1/7-8 (SA): San Gabriel (G2), Sham, Las Cienagas (G3's); Santa Ynez (G2)

[RolloTomasi]

To be fair, I had bad information. I was under the impression Little Juanito debuted in a maiden claimer. American Anthem's race had a few next out winners, though one was at Los Al, another was put up on DQ, and the other finally got it right 4th time out when just edging his stablemate that previously had put up goose eggs.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

To be fair, I had bad information. I was under the impression Little Juanito debuted in a maiden claimer. American Anthem's race had a few next out winners, though one was at Los Al, another was put up on DQ, and the other finally got it right 4th time out when just edging his stablemate that previously had put up goose eggs.

I am with you, I was hardly impressed with the horse in the race and certainly I never heard much about this horse going in so its not like he was that highly thought of...can win but seems like a spot to find someone else due to the inflated odds on this one.

[Indian Charlie]

American Anthem improved alot today. Looked like a serious runner.

The third place horse caught my eye as well, even though he was beaten a mile.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

American Anthem improved alot today. Looked like a serious runner.

The third place horse caught my eye as well, even though he was beaten a mile.

just not sure about either of those horses moving forward...i am getting to be a skeptic in my old age.

[RHT2004]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

just not sure about either of those horses moving forward...i am getting to be a skeptic in my old age.

Well the runner up lacks a lot compared to the winner. You have a G1 winner who ran in the BC vs a maiden winner. I thought American Anthem ran great today all things considered.
Sorry to hear that about Beach Bum, he is good.

[RolloTomasi]

The CA 3yo crop is very suspect at the moment. The two principle colts, Klimt and Gormley, were absolutely buried in the BC on their home track. Big Gray Rocket was unceremoniously drubbed in the Champagne. Hot Sean was leveled in the Delta Jackpot (by a horse who wasn't in the same zip code as division leader Classic Empire). Klimt now has a new trainer and his form has gone in reverse, never mind his pedigree which is not noted for longevity.

For half a second, I was convinced that Mastery was better than all the grumblings after his Del Mar win when he showed an impressive stretch gear when taking the Los Alamitos Futurity. Then, Irap, the winless runner-up in that race, ran back in a soft maiden field last week and couldn't even hit the board.

As for the Sham, that was a gut-busting stretch drive, so even if those colts have improved, they could have easily left any reserve in the sea of mud at Santa Anita (despite what Steve Haskin has to say about Baffert's training methods). Compound that with those ubiquitous WinStar silks and one can foresee American Anthem traveling the path of many a Elliot Walden-directed classic contender, i.e. tossed into various preps on a whim before a total meltdown a week or two before the Kentucky Derby.

Beware the dreaded "We are turning him out at WinStar for 30 days".

[10 pnt move up]

That horse that ran today seems ok though.