, because he is a racehorse. He wants it. To be honest, these game ones usually get hurt. Far as talent goes, if he fires, A Lion will be tough to hold off. There is no comparison between the action of Tiz Chrome n' A Lion. A Lion has a devastating stride. We all know who has the best juice, though.

B.B.-"Bodie, can you say who is gunna win the Derby?"

BODIE -" TIT CHROME "

Ain't stopped raining in L.A. since end of the races at Anita on Friday. Must be a mess over there.

Can't see them running today at Anita. It just keeps raining here (whole night, n' all the early morning.)

Oh no! .... it's that dangerous dangerous rain!