Winter racing moves to a new level on Boxing Day with Santa Anita commencing their big meet and Gulfstream now on the horizon as well. Fabulous editions of the G1 Malibu and La Brea highlight the Arcadia action, while a trio of nicely drawn stakes help Calder wind down their interminable season. Aqueduct is back on docket today after the holiday hiatus, where Scott Lake will try for a third Gravesend victory with the increasingly impressive Pashito the Che. Tampa has an excellent 2 year old card with the $75k Sandpiper and Inaugural stakes for both sexes.

A great way to kick off the final week of what has been a remarkably eventful 2009. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are ready to dive into the Holiday Week of racing!

AQUEDUCT

POST-SCRATCHES

3rd: Gravesend H., 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Pashito the Che 1-1 2nd
Best Value: #4 Joey P. 12-1 7th
Next Best: #1a (POE) Digger 3-1 WON

6th: NYB-MSW, 2yo, 6f (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #13 Save Time for Me 5-2 2nd
Nest Best: #12 Justtakemypicture 3-1 5th
Best Value: #10 Cayo Hueso 8-1 3rd
Super Add: #1 Yawanna Twist 5-1 WON

7th: CLM/N2L, 3+, 6f (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #1a The Mayor 2-1 5th
Best Value: #8 Triple Glory 6-1 4th
Next Best: #7 Great Debater 7-2 11th
Super Add: #9 Khan of Khans 10-1 7th

8th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 1m-70y (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #7 Came East 7-2 9th
Best Value: #8 El Real Madrid 5-1 5th
Next Best: #2 Billy Bear 3-1 6th
Super Add: #10 Almighty Silver 10-1 WON

9th: NYB-MSW, 2yo-F, 1m-70y (Super)

Most Likely: #5 Oatkadestinyschild 7-2 9th
Best Value: #4 Nina’s Spirit 15-1 4th
Next Best: #7 Glory in Motion 4-1 6th
Super Add: #9 Fiddlers Wildheart 12-1 5th

<$75 P4 Play:

Note SCR’s would impact play..

6: 12-13
7: 1-8
8: 1-2-7-8-10
9: 4-5-7

2x2x5x3 = $60

CALDER RACE COURSE

POST-SCRATCHES:

9th: Kenny Noe Jr. H. (G3), 3+, 7f (P3, Super)

This Ones for Phil a SCR..

Most Likely: #7 Biker Boy 3-1 5th
Best Value: #4 Dream Maestro 20-1 2nd
Next Best: #6 Motovato 5-1 WON
Super Add: #3 Pechito 12-1 6th

10th: W. L. McKnight (G2), 3+, 12f-T (P3, Super)

Note that Precious Passion would SCR should the turf be yielding or worse..

Most Likely: #10 Precious Passion 5-2 5th
Best Value: #9 Cloudy’s Knight 5-1 WON
Next Best: #1 Winchester 4-1 3rd
Super Add: #3 Warning Zone 6-1 10th

11th: Stage Door Betty (G3), F&M-3+, 8.5f-T (DD, Super)

Huge SCR of Jessica is Back..

Most Likely: #3 Morena 6-1 4th
Best Value: #9 Even Road 12-1 8th
Next Best: #10 Miss Singhsix 6-1 5th
Super Add: #6 Lomaki 15-1 6th

<$25 P3 Play:

9: 4-7
10: 9-10
11: 1-2-3-5-9-10

2x2x6 = $24

SANTA ANITA

PRE-SCRATCHES

6th: 70th Cal Breeders’ Champion, Cal-bred 2yo, 8.5f (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Caracortado 9-5 WON
Nest Best: #8 La Nez 3-1 3rd
Best Value: #9 Bud I Crushed It 15-1
Super Add: #10 Tribal Face 12-1

7th: 10th Sir Beaufort (G3), 3yo, 1m-T (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #6 The Usual Q. T. 4-5 WON
Next Best: #5 Massone 9-2 3rd
Best Value: #8 Pleasure to Ride 8-1 9th
Super Add: #2 Tamborim 8-1 5th

8th: 37th La Brea (G1), 3yo-F, 7f (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Amazed by Grace 6-1 3rd
Best Value: #8 SCR
Next Best: #10 Gabby’s Golden Gal 4-1 7th
Super Add: #12 Pinkarella 6-1 8th

9th: 58th Malibu (G1), 3yo, 7f (DD, Super)

Fascinating edition of this sire-building year-ender.. Willing to go against 4-1 ML fave Misremembered who sure looks better on dirt, drew the tough #1, and may simply need two turns..

