El Encino Stakes, Grade 2 (Santa Anita) $150,000 for four year old fillies

1 1/16 on the Cushion Track

I’ve got a long shot alert here. Fleet Caroline with the young Joe Talamo in the irons poses a major threat to this field. I expect her to go out front and challenge Romance is Diane for the early lead and I think if she can wrangle it from her then she could win. I believe the lightly raced Zenyatta will be charging home like a freight train for second. Indescribable who is a winner of three in a row will also be coming late and I look for her third. If your budget allows it I would definitely throw in Tough Tiz’s Sis and Romance is Diane in my exotics.

1^st- Fleet Caroline

2^nd- Romance is Diane

3^rd- Indescribable

Santa Ynez Stakes, Grade 2 (Santa Anita) $150,000 for three year old fillies,

7 furlongs on the Cushion Track

This is pretty much an open and shut case. It would take a freak accident for Indian Blessing to lose to such a lowly field. For second place I like Patty Gallagher’s Peisinoe. She is undefeated in two starts and should get a good stalking trip. I’ll take McAnnally filly Izara for third.

1^st- Indian Blessing

2^nd- Peisinoe

3^rd-Izara

Santa Ysabel Stakes, Grade 3 (Santa Anita) $100,000 for three year old

filles, 1 1/16 on the Cushion Track

The 8/5 morning line favorite is going to be very tough in here. She goes by the name Turn Away she is what she will probably do to her opponents tomorrow. If Grace Anatomy can run back to her form in the Alcibaides Stakes she would pose a serious threat. With the addition of blinkers today I like her to run second. $350,000 auction purchase Initiation will compete for third.

1^st- Turn Away

2^nd- Grace Anatomy

3^rd- Initiation

First Lady Handicap, Grade 3 (Gulfstream) $100,000 for four years old and

upward fillies and mare, 6 furlongs on the dirt

This race is going to set up for an off-the-pace type runner. That being said I like Quality Affair to win. Her last race in which she won by 5 lengths was the first time she rated. With all the speed in this race you’ve got to believe the connections will rate again. Princess Janie is coming off 3 months rest. She has tactical speed but I expect to lay off the pace. She is my choice for second, but will be very contentious for the win. Sugar Swirl looks sharp with a 1/10 :35 H 3 furlong work on January 8. She is the class of the race and I look for her to run third.

1^st- Quality Affair

2^nd- Princess Janie

3^rd- Sugar Swirl

Old Hat Stakes, Grade 3

This race will be contested at 6 ½ furlongs for $150,000 in purse money. The race is restricted to three year old fillies. Richard Dutrow and Ramon Dominguez have a beast of a filly in Lovely Isle. She was an easy winner last out at Aqueduct going 6 furlongs in 1:09 3/5. Lovely Isle won that race by 16 ½ lengths. She is undefeated in two starts, and I think this field isn’t capable of putting a blemish on her perfect record. Indy’s Alexandria is also undefeated and was an incredibly easy winner last out taking the Three Rings Stakes by 4 lengths. Look for her second. Lastly, I like Grade 3 Tempted Stakes winner Elusive Lady third.

1^st- Lovely Isle

2^nd- Indy’s Alexandria

3^rd- Elusive Lady

San Fernando Stakes, Grade 2

The race will be for $200,000 in purse money going 1 1/16 on the dirt. This race is STACKED. Monterrey Jazz, Ravel, Great Hunter, Tiago, and Johnny Eves are in here just to name a few. I believe Tiago has a serious class advantage over this field. The horses he was racing against in the summer and fall of 2007 are leaps and bounds better than these. For second I’m looking to Ravel. He should get a nice stalking trip and his jockey Garrett Gomez is the most valuable of assets these days. Monterrey Jazz might be able to hold on for third after setting the early pace with Johnny Eves. Great Hunter is eligible to improve second off the layoff. He is really an x factor for me because he could bounce and he could fire the track up. Another contender is Hurry Up Austin who hustled down the stretch to finish fourth in the Malibu last out. Once again, this is a wide open race and if you like a horse can probably get a great price.

1^st- Tiago

2^nd- Ravel

3^rd- Monterrey Jazz

San Pasqual Handicap, Grade 3

I like Well Armed to win this race at 7/2. He won’t have it easy though as Molengao is going to give him all he wants. Arson Squad and Heatseeker will probably have to settle for third in this one. I am giving the nod to Arson Squad for third.

1^st- Well Armed

2^nd- Molengao

3^rd- Arson Squad

San Rafael, Grade 3

Massive Drama should win this one with ease. He was second last out in the Grade 1 Cash Call Futurity. He may be lone speed and I think the connections will send him early and take it on the front end. Sierra Sunset and Indian Sun will compete for the second and third place spots.

1^st- Massive Drama

2^nd- Sierra Sunset

3^rd- Indian Sun

Lecomte Stakes, Grade 3

This year’s Lecome Stakes is a very competitive one. Last year’s winner Hard Spun went on to place second in the Kentucky Derby and had a very memorable 3 year old campaign. This year will see two undefeated colts tackling more seasoned foes. Kentucky Cup Juvenile winner Texas Fever draws the one hole. His running style doesn’t yet seem clear but I believe he will try and come from off the pace. He has fired three bullets in a row including a 1/58 move at the Fair Grounds. He rallied after steadying last out in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. He ended up 6^th by 3 lengths. I expect to see him in the winners circle. Dogwood Stable’s Blackberry Road ran 3^rd to Texas Fever two back in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile. I was at Turfway Park for the race and while I don’t explicitly remember seeing it his note in my BRISnet form says he was shuffled back at the ¼ pole. He surely hasn’t had the best of trips. If he gets a clean trip he might be a challenge for Texas Fever but I expect to see him run second in this spot. Dallas Stewart’s Macho Again ran well last out at Churchill Downs after a tiring 3 wide trip. He only missed the win by a neck. Look for him to check in third. Star Guitar and Z Fortune are trying to remain perfect but from the looks of things they have their work cut out for them.

1^st- Texas Fever

2^nd- Blackberry Road

3^rd- Macho Again

Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap, Grade 3

This race was a bit easier to handicap and I think you might be able to get a price. For the win I like Richard Dutrow and Corey Lanerie on Optimer. Two back he rallied 4 wide into the lane and ran second to Proudinsky by 1 ½ lengths. Proudinsky was recently 2^nd to Daytona who was lone speed in the Grade 1 San Gabriel Handicap. Last race he was eased out while running second to Sterwins who is in today’s race. Silverfoot and the connections of Dallas Stewart and Julien Leparoux looked primed for a big run whle rolling back in distance. Silverfoot was 9^th by 8 ¾ lengths in the Breeders Cup Turf last out. He has been getting poor trips of late and has a serious class advantage of the rest of the field. Sterwins is running well of late and I expect to see him check in third.

1^st- Optimer

2^nd- Silverfoot

3^rd- Sterwins