FIFTH RACE

this class for the first time. It can be a tough jump from N1X/claiming starter to N2X. Respect this guy’s closing rally. STRINGENT improved a ton last out, third with the race-shape in his favor, closing from the back. Lightly raced gelding by Lemon Drop Kid, making just his fifth career start, should love the distance. VIGILANTE was a promising prospect when last seen, third in a G2 more than 15 months ago. He was a vet scratch March 2, returns for top connections. CROWN THE KITTEN has a bunch of in-the-money finishes at this class level. Good current form, claimed for $50k last out. REBEL WAR raced good maidens last summer, chased fast fractions, and returns for a $100k claim tag with sharp works. He was fast at 2, expected to be faster at 3, and is spotted for a top effort first try back. SAGITTARI finished seventh in his debut. He raced greenly in that race, and should improve second time out. His ability is unknown. ANECHOIC pressed a fast pace and faded in his debut at this level. He is likely to improve second time out. Blinkers on. EXCAVATION drops for the first time into a maiden-claiming race. He was supposed to be better than this, maybe he will improve vs. easier company. Like the top choice, EXCAVATION has faced good company.

SIXTH RACE

RANGI ran fast winning two straight blowouts including a smasher last out at this $32k claiming level. Seems like the obvious choice at low odds. TOO FAST TO PASS is a 13-time winner, able to rally from just off the pace. If the top choice falters on the lead, ‘PASS is the most likely beneficiary from behind. BOLDLY TRUE has been facing much better company, big drop from N2X third start back.

SEVENTH RACE

Lots of speed in this turf sprint stakes for Cal-bred fillies and mares, a scenario that does not benefit favorite ENOLA GRAY. A two-time stakes winner on the downhill, her front-running style will be tested by five others with front-running or pace-pressing styles. However, ENOLA GRAY has shown she can take heat and still kick away. She did it two months ago, when she pressed a blazing half in :43.04 (second-fastest of meet) and won clear. Fastest in the field, able to cope with pace, the one to beat. DESERT STEEL finished behind the top choice both recent turf sprints, but no surprise if she turns the tables. ‘STEEL has speed, but has been versatile, rallying from off the pace. Furthermore, the best effort of her career was the only time she was ridden by Flavien Prat. He is back aboard, DESERT STEEL could tuck into a cozy trip positioned just off the speed. LILY KAI is the come-from-behind bomb, at a distance probably too short. But the possibility of a pace meltdown gives her an upset look. Recent works are sharp; she is likely to be outrun early but will be rolling from the back of the field at a price. ROO’ VALENTINE popped at 24-1 last out in her first try on the hill. She figures for a share. BERT’S MELODY and CHAULK O LATTEY have run races that figure, but they are returning from layoffs of 10 months and 12 months, respectively.

EIGHTH RACE

VODKA TEXTED YOU has excuses for recent losses. He was forced to duel from the rail both recent tries at this $12.5k claiming N2L level; last out he was overmatched vs. open claiming company. Back at the N2L level, drawn outside, pressing trip forthcoming. KENJI’S SAVIOR trounced maiden-20s pressing a slow pace. The splits are likely to be quicker here, he shortens from seven furlongs to six and is a logical threat if he can rally from behind. TRUE RANGER finished second at this nd level last out, but moves down to the rail and probably must cope with fractions a little quicker than recent. SOLAR ZONE is a last-out maiden-claiming winner, and therefore that makes him an automatic “light-bulb”play.

NINTH RACE

FINEST CITY and VALE DORI are tough to separate in this G1 route. Although FINEST CITY is known as a sprinter (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner), she actually ran well all three routes, two on turf and one on dirt. In her only dirt route, she finished two and one-half lengths behind winner Beholder and Stellar Wind; when VALE DORI faced Beholder and Stellar Wind, she finished behind by more than 11 lengths. FINEST CITY stretches out following an impressive G2 win at seven furlongs, and gets top billing. However, no knocks on VALE DORI, who has won four straight including three graded races, all around two turns. She has a potential advantage due to distance. This is a tougher group for VALE DORI than she has been facing. Lightly raced PERFECT PIC has an upset chance. Twofor-two against allowance foes since stretching out, flattered by slow fractions both times, she is making just her seventh start and is rounding up to a career-best effort. LADY TAPIT also is lightly raced. She will be running late at a price.

TENTH RACE

This turf route for Cal-bred maidens is the weaker split of race 1. MARCKIE’S WATER finished an okay fourth last out in an off-turf race; his fourth-place finish two starts back on turf was better. A full 285 West Huntington Drive Arcadia, CA 91066 (626) 574-7223 Main track: One mile, oval. Distance from last turn to finish line: 990 feet. Turf course: About Seven Furlongs

TAKEOUT INFORMATION ■ Win, place, and show: 15.43 % ■ Two-horse exotic wagering: 22.68% ■ Trifecta, Superfecta, Super Hi 5, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 6: 23.68% ■ Pick 5: 14% ■ Daily Double: 20%

NOTE: A horse which wins a non-winners of $3,000 other than maiden or claiming, or two races, for Calbreds, shall remain eligible for that comparable open allowance race, provided that horse did not win a race other than claiming following that Cal-Bred win. Once a horse has won the two first condition allowance races (Cal-Bred and open), then the Cal Bred win will be disregarded in future allowance races for eligibility purposes only. brother to consistent Cal-bred allowance turf filly Sea Smoke, MARCKIE’S WATER should appreciate a return to grass. CATFISH HUNTER ran a lot better than the line indicates in his career debut, albeit in a maiden-40 dirt sprint. He was hard-held early, pulled while unrelaxed behind rivals, steadied at the half and again at the three-eighths, raced greenly in the lane while pinned inside and still made it close. He finished third by two lengths. Although it is tough to stretch to a route from just a single sprint prep, he is by the good turf sire Grazen, whose progeny have won 23 percent first-time turf, 20 percent overall turf. Expect the colt to be forwardly placed on the stretch-out, possibly the one to catch. BURNT COGNAC ran well both previous turf sprints, third at Del Mar and Golden Gate. He scratched Feb. 18 (off turf), and returns on his preferred footing.

designates graduate of Keeneland Sale