Most Likely: #5 Mythical Power 8-1 10th
Next Best: #2 Kinsella 12-1 12th
Best Value: #10 New Bay 12-1 13th
Super Add: #8 Join in the Dance 20-1 11th

10th: MSW, 2yo, 6.5f (Super, Super High 5)

Most Likely: #2 Nextdoorneighbor 5-2 4th
Best Value: #6 Leothelion 8-1 2nd
Next Best: #1 Ziggy’s Stardust 7-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #3 Concord Point 4-1 WON
High 5 Play: #11 Imperial Pride 10-1

<$75 P4 Play:

7: 5-6
8: 4-8-10
9: 2-5-8-10
10: 1-2-6

2x3x4x3 = $72

Left ‘first time versus winners’ A Jealous Woman off the tabs in P6 opener Sunday at Hollywood, and that ended up being the difference between hitting the $13,327 closing day sextet. Ran the table thereafter for $92.80 5/6 conso highlighted by sweet $36.00 Best Value winner Right to Work in the 6th.

Caught the ho hum Late P4 ($99.80), and P6 conso tickets paid for the effort at the mandatory payout, so all in all, a nice way to finish a lucrative Hollywood fall-winter season. Hope you did well. Decent set of races late in N’Orleans this afternoon.

FAIR GROUNDS

PRE-SCRATCHES

6th: ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 1m-T (.50 P4, P3, Super)

Most Likely: #6 Quiet Class 4-1 7th
Best Value: #3 Midway Holiday 6-1 WON
Next Best: #5 Cinco Emayo 5-2 2nd
Super Add: #8 Passion Tamer 6-1 5th

7th: MSW, 2yo-F, 6f (P3, Super)

Most Likely: #7 Barton Springs 3-1 WON
Best Value: #6 Bashful Bertie 8-1 10th
Next Best: #8 Why Us 4-1 5th
Super Add: #10 Costly 8-1 2nd

8th: LA-bred OC/N2X, F&M-3+, 1m-T (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #5 Careless Rapture 4-1 WON
Best Value: #2 Beverly Belle 10-1 5th
Next Best: #9 Tenses Palmyra 3-1 3rd
Super Add: #10 Suzy Zip 12-1 2nd

$1 Exacta (5-10) Paid $68.50
$1 Trifecta (5-10-9) Paid $409.50

9th: MDN CLM, 3-5yo, 6f (Super)

Best Value: #8 Numinous 4-1 2nd
Most Likely: #7 Peacefields 3-1 WON
Next Best: #11 Tiger Strike 9-2 5th
Super Add: #5 Delainey’s Friend 5-1 8th

@$50 P4 Play:

6: 3-6
7: 4-5-6-7-8-10
8: 2-5-9
9: 7-8-11

2x6x3x3 = 108 x .50 = $54

$0.50 Pick 4 (3/7/5/7,13,14) Paid $119.05

Although there were a large number of good exotics returns throughout the FG and HOL cards, yet another pair of excruciating anchor leg beats made Saturday arduous. Live to 4 at New Orleans in the 13th and 7 (!) in the Inglewood 10th just wasn’t good enough as solid payouts proved elusive as they have all week. $200 tri in the Holly 8th, $100 triples in the Letellier (FG 11) and Futurity (HOL 9), and the $75 Sugar Bowl tri to start the afternoon all helped ease the pain of the missed quads. Hope you did OK. Hollywood closes today with mandatory P6 and Super High 5 payouts, and a superb G1 Starlet…

