Mon, 01/05/2026 - 17:22

Brad Free's Santa Anita Horses to Watch for the week of Jan. 2-4

Benoit Photo
Mark Glatt trains Simple Song, who sped an opening half-mile in a blazing 43.92 seconds before being collared by closers.

EAST BOCA KIBBUTZ
Trainer:
Ron Ellis
Last race: Jan. 2, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/4
Beyer: 51
Class-drop comebacker favored in maiden-20 sprint, broke last, rushed to press three-wide between rivals, finished evenly. Fits vs. similar, but will need a better takeoff.

DIRTY WORDS
Trainer:
Isidro Tamayo
Last race: Jan. 2, 5th
Finish: 1st by 8
Beyer: 93
Sharp sprinter won third straight by open lengths, speeding to a front-running score and claimed for $10,000 by Tamayo from Doug O’Neill. Follow on the class hike.

SIMPLE SONG
Trainer:
Mark Glatt
Last race: Jan. 2, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 86
Front-runner compromised by pace in N1X sprint. Broke from rail, sped opening half-mile in blazing 43.92 seconds, shook off pace rivals, collared by closers. Long gone next out.

VOUCHER
Trainer:
Rolando Quinonez
Last race: Jan. 2, 8th
Finish: 6th by 5 1/4
Beyer: 23
Slow start from rail eliminated this Cal-bred maiden-20 sprinter. Broke last, steadied in traffic on turn, kept grinding, split field, better than looked.

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