1/10-11 (SA): San Pasqual H. (Gr. II); Santa Ysabel (Gr. III)

[Kasept]

8th (4:07) San Pasqual H. (G2)

1 1/16 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Mostacolli Mort Gomez G K 114 L
2 Marchfield Husbands P 118 L
3 Informed Baze M C 113
4 Cowboy Cal Velazquez J R 117 L
5 Noble Court Smith M E 114 L
6 Past the Point Bejarano R 116 L
7 Well Armed Gryder A T 121 L
8 Magnum (ARG) Pedroza M A 113 L
9 Blue Exit Flores D R 113 Blk-On L
10 Ball Four Decarlo C P 118 L
11 Racketeer Sutherland C 113 L
12 Slew's Tizzy Rosario J 116 L



SUNDAY 8th (4:07) Santa Ysabel S. (G3)

1 1/16 Miles (All Weather Track) | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 Acting Lady Baze M C 116 L
2 Haka Gomez G K 116 L
3 Jemmealey Valdivia J Jr 116 L
4 Dave's Revenge Espinoza V 116 L
5 Century Park Baze T C 116 L
6 Lady Lumberjack Bejarano R 114 L
7 Will O Way Rosario J 116 L
8 Crazy Tricia Garcia M 114 L
9 Toro Bonito Flores D R 114 L

[cakes44]

With as poorly as Well Armed ran last out and being 1st off the layoff, I'll definitely try to beat him here.

[mbahadur]

John Velazquez thinks enough of Cowboy Cal (2nd in the G1 Bluegrass in his last start on a synthetic surface) to come across the country from Florida to ride. In his last race, Cowboy Cal finished ahead of Gio Ponti on the turf and we know what Gio Ponti did in his most recent race trying synthetic.

[Danzig]

anyone think ball four is worth a look?

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Danzig

anyone think ball four is worth a look?

If he can get a lone lead, he's tough on polytrack. Don't know if that will translate to Pro-Ride, but he's a tryer.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Danzig

anyone think ball four is worth a look?

I think Ball Four will be the only value horse, but I just don't see the win.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

John Velazquez thinks enough of Cowboy Cal (2nd in the G1 Bluegrass in his last start on a synthetic surface) to come across the country from Florida to ride. In his last race, Cowboy Cal finished ahead of Gio Ponti on the turf and we know what Gio Ponti did in his most recent race trying synthetic.

he may have had nothing better to do.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Not that I make much on what jocks do - but there is a Pletcher 3yo running at GP on Saturday - a 300K Officer 2yo buy who worked a furlong in 10 flat at the FT Feb sale and ran a triple digit Beyer in his natural dirt debut. While very likely a sprinter and a horse he can always pick up next time - its still a prospect and a nice mount.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Not that I make much on what jocks do - but there is a Pletcher 3yo running at GP on Saturday - a 300K Officer 2yo buy who worked a furlong in 10 flat at the FT Feb sale and ran a triple digit Beyer in his natural dirt debut. While very likely a sprinter and a horse he can always pick up next time - its still a prospect and a nice mount.

Obligingly? He ran over a 100 in his debut?

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by Danzig

he may have had nothing better to do.

Johnny V must really have nothing better to do to fly across the country for a Grade 2 race with a $150,000 purse (and a 12-horse field).

Cowboy Cal could be pointing for the Strub and Big Cap and this race may be Part 1 of the package deal (if all goes well on Saturday).

Being first call for Todd Pletcher, this may be where Pletcher wanted him to be on Saturday. Pletcher has 3 horses running at Gulfstream on Saturday.

It is interesting to note that Chris Decarlo is named on both Ball Four in the San Pasqual at Santa Anita and Obligingly in Race 10 at Gulstream on Saturday (which leads me to believe that Pletcher could scratch one of his horses from the San Pasqual).

[my miss storm cat]

I'm a big fan of Well Armed (even though he screwed me on BC day. NOT redboarding since i didn't hit it but damn was alive and had singled him in the pick 3... ).

So while I'm hoping he does well and my money is on Marchfield.

Nice horse who will be overlooked here and who can do it.

[TheSpyder]

This race is like a comeback race for many horses trying to overcome age and downturns in form. I remember when Magnum was a real horse challenging Lava Man on several occasions. On his old form, he's there but maybe that was too long ago. Seems like a lot of early speed here and interested to see if Racketeer can go longer with that nice kick. You know Well Armed would be a lock if his ast race wasn't a dude. I say he comes back to form and takes it.

1st - Well Armed 3/1
2nd- Magnum 20/1
3rd- Racketeer 30/1

I'll box the exacta and hope one of the bombs comes in.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

Johnny V must really have nothing better to do to fly across the country for a Grade 2 race with a $150,000 purse (and a 12-horse field).

Cowboy Cal could be pointing for the Strub and Big Cap and this race may be Part 1 of the package deal (if all goes well on Saturday).

Being first call for Todd Pletcher, this may be where Pletcher wanted him to be on Saturday. Pletcher has 3 horses running at Gulfstream on Saturday.

It is interesting to note that Chris Decarlo is named on both Ball Four in the San Pasqual at Santa Anita and Obligingly in Race 10 at Gulstream on Saturday (which leads me to believe that Pletcher could scratch one of his horses from the San Pasqual).

i was being a bit sarcastic. it's no surprise at all to me that he'd fly cross-country, all things considered. my point really was that i don't think cowboy cal should get a harder look just because a jock is travelling to ride him. if you thought CC had a chance before finding out the rider, then go for it. if you were ignoring him til you found out jv was coming, i'd still ignore him.

[letswastemoney]

doesn't Past the Point hate synthetics?

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

John Velazquez thinks enough of Cowboy Cal (2nd in the G1 Bluegrass in his last start on a synthetic surface) to come across the country from Florida to ride. In his last race, Cowboy Cal finished ahead of Gio Ponti on the turf and we know what Gio Ponti did in his most recent race trying synthetic.

Great analysis. First, with the call on the jockey. That's an angle I've long played (along with where is the trainer when he has entries at different tracks). And with the way this course favors runners with grass form and after watching Gio Ponti on it, you had a number of factors that led to believing Cowboy Cal had a big chance. I wish I had bet him but I didn't.

[eajinabi]

With Cowboy Cal and Gio Pionti winning next out makes Court Visions win in the Hollywood Derby even better even though it was on Turf.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

It does? Did you see who ran second today? The race was awful.

I can't dispute that the runner-up was seemingly not much on paper, but Cowboy Cal did run a pretty good race, all things considered. He got the lead that it seems like he needs to have to be successful but set fast fractions in order to hold it. As the rest of the pace pressers either hung or dropped out completely he stayed on, which made the effort a bit more impressive.

I mean you have to remember, CC was PG1985's 94th and final 2008 Derby pick, so he clearly has a ton of talent and he did run like a horse who had had a lot of weight taken off his shoulders.

NT

P.S. I'm not sure that Gio Ponti flying home in a race where the pace collapsed or Cowboy Cal beating a good N3X field says much about the Hollywood Derby other than that turf form holds up on the Pro-Ride.

[eajinabi]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

It does? Did you see who ran second today? The race was awful.

We will have to see wont we?