HOLLYWOOD PARK — CLOSING DAY

POST-SCRATCHES

5th: Cal-bred OC/N1X, F&M-3+, 6f-T (P6-Mandatory Payout, P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #5 Warren’s Ready 5-1 7th
Most Likely: #9 Princess Suances 5-2 3rd
Next Best: #1 Blame the Wine 6-1 5th
Super Add: #2 Rocket Kitty 8-1 6th

6th: CLM, 2yo-F, 6f (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #8 My Gal Candy 3-1 4th
Best Value: #6 Right to Work 10-1 WON
Next Best: #4 Bye Bye Hollywood 2-1 6th
Super Add: #1 A Soft Breeze 10-1 3rd

7th: OC/N1X, 3+, 8.5f (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Saint Paul 5-2 2nd
Next Best: #8 Turf and Sky 3-1 WON
Best Value: #2 Concerto’s Thunder 4-1 4th
Super Add: #1 Hi Flyin Indy 12-1 8th

8th: ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 6f-T (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #1 Unzip Me 3-1 WON
Best Value: #2 Pink Diamond 12-1 5th
Next Best: #4 Bella Roja 4-1 3rd
Super Add: #7 Precious Union 7-2 7th

9th: 29th Hollywood Starlet (G1), 2yo-F, 8.5f (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #7 Beautician 5-2 7th
Next Best: #3 Blind Luck 2-1 WON
Best Value: #4 Amen Hallelujah 4-1 3rd
Super Add: #6 Rose Catherine 6-1 6th

10th: CLM, 3+, 5.5f (Super, Super High 5-Madatory Payout)

Most Likely: #12 Smoke Cat 5-2 WON
Best Value: #7 Public Image 8-1 11th
Next Best: #8 Acquire the Fire 7-2 2nd
Exotics Use: #4 Sushiwood 8-1 9th
High 5 Play: #5 Bev’s Ex 9-2 4th

<$200 P6 Play:

5: 5-9
6: 6-8
7: 4-8
8: 1-2
9: 3-7
10: 7-8-12

2x2x2x2x2x3 = 96 x $2 = $192

$2 Pick 6 (4/6/8/1/3/3,9,12,13,14) Paid $92.80 (5OF6) x 2 = $185.60

<$75 P4 Play:

7: 2-4-8
8: 1-2
9: 3-4-6-7
10: 7-8-12

3x2x4x3 = $72

$1 Pick 4 (8/1/3/3,9,12,13,14) Paid $99.80

FAIR GROUNDS

PRE-SCRATCHES

4th: 59th Sugar Bowl, 2yo, 6f (P3, Super)

Most Likely: #5 Vito Filitto 3-1 5th
Best Value: #3 Cool Bullet 5-1 WON
Next Best: #2 Enumerate 5-2 3rd
Super Add: #1 Big Texas Daddy 4-1 2nd

5th: 4th Bonapaw, 3+, 5.5f-T (P3, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Turfiste 4-1 4th
Best Value: #1e Margolis entry 6-1 5th/6th
Next Best: #2 Grand Adventure 5-1 2nd
Super Add: #8 Storm Treasure 6-1 3rd

6th: 4th LA Ladies Sprint, F&M-3+, 6f (.50 P4, P3, Super)

Most Likely: #10 Carmel Coffee 7-2 7th
Best Value: #5 Cajun Conference 6-1 2nd
Next Best: #6 Seven Seventythree 5-1 WON
Super Add: #1a (POE) Alphadoodle 15-1 9th

7th: 17th Esplanade, F&M-3+, 5.5f (P3, Super)

Best Value: #2 Juliet’s Spirit 5-1 2nd
Most Likely: #1 She’s Our Annie 3-1 WON
Next Best: #4 Northern Belle 4-1 3rd
Super Add: #3 Sumthingtotalkabt 6-1 7th

