Thirteen battle in G1 $400,000 The Parking Ticket at sunny Santa Anita

California (CA) Sunday, November 30, 2014 — 3:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 1233158
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THE  PARKING  TICKET
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Grade I / Group 1   –   Purse : $400,000   –   3 Year Olds and Older    
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8.5 Furlongs | ~1700 Meters | One Mile and One Sixteenths            Turf

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Back stateside after a looooong trip around the globe,  we stop in sunny California to preview the Grade 1,  $400,000   The Parking Ticket from Santa Anita race course in Arcadia.  To be contested at 8.5 furlongs on the projected to be firm turf course,  a field of thirteen,  including three 3 year old upstarts,  will battle for the winner’s share of the $400,000 purse and the starring role in the trophy presentation immediately following the race.  The international field has been trained with a top effort in mind,  so let’s take a look at the field in post position order and see if we we identify the contenders and maybe even pick the winner.  
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1
AFRICAN  ROYAL         IRE     9/1         sirkilroy     
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First up we have this bay four year old son of Montjeu out of the G1 winning,  million dollar earning sim-mare Imtalkinjungledeep (by DeepImpact),  who was a late closing 3rd last out in the G3 Patrick Ewing at 9 furlongs,  earning a 107 SP#.  One back of that,  he wa an uninvolved 6th in the G2 Bernie Baruch at 9 panels,  posting a 106 SP#.  In one prior,  he was a stretch running 3rd in the G2 Turf Invaders at 9 furlongs,  scoring a 109 SP#.  Hasn’t won since taking the G3 Sussex Handicap at 8.5 furlongs in February.  Sirkilroy trainee should be making up bround in the stretch,  will need a smooth trip in this large field.  
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2
YOLO                 ENG     8/1         monmouth     
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Deep closer from the monmouth stable exits a nice 3rd in the G1 Dicaprio Handicap at this distance,  earning a 110 SP#.  Staged a furious stretch run to get 3rd one prior in the G1 Canada Mile,  scoring a 113 SP#.  Just missed one back of that when 2nd in the G2 Fivestarnick Handicap at 8.5 panels,  earning a 112 SP#.  Chestnut four year old son of Oasis Dream out of the sim-mare Delpenn Assassin (by Montjeu) was a non-threatening 5th one back of that in the G2 Sparkler Handicap with a 105 SP#.   Will be last or near last early,  looks for a snappy pace to set up his late kick,  but still seeking first grade/group victory.
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3
STALKING            GER    6/1        barnbrook
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He was a fast closing 4th last out,  just before Tearing Down Walls,  in the Breeder’s Bowl Mile,  earning a 110 SP#.  Got underway too late to contend in one prior,  the G1 Queen Liz Stakes at  a mile,  posting a 108 SP#..   He was a close,  late closing 2nd one before that in the G1 Maudlin Cup behind Tearing Down Walls,  notching a 115 SP#.  Took the G2 Frisco Mile with a 111 SP# and was an excellent 2nd in the G1 Cobbler Mile with a 117 SP#,  both over this strip at this  trip.  Bay, scratch bred four year old Monsun colt (by Storm Cat) from the barnbrook barn will be closing fast in the lane,  will need a smooth trip in large field.  Contender.  
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4
MAD  NEED             KY     8/1         mysterycat     .
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Late runner from the mysterycat racing group was a closing 4th last out in the G1 Dicaprio Handicap  at this distance,  earning a 109 SP# in his first G1 outing.  Brown four year old,  scratch bred Dynaformer colt (by A.P. Indy) won the G3 Next Episode at 8.5 panels one before that,  his strong late run scoring a 112 SP#.  He got underwy too late one back of that when 6th in the G2 Dell Web Mile,  posting a 107 SP# in his grade/group stakes debut.  Came from last in one prior  to win the Saratoga Storm listed stakes at 8.5 panels,  notching a 107 SP# for his initial stakes win.  Should be making up ground in the lane,  another who will need a smooth trip to contend at the end.  
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5
TROY                KY    26/1        blankpoin8
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Light grey three year old settled for 3rd last out in the G1 Sourball Mile,  scoring a 107 SP# in a pace pressing run in his stakes debut.  Scratch bred son of Malibu Moon (by El Prado) went wire to wire taking an open allowance at a mile one prior,  earning a 107 SP#.  One before that,  he just held on after opening a long lead in a restricted allowance at this distance with a 105 SP#.   Runner from the blankpoin8 stablewould like to be in front as far as he goes;  has to contend with the speedy Bristol Frankel;  oddsmaker doesn’t much like his chances at 26/1;   seems in tough in this group.  
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6
SENOR  MOU             IRE     5M         davarto2     
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Our only five year old is this bay,  scratch bred son of Danehill Dancer (by Ela–Mana-Mou),  who made a successful return to the races after a six month break,  taking an open allowance at 8.5 furlongs,  earning a 108 SP# in a nice tuneup for this spot.  Last run before that layoff was a never in it 8th in the G2 Woody Ford at 9 panels with a 105 SP#.  One prior he romped in the Six Up Monster listed stakes,  notching a 112 SP# in a comfortable,  late running victory.  Runner from the davarto2 racing operation was a G2 winner last year,  can surprise if ready for top try.  
