Sunday, February 5, 2012

It's Groundhog Day for Seabiscuit at Santa Anita

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     As I was watching the great day of racing yesterday at Santa Anita, I realized that there was something very strange taking place. Last weekend I wrote about the huge double carryover pick 6 and I talked about dreaming big on that Sunday. After yesterday's stunning upset by I'll Have Another at odds of 43-1 in the G2 Robert B Lewis, ensuring that no one would have the correct combination in the pick 6, I realized we would be right back to a double carryover again today.
      It made me think fondly of the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray as a weatherman who relived the same day over and over. Wouldn't it be great if there was a double carryover every day at Santa Anita. I'm also wondering if maybe Santa Anita should create their own version of "Punxsutawney Phil" and his "6 more weeks of winter or not" tradition.
      Why not have the media and celebrities out to the track on the first Sunday of every February of every year, from this year forward. If Seabiscuit, in his walking ring, "sees" his shadow there will be 11 more weeks of great racing from the great race place. But what would be the decree if Seabiscuit does not "see" his shadow? 11 more weeks of great racing from the great race place, of course! As a tribute I have placed the same photo of Seabiscuit in the same place in today's post where I placed it yesterday. I think I will forward this post to the marketing department and see if we can't get this great tradition started. 


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     All kidding aside, lets take a look at the action from yesterday. There was the stunning upset that I mentioned earlier by I'll Have Another in the G2 Robert B. Lewis stakes. I also witnessed another great effort by the dapper Mr. Commons, when he weaved his way through traffic and won with ease in the G2 Arcadia stakes. The day was then capped by Ultimate Eagle, who absolutely ran them off their feet while winning by 7 lengths clear of the field in the G2 Strub stakes. These 2 horses seem to have great futures ahead of them, and barring unforeseen circumstances, it would be no shock to see these 2 warriors competing at the Breeders Cup later this year at Santa Anita.


     In today's action we saw the 2011 Breeders Cup Classic runner up, Game On Dude, toy with a soft field in his 2012 debut in the G2 San Antonio today at Santa Anita. After breaking poorly, and stalking the fast splits of pacesetter Skipshot, Game On Dude drew off to win convincingly in a blazing time of 1:46.4. I see a match up coming later this year with the aforementioned Ultimate Eagle, who could have his hands full with Game On Dude, who looked very, very good today. The IC selections also had a huge day winning 5 of the 8 races on the card after predicting 4 of the 10 races on yesterday's card. Here are today's IC selections.


Race 1
IC1 #1 Tiz a Trip
IC2 #4 Fordham Road
IC3 #8 Death Star


Race 2
IC1 #5 Roman Chic
IC2 #8 Ballistic Blonde
IC3 #7 Pure Storm


Race 3
IC1 #2 Mint Humor
IC2 #7 Bull Ring
IC3 #8 Merlin Z


Race 4
IC1 #5 Briteness
IC2 #8 Fabulous Fashion
IC3 #6 Patty's Pulpit


Race 5
IC1 #7 Gatheratthealter
IC2 #8 Close to the Edge
IC3 #1 King Ledley


Race 6
IC1 #4 Whisper Louise (Ire)
IC2 #6 Celestial Kitten
IC3 #3 Linda Lou


Race 7
IC1 #3 Game On Dude
IC2 #1 Uh Oh Bango
IC3 #6 Victory Pete


Race 8
IC1 #12 Meadow Road
IC2 #11 Outta Splash
IC3 #8 Knucklebuster


Here are the results. 

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