8th: 19th LA Classic, 3+, 9f (P6, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #6 Star Guitar 3-5 WON
Next Best: #1 Ide Like a Double 3-1 2nd
Best Value: #3 Takin’ the Bullet 6-1 3rd

9th: 1st DRF Distaff, F&M-3+, 9f (P3, Super)

Most Likely: #6 Unforgotten 5-2 2nd
Next Best: #4 War Echo 9-5 WON
Best Value: #2 Why Wonder Why 10-1 5th
Super Add: #3 SCR

<$75 P4 Play:

6: 1-2-4-5-6-8-10
7: 1-2
8: 1-6
9: 2-3/SCR–4-6

7x2x2x3 = 84 x .50 = $42

$0.50 Pick 4 (6/1/6/3,4) Paid $20.85

10th: 19th LA Turf,

Most Likely: #9 Desert Wheat 2-1 WON
Best Value: #4 Lee’s Spirit 8-1 6th
Next Best: #3 Nowandforevermore 9-2 2nd
Super Add: #2 Wildrally 8-1 7th

11th: 51st Letellier, 2yo-F, 6f (P3, Super)

Most Likely: #10 Visavis 9-2 2nd
Best Value: #3 Sheer Beauty 6-1 3rd
Next Best: #9 My Jen 4-1 WON
Super Add: #8 Aegean 8-1 8th

12th: 19th LA Sprint, 3+, 6f (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #6 Power Surge 6-1 3rd
Best Value: #5 Captain Buddy 10-1 5th
Next Best: #9 Mr. Porter 8-1 4th
Super Add: #1 Tortuga Straits 8-1 8th

13th: MSW, 2yo-F, 6f (Super)

Best Value: #7 Pray for Grace 8-1 7th
Most Likely: #1 Bell’s Shoes 3-1 5th
Next Best: #3 Back in Fashion 10-1 4th
Super Add: #10 Brickyard Helen 8-1 3rd

<$75 P4 Play:

10: 4-9
11: 3-9-10
12: 1-3-5-6-9-10
13: 1-3-7-10

2x3x6x4 = 144 x .50 = $72

HOLLYWOOD

POST-SCRATCHES

7th: MSW, 2yo, 6f (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #6 Exfusion 7-5 3rd
Next Best: #8 Clutch Player 3-1 WON
Best Value: #9 Raushenberg 6-1 2nd
Super Add: #5 Format V. 8-1 6th

8th: Cal-bred OC/N1X, 3+, 6f-T (P3, DD, Super)

Wide open..

Most Likely: #10 Trail Mix 5-2 3rd
Best Value: #12 De Car Guy 15-1 2nd
Next Best: #5 Atticus Jack 9-2 WON
Super Add: #3 Kalookan Heat 20-1 8th

9th: 29th Cash Call Futurity (G1), 2yo, 8.5f (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #1 Lookin At Lucky 4-5 WON
Next Best: #6 Noble’s Promise 2-1 2nd
Best Value: #5 Make Music for Me 12-1 3rd
Super Add: #4 Marcello 10-1

10th: MDN CLM, 3+, 6f (Super, Super High 5)

Most Likely: #3 Justice Reigns 4-1 2nd
Next Best: #14 Renzo Sean 3-1 3rd
Best Value: #1 T. W.’s Tank 12-1 7th
Exotics Use: #10 Magic Dust 8-1 8th
High 5 Play: #11 Ol’dogtown 6-1 5th

<$75 P4 Play:

7: 6-8
8: 3-5-10-12
9: 1
10: 1-3-7-8-9-10-11-14

2x4x1x8 = $64

Good luck!
Steve

Besides the wagering, some concern needs to be addressed regarding no less than three runners who either pulled up or were eased in the final five races of the day at Inglewood. Adam Kitchingman’s B. I. Guy (4th) and Litecorr (8th) as well as Carl O’Callaghan’s Brian the Bold (5th) each were in some kind of distress. More tonight on ATR.

Philadelphia and Hollywood caught my attention for today.