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7
STRAIGHT  GALLIS         GER     6/1         chino0     
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Pace presser from the chino0 racing opearion was an excellent 2nd last out in the G3 David Hasselhoff at 8.5 furlongs,  notching a 110 SP# finishing behind Bristol Frankel.  In one before that,  this scratch bred son of Monsun (by Nijinsky 2nd) was 2nd in the G3 Strange Hall at 9 panels over a “good” turf course,  earning a 113 SP# in his first grade/group stakes attempt.   One back of that,  he won the Awesome Affair listed stakes at 9 furlongs,  scoring a 111 SP# in a stalking trip.  Makes his first grade/group 1 start here,  should be sitting just off the early leaders and hope to get the jump on the deep closers.   Oddsmaker likes his chances,  making him the co-favorite at 6/1.  
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8
HARDLY  UNIQUE         ENG     9/1        redhill20     
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Stretch running chestnut four year old was an even 4th last out in the G1 Eclipse Stakes at 10 furlongs with a 107 SP#.   Scratch bred son of Medicean (by Danehill Dancer) won the G3  I Can’t Rhyme at 10 panels in one before that,  notching a 106 SP#  in a stalking trip.  He was an OK 3rd in the G3 Desmond in his last try at this distance,  posting a 105 SP#.   Was also 3rd in the Sunny Mile one back of that,  coming late in the lane.  Trainer redhill20 looks for a smooth trip for  this late runner,  will need best try to threaten here.
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9
ELLERTON  COMMAND         KY     9/1         super16     
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G2 winning son of Giant’s Causeway,  out of the stakes winning sim-mare McLaren Vale (by  Gone West),  was a disappointing 3rd last out in an open allowance at 8.5 furlongs with a 104 SP#.  He was a no factor 5th one before that in the G1 Canada Mile behind Yolo,  earning a 109 SP# over this strip at this trip.  Ran an OK 3rd one prior in the G2 Dell Web Mile,  scoring a 113 SP# coming from the middle of the pack.  Trainer super16 runner will try to get first run on the deep closers,  outside shot on top try.
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10
TEARING  DOWN  WALLS     GER     8/1         agk04     
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G1 winning,  four year old scratch bred bay son of Monsun (by Kris S) couldn’t make up ground on the leaders last out,  settling for 5th in the G1 Breeder’s Bowl Mile over this surface,  posting a 110 SP#.  One before that he got up late for the win in the G1 Maudlin Cup at a mile,  scoring  a very nice 116 SP#.  One pror was a late closing 2nd in the G1 The Suffix,  also at a mile with a 111 SP#.  He got a stalking win one before that in the G3 Nordic Chemical at a mile with a 116 SP#.  Runner from the agk04 stable will be stalking the pace,  looking to get the jump on the deep closers.  Contender.  
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11
BRISTOL  FRANKEL         IRE     7/1         dmbwr2
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Seeking his fourth straight win is this bay four year old colt,  who scored a huge 120 SP# last out,  easily wiring the G3 David Hasselhoff at 8.5 furlongs in his grade/group stakes debut.  Also went gate to wire one prior in the Volotile Nijinsky listed stakes at 8.5 panels,  earning a 110 SP#.  One back of that was an easy score in a NW5L allowance at 8.5 furlongs,  notching a 114 SP#.  Front running,  scratch bred son of Galileo (by Danehill)  has improved noticeably last three runs;  will be in front as far as he goes,  and that may be far enough to garner his first G1 triumph for trainer dmbwr2.  Solid contender.   
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12
ELECTRODYNAMIC         KY     29/1         lopickles
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Bay three year old Arch colt,  out of the stakes winning sim-mare Whirling Thunder,  is looking for his fourth straight win after taking the Eric Roo listed stakes at 8.5 furlongs,  earning a 111  SP# in his stakes debut.   One prior he won a NW4L allowance at this distance in a front running perfromance,  posting a 95 SP#.  One before that,  he won a NW3L allowance at a mile,  notching a 103 SP# .  Versatile runner from the lopickles racing stable can benefit from a crafty jockey ride,  but faces much early heat on the front end;  will need to improve to threaten here in his initial group/grade effort.   
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13    
FINALE  OF  SPEED         JPN     19/1         pbcash
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Last but not least we have our final three year old,  who makes his first grade/group try after taking the Mars Chart listed stakes at 8.5 furlongs,  earning a 114 SP# in his first stakes  try.  Bay Johannesburg colt out of the sim-mare The Grand Finale,   won an open allowance at this distance one prior,  posting a 105 SP# in an off the pace run.  Pbcash trainee won one back of that,  taking a NW4L allowance at a mile,  scoring a 107 SP# in a middle of the pack run.  Seeks his fourth straight triumph,  but gets tested for class here – oddsmaker doesn’t fancy his chances at 19/1 in the morning line.  
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SELECTIONS:
BRISTOL  FRANKEL
STALKING
YOLO
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LONGSHOT:    
TEARING  DOWN  WALLS