Santa Anita 1/18

Was a bit blown away by your post. It takes some inventive handicapping to predict that 5yo Patch of Blue would run any differently than he did.

Will agree that plodders have a better chance at eight panels than nine but playing a plodder with the rail up is seldom good business.

The winner is a graded stakeswinner who had twice run huge seconds in this class and needed his last, when given the race. It was a hard race, but a logical sequence and would not have replied if we had not posted a prerace opinion.

Mandella is a good off the shelf trainer because of his stock. No hard feelings. bbb