PHILADELPHIA PARK

PRE-SCRATCHES

5th: CLM/N3L, F&M-3+, 6.5f (.50 P4, P3)

Most Likely: #3 Stephaningrid 3-1 WON
Best Value: #4 Open Zipper 9-2 2nd
Next Best: #5 Money Center Bank 2-1 8th
Exotics Use: #7 Jump Quick 12-1 3rd

6th: MDN CLM, 3+, 1m-70y (P3)

Most Likely: #11 Jayden’s Hope 3-1 5th
Best Value: #3 Cool Clue 12-1 7th
Next Best: #7 Web Surfer 6-1 6th
Exotics Use: #9 Berry Berry Bueno 4-1 9th

7th: ALW/N1X, 2yo, 7f (P3, Super)

Most Likely: #1 Muhaaseb 5-2 3rd
Best Value: #7 Red Bengal 5-1 6th
Next Best: #6 Strapping Groom 5-1 4th
Super Add: #3 Sum Champ 9-2 WON

8th: CLM/N4L, F&M-3+, 1m-70y (P3, DD)

Best Value: #3 Bobs Pinup Girl 5-1 WON
Most Likely: #2 Include Us All 3-1 4th
Next Best: #1 Seeing Clearly 6-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #6 SCR

<$75 P4 Play:

5: 3-4-5
6: 3-7-9-11
7: 1-6-7
8: 1-2-3-6

3x4x3x4 = 144 x .50 = $72

9th: OC/N3X, F&M-3+, 7f

Most Likely: #5 Yes She’s a Lady 5-2 4th
Best Value: #6 Suzee Sunrise 5-1 7th
Next Best: #8 Earle’s First Girl 7-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #2 Shine On Me 5-1 2nd

10th: MDN CLM, F&M-3+, 6f (Super)

Most Likely: #7 Goal Girl Michele 5-2 10th
Best Value: #5 Copybreak 6-1 8th
Next Best: #4 Musical Heart 4-1 WON
Super Add: #11 Some Squall 12-1 9th

<$25 P3 Play:

8: 1-2-3
9: 5-6
10: 4-5-7-11

3x2x4 = $24

HOLLYWOOD PARK

PRE-SCRATCHES

4th: ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 6.5f (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #2 Gilded Gem 2-1 WON
Best Value: #1 Stevie’s Afleet 9-2 2nd
Next Best: #4 Toro Bonito 4-1 3rd

$1 Exacta (2-1) Paid $9.50
$1 Trifecta (2-1-4) Paid $47.90

5th: MSW, 3+, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #1 Megastar 4-1 2nd
Most Likely: #6 Universal Peace 5-2 WON
Next Best: #8 No Stadium 7-2
Super Add: #7 Milyone 8-1 3rd

$1 Exacta (6-1) Paid $8.70
$1 Trifecta (6-1-7) Paid $36.70

6th: CLM, 3+, 7.5f (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #3 Autocue 7-2 3rd
Best Value: #7 Midwesterner 5-1 WON
Next Best: #9 Mr. Wolverine 5-2 2nd
Super Add: #10 Smooth and Savvy 3-1 4th

$1 Exacta (7-9) Paid $21.10
$1 Trifecta (7-9-3) $63.50
$1 Superfecta (7-9-3-10) Paid $173.20

7th: Cal-bred OC/N1X, 3+, 1m-T (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Red Sun 3-1 WON
Best Value: #1 Tropical Heat 8-1 6th
Next Best: #8 Tamarack Smarty 5-2 2nd
Super Add: #3 SCR

8th: MDN CLM, 2yo-F, 8.5f (Super, Super High 5)

Most Likely: #10 Moonskipper 3-1 3rd
Best Value: #7 SCR
Next Best: #4 Led Advantage 4-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #1 Lana’s Lovely 6-1 5th
High 5 Play: #5 Sheskey 9-2 6th

<$100 P4 Play:

5: 1-6-8
6: 3-7-9-10
7: 1-3/SCR–4-8
8: 7/SCR-10

3x4x3x1 = $36