Home Forums Sports Picks Central Trackside Picks Santa Catalina Stk 1/18/03

The 65th running of the Santa Catalina S.na' best Derby prospect at this early date, SCRIMSHAW (Gulch), is the top selection. <p>The dark bay colt has done everything right from two starts sprinting and gives every indication of a horse who will stretch out in distance. <p>Scrimshaw sat off the early pace both times before finishing strongly, and his pedigree is geared toward routes. His last effort was very impressive. Facing a tough allowance field on opening day at Santa Anita, the Bob & Beverly Lewis-owned colt rallied determinedly for a head score and earned a 104 BRIS Speed rating. Both wins have come in Arcadia, and he'll have plenty of pace in front of him on Saturday. <p>OUR BOBBY V. (Majesterian) is a threat to lead all the way. The gray colt doesn't own a fashionable pedigree for two turns, but he may be able to negotiate 8 1/2 furlongs. His last performance was very strong as the Bill Spawr trainee moved comfortably through splits of :21 4/5 and :44 1/5 before drawing off at the top of the stretch for an easy six-length tally. There is some other speed in the field, most notably STORM GULCH (Gulch), but Our Bobby V. might be too quick for his rivals to handle early. He may forget to stop altogether. <p>ROBLEDO (Robannier) is an off-the-pace runner who could offer some value to the exotics. He exits a commendable performance in which he rallied off tepid fractions of :24 and :48 to defeat allowance rivals at this distance over the track, and the Vladimir Cerin-conditioned colt has worked twice since that start 21 days ago. Robledo should have a much better setup pace wise and can continue to show more with an in-the-money placing.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE (Unbridled's Song) isn't even the second best three-year-old in his barn, but he might be good enough to offer a serious challenge in this spot. The chestnut finished a fine third in the Hollywood Futurity (G1) last out, earning a career best 96 Speed rating, and may continue to improve for Bob Baffert, who is well-known for his prowess at developing sophomores. Domestic Dispute will have to overcome the far outside post. <p>Multiple stakes winner CRACKUP (Distorted Humor) looms as a contender. The Rafael Becerra trainee stretched to easily win the two-turn California Cup Juvenile S. two starts back and exits a nice win at Sam Houston in the Great State Challenge. Crackup, who recorded a triple-digit Speed figure last time, will face his toughest challenge yet in this spot, but wouldn't be surprised to see him parlay a stalking trip into a top three finish. Storm Gulch returns off an 87-day layoff and is now trained by Patrick Biancone. This colt appears to have some ability, but he's done his best running on the front end and could be severely compromised in his return by Our Bobby V.<p>SINGLETARY (Sultry Song) makes his main track debut off two solid turf efforts. NATION WIDE NEWS (Souvenir Copy) exits a hard-fought maiden effort in which he dead-heated for the win. HELL CAT (Tabasco Cat) hasn't been much of a factor since breaking his maiden six starts back and appears to need easier company right now. JUDGE SWISS (Swiss Yodeler) will need to improve significantly to be a factor. <p>1st-SCRIMSHAW
2nd-OUR BOBBY V.
3rd-ROBLEDO

Nice analysis...this race is usually won by speed types if I remenber correctly..pace should be very rapid however so I will include Singletary and Hell Cat (final fraction last 30&4/5) along with your top 2 in the Pick4.Do you play TwinQ's (Stations/Plaza) and/or Pick6/Pick4? Stations Twin 1/18 is 6 and 9 SA.Plaza is last 2 races at Gulfstream

tomg welcome to the forum. Look forward to your insights on horses and your strong sports.<p>As far as Twin Q's I don't play them. It is hard enough to handicap a race to come up with a winner as it is. I flat bet to win/place only.<p>Occasionaly but very very rare will I play a tri, but that is reserved for Triple Crown and BC races only.<p>Singletary will be an interesting horse to watch coming off the turf. I don't see the horse winning, but a shot at the exotics isn't a stretch.<p>Hell Cat is a stretch, disappointing start for a horse out of Tabasco Cat, but this horse needs more work. I would be really surprised to see it up on the board. However, it is decided on the race course and not paper. [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Good luck and again welcome aboard. I am always looking for people that love to talk racing. So send your experts along to the board.<p>The more brain trusts involved the better chance of cashing at the windows.

1st 10 DOMESTIC DISPUTE 7.80 4.00 2.60
2nd 4 OUR BOBBY V. 5.80 3.40
3rd 6 SCRIMSHAW 2.80
4th 2 CRACKUP <p>
No winner today as top 2 choices finish 2nd and 3rd. <p>Domestic Dispute is one to watch for in the future.

Santa Catalina 23,46.3/5,110.2/5,142.1/5
Holy Bull 23.3/5,47.2/5,111.2/5,143<p>Since gulfstream is approx 5L slower than SA final times are approx equal. The interesting horse to me (if they are thinking about the Derby)is "Supervisor" came home in 29.1/5...kind of closer I look for in 3yr old races.I will see if I can determine what they have in mind for this horse..might be future bet even though he is out of Skip Trial. He is primarily bred for turf..watch for him if they run on grass next.

Gary Garber's homebred DOMESTIC DISPUTE commenced his bid three wide into the stretch and finally got past a tiring but game Our Bobby V.na trainee returned $2.80. The $1 trifecta gave $72.20, and fourth placer Crackup rounded out the $1, $198.70 superfecta (10-4-6-2). <p>Storm Gulch, Hell Cat and Singletary completed the order of finish. Nation Wide News and Judge Swiss were scratched. Robledo clipped heels early and was eventually pulled up on the first turn. The colt was vanned off, and no word was immediately available on his condition. <p>Domestic Dispute went from maiden winner to Grade 2 winner in less than two minutes. He ran second in the Sunny Slope S. on the Santa Anita surface and then second again in the Hollywood Futurity. <p>"We took our time with him and he's getting better and better," Baffert said. "It's satisfying that we have a couple bullets in our holster for the first Saturday in May. You're going to start seeing horses develop right now and he's just one of those. We're taking our time with him." <p>Domestic Dispute is out of the late Grade 3-placed Majestical Moment, who earned $135,959 on the track. The mare died in 2001. Domestic Dispute exits Saturday's score with a bankroll of $224,320 and a record of 7-2-2-1. <p>Baffert isn't sure where or when Domestic Dispute will return.