Iza General, Menuhin Looking Like Winners

Ten of the 12 horses entered in the fifth race today at Santa Anita are winless in 2006.

The only two with victories before the $32,000 claimer at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf are Iza General, who has two victories, and Menuhin.

Owned by Michael Miller and trained by Steve Knapp, Iza General, a 4-year-old General Gem colt, has won two of five at the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita. He beat $12,500 claimers by 3 1/4 lengths when trained by Jeff Mullins on Feb. 9, then won in his debut for Knapp and Miller on April 12, defeating $25,000 claimers by three-quarters of a length as the 2-1 choice.

Menuhin, a 6-year-old Royal Academy gelding, is stepping up a notch after being claimed by trainer Mark Glatt for owner Lloyd Debruycker on March 15 at Golden Gate Fields. Winless in five previous starts on the Santa Anita turf course, Menuhin got his win going nine furlongs on the Golden Gate main track Feb. 19. He will be ridden today by David Cohen. The other eight are winless in 22 starts so far this year, and one, Robs Coin, is winless in five starts.

Race of the day: Ladina, who beat maidens by 9 1/2 lengths in her 2-year-old finale Aug. 17 at Delaware Park, will make her 2006 debut in the eighth race today at Keeneland. Edgar Prado will ride the daughter of Wild Again for owner-breeder Helen Groves and trainer Michael Matz in the $54,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

One for the road: Glory For Gold returns to his preferred surface -- turf -- for his first start of the year against nine other New York-breds in the seventh race today at Aqueduct. Kent Desormeaux will be aboard the 3-year-old Honour And Glory colt for Team Tristar Stable and trainer Joe Lostritto in the $44,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles. Glory For Gold won by 1 1/4 lengths in his grass debut at Aqueduct last Nov. 16.

Exotically speaking: A late pick three using Kreeker in the sixth, Think Tank, Evrybdyluvsdaheat and Fremont in the seventh and Speedy Cajun and Strip Search in the eighth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 3/239. Money: (previous day/meet total): $11.40/$1,354.40. Total money bet: $1,434.