The Nomination Is In: October 10, 2009; The Goodwood Grade I at Santa Anita

That VERY good looking fella looking calm and inquisitive is none other then the Kentucky Derby Champion Mine That Bird, making his return to the racetrack after an eventful few months. We wish him good luck today, as the Turk is a big fan of his, and he'll need it with the crowd he is going against.

Race 7 Santa Anita Post Time 6:30 ET; The Goodwood Grade I; 1 1/8 miles on fake dirt for 3 YOs and Up.



I had to go back and re watch the trip that Richard's Kid had in the Pacific Classic. It was a Mine That Bird-esque run that left most handicappers baffled in a similar fashion, not as shocking, as Mine That Bird's rise to Grade I prominence.

The day after the Pacific Classic I went back over the materials and tried to glean something from it. I came to the conclusion that Hall of Fame trainer Baffert is back on the very top of his game. Looking at the way Richard's Kid is training, I would say his current form is sharp and he is ready for a very stiff test today. A bullet at :46 4/5ths in 4f and a nice 1:12 2/5ths at 6f make me give him the tentative chalk mark on his hip. If he wins here, or acquits himself with a strong duel, it will establish the 4 YO Lemon Drop Kid son and one of the surprise older colts of 2009.

Mine That Bird is the kind of plucky little gelding that the Turk has a deep affinity for. Those cowboy connections of his are again in the bright lights after their summer plans went astray when Mine That Bird needed throat surgery and went on the shelf for a bit. We watched as Summer Bird became the "bird" everyone was talking about, but the Kentucky Derby win, the Preakness run at Rachel, the gutty but troubled trip of the Belmont can not be dismissed. Could win or could finish last? A test of faith but I believe in Mine That Bird and I'm hedging he finds the exotic ticket.

Tiago has been a Turk favorite since his three year old campaign. Tiago won the Goodwood as a 3 YO and lost by a length to Well Armed last year. This is a test of faith as well, as current form must be questioned. Hedging more down then up.

Colonel John is 7 of 10 in the money on fake dirt and has won three times on the fake stuff at Santa Anita.

A stretch is Monzante, the 5 YO gelding from Maria's Mon. Only the second race of 2009, his form of 2008 was very impressive and he is training well.

There are lots of possible exotic ticket crashers in this lineup so build your tickets wisely. I plan on using my base handicap and then inserting multiple horses boxed in the 3 and 4 spot. We'll see what we can do.

Have Fun, Turk Out!

The Nomination Is In: October 10, 2009; The Oak Tree Mile Grade II at Santa Anita on Turf for 3 YOs and Up

In the white halter is Cowboy Cal, The Turk's chalk in today's Oak Tree Mile on turf at Santa Anita. This Sarah K. Andrew picture captures the effort and the result where he lost by a head to the magnificent Einstein.

The weather in Arcadia will be good and the turf should be firm. A review of DRF Daily Simulcast Track Data indicates no bias on either surface with rails set at 30 feet. You'll find up to date track data and changes here.

Race 6 Santa Anita, Post Time 6 PM ET; The Oak Tree Mile Grade II; 1 Mile on Turf for 3 YOs and Up.


Cowboy Cal is a solid Grade II horse, owner of the best 2009 BSF at 106 and 5 of 7 efforts are in the money in 2009. He's far from an iron pipe lock but with the distance reduction this son of Giant's Causeway with Gomez up today should run himself into the top four for Trainer Pletcher. Escaping quality like Einstein and Justenuffhumor and Gio Ponti makes him the class of this collection of good runners.

5 YO Whatsthescript(Ire) is coming off a layoff after back to back show finishes in Grade I and II Turf events at 1 1/8 miles. Last win was August 2008 and is 2 of last 8 but a race best 107 BSF on Turf and a race best 107 BSF at the mile distance. Taining sharply including a 6f 1:12 4/5s and a 5f :59 2/5. 3rd in the Breeders' Cup Mile on this course last year. Trainer Sadler does a good job of preparing his runners after layoffs >60 days with a 25% win rate on 110 tries.

The next tier of horses, my B+ and B group are all solid and must be factored in the Super ticket, most likely 2-4. Global Hunter (Arg) gets the edge with strong work and a solid recent work in Grade I turf racing with back to back 100+ BSFs at Del Mar.

Allicansayis Wow is the 4 YO filly who is taking on older males for the second time after a solid second in the Grade II Del Mar mile. Trainer Biancone is sharp and I wonder why he places his horse in this race. Training well, :59 1/5 at 5f last week on the turf. Best BSF on the turf is 95 and no wins at one mile or at SA. Jock Fallon up today, a wild card as well. Good enough to find 3rd or 4th but hedging down more tickets then not.

Monterey Jazz is coming off a very dull Grade II effort at the mile in August. freshened and training well including a nice 1:11 2/5 at 6f under a hand ride, and Jock M. Smith gets the nod today for Trainer Dollase. 5 of 11 on Turf and has a year best 104 BSF, owns a 118 BSF from a slick effort in the Grade III Texas Mile in 2008. Hedging up as high as 2nd.

I continue to watch the races at Santa Anita closely as we build towards the Breeders' Cup 1 month from now. Last weekend's loss of Grazen to a career ending injury and the death of Blackbriar put a real damper on ye' old Turk's spirits. Let's hope for a better weekend.

For the latest opinion in the pending Breeder's Cup, tune into the fine work that Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance members are doing at the NTRA website.

Have fun, Turk Out!

The Nomination Is In: October 3, 2009; The California Cup Mile Handicap $125,000; 1 Mile on Turf at Santa Anita

That fine looking stallion is Unusual Heat, always well represented in California, as he is today with two fine children, horse Unusual Suspect and gelding The Unusual Q.T. Along with the filly Lethal Heat from race six, I find myself admiring greatly the progeny of this proud and beloved animal.

Oak Tree at Santa Anita Race 9, post time 7:00 PM ET; The California Cup Mile Handicap $125,000; 1 Mile on beautiful Arcadian Turf for CA Bred or CA Sired 3 YOs and Up.



Again, in order to get ready for Breeders' Cup, I think it's important to handicap the race track and learn how it plays now, not last spring, not last fall, but now. You can take much from gathering the race charts and analyzing the results, but for me, playing the races teaches me much more then just analyzing. I think the lesson of posting handicaps, good and bad, gives me a sting or a thrill depending on the result, that I retain for a long time.

I am leaning toward the 5 YO Unusual Suspect in this match. When this horse goes into the gate today, he will have done so some twenty times more then the next most experienced runner. 8 Wins in 40 Career efforts, a race best $736,000 in earnings, a race best $173,000 in earnings in 2009, a race best 97 BSF in 2009, a race best 97 BSF on Santa Anita turf, a race best 96 BSF on turf and a race best 95 BSF at the distance. Lots to like especially the drop in distance . Things not to like are the fact he's only won 2 times in last 19 outings and is only 5 of 19 in the money over past two years. Still, good enough to hit the ticket and good enough to finish top four.

Coming off a long layoff, I like Dewey's Special to hit somewhere between 2nd and 4th. 3 of 3 wins in 2009, 7 of 10 lifetime in the money for the 4 YO gelding 4 of 4 in the money on turf and 6 of 6 in the money the past two years. Trainer Ellis wins 29% of last start winners and 29% of his turf starts.

The Usual Q.T. is a lightly raced 3 YO gelding, but 6 of 7 in the money lifetime and 2 of 3 start wins on turf. Posted a nice 1:34.00 at 1 mile on firm turf at Del Mar in early September and Gomez returns to the mount off that effort.

Suit Yourself may surprise and I see an improving 4 YO gelding with sharp work after a career best 92 BSF at 1 mile on the fake stuff at Del Mar in early September. Winless in 6 tries on the Turf, a leap of faith, but could add serious value to the ticket.

I don't see much to separate Enriched, Bert's Law and Skimmetry. Enriched is 5 of 7 in the money in 2009 and comes in off an N1X win at 1 mile on turf. Bert's Law drops in distance and that makes him a bit of a wild card I must plan for. Skimmetry hasn't won since April 2008 but the lightly raced 5 YO is 6 of 7 in the money on Turf with a high 91 BSF.

Have Fun, Turk Out!

The Nomination Is In: October 3, 2009; The California Cup Classic Handicap 1 1/8 miles on the fake stuff at Oak Tree at Santa Anita

Alydar. The name conjures up an era that came crashing down, the end of Calumet, and a link to what we had and where we are now. Oh mighty Alydar, in your devil red and blue silks, rest in peace and look favorably down on your great grandson, Grazen, the Turk's favorite to win the California Cup Classic Handicap. The picture was taken by the Turk's favorite horse shutterfly, the incredible Barbara Livingston.

Santa Anita Race 6, Post Time 5:30 PM ET; The California Cup Classic Handicap 200K; 1 1/8 miles on fake dirt for CA Bred or CA Sired 3 YO and Up.



Not my featured race of the day but it is in keeping with my practice of handicapping as many races as humanly possible at Santa Anita as we lead up to the Breeders' Cup. While my Daily Race Form Simulcast Daily subscription provides the race charts and track bias information to me over the course of the meet, I find it much more useful to "invade" certain tracks at certain times of the year and play it early and often. I like Santa Anita an awful lot, fake dirt and all, and I like the workout information I see from there and can corroborate with other sources. Sure wish I could say that about other tracks.

The field is currently six and right now there are no changes.

Grazen, coming off an early September win at 1 Mile at Del Mar where he edged out Chocolate Candy, is my chalk. He sports the races best BSF on fake dirt at 103 and the best BSF at today's distance, a 98. He has trained sharply and the 3 YO is 5 for 5 in the money in 2009. Jock/Trainer clip away at 41% win rate over 80 races the past year. Trainer Mitchell wins 23% of the fake stuff races, and with Gomez up, a pretty tough combo.

Lethal Heat, the lone filly, will be right on Grazen's heels. Much to like and a few things not too. Last three efforts saw the filly strike the front only to fade at the final call. 6 of 7 in the money on fake stuff and 12 of 14 lifetime, too good to not hit the ticket.

Flip a coin on Star Nicholas and Bold Chieftain. I like Bold Chieftain and the distance, but the two Baze's up should be there on the ticket.

Blackbriar is interesting and at the right odds a Show bet not out of the question. One Chin Again is a hard knockin' 4 YO gelding that isn't of the quality of the others.

Have Fun. The Turk has at least 3 more handicapped for today. Turk Out for Now.