ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, THE STREET FIGHTER

FIRST RACE

The first of three turf sprints Thursday includes a filly that scratched Sunday when a N1X turf sprint for 3yo fillies was moved to the main track. PELLUCID will face older fillies and mares in this N1X, her second U.S. start after an unlucky trip in her U.S. debut. She was blocked the final quarter-mile, and under a hold all the way to the wire. She finished fourth by three lengths, she might have won with a clean trip. She trained well since, switches to Flavien Prat and can be forwardly placed in a race void of speed. GENEROUS POUR returns to the footing (turf) on which she earned the three highest figures of her career. She actually ran well last out, finishing fourth after setting the pace in a main-track route that saw the 1-2-3 finishers rally from the back. Like the top choice, ‘POUR also figures to be forwardly placed. LYNNE’S LEGACY probably is using this sprint as a prep for longer; it is her first start since November. GRAND PRIX will be finishing. This race is a split of race 8.

SECOND RACE

SCATHING and PASCHALITSA have similar frontrunning styles; if they stay out of each other’s way they could make it a parade. The call is SCATHING, who is drawn outside her pace rival and returning to the restricted (N3L) claiming ranks after dueling and fading in a Cal-bred N1X sprint. She won a N2L route two starts back from off the pace, and could tuck into a cozy trip right behind the speed. PASCHALITSA was in a tough spot last time, yet finished fifth in a Cal-bred N1X turf route. She benefits from a return to the main track; her runner-up finish two starts back under the same conditions would make her tough to catch. LIRICA HEAT drops from open company; SHESWILDNFREE will roll from the back of this five-horse field.

THIRD RACE

Small field of six runners, but nonetheless this is an interesting $16k claiming starter allowance. CITY STEEL has been banging heads with $25k to $40k claiming pros, and getting the job done. He won two of his last four against tougher, has speed but does not require the lead, and has won 11 of 37 overall. AIN’T MISBEHAVIN misfired last out, but his $10k claiming starter win two back makes him a fit, as does his $16k claiming starter allowance four back. The late-runner has won 8 of 32 overall. KRISTI’S COPILOT figures as a contender off his Cal-bred N1X three back, GROUND RULES has run races that put him in the hunt; BLANKET OF ICE crushed N3L foes his most recent start in January; RPRETTYBOYFLOYD rarely wins but often hits the board (in the money 17 of 30).

FOURTH RACE

The solid runner-up debut by SOCIAL TABOO was nearly four months ago, but she posted a series of sharp workouts for his first start since. The race she exits turned out to be productive, with two next-out winners and three next-out runnersup. YELLOW BONNET drops for the first time into the maiden-claiming ranks, while also shortening back to one turn. Her best figures were in sprints; she will be finishing. First-time starter PAINTING CORNERS and class dropper MOON KITTY are trained by Peter Miller. Miller has won with 3 of his last 7 older maiden-claiming first-time starters. The stat applies to PAINTING CORNERS, whose works look good on paper. MOON KITTY drops for the first time into the maiden-claiming ranks.

FIFTH RACE

AOTEAROA goes first start off the claim by Phil D’Amato, whose fresh horses are running super. The gelding was claimed two months ago for $40k, D’Amato entered him in a N2X/optional $62.5k claiming turf sprint Saturday, but scratched when the race was moved to the main track. AOTEAROA shows up in this $50k claiming turf sprint with speed figures among tops in the field. He was a stakes-winning turf miler at 2, has won on the hill, and should fire a top effort for his new connections. BANZE NO OESTE ran poorly in his comeback, but then improved second start back with a last-to-first $32k claiming win over this downhill course. Up two levels, he will be rolling late. FUELED BY BOURBON adds blinkers for his first start in two months; K THIRTY EIGHT has speed; NO SILENT is a back-class veteran that won a G3 on this course in 2015.

SIXTH RACE

SPICY BLONDE takes a dubious drop in class to $10k claiming, first start after being claimed from a runner-up finish for $20k. Negative pattern, but the filly is by far the fastest in the field even if the class drop makes her one big question mark. BACK BEAUTY drops from the same race; her drop actually makes more sense. ‘BEAUTY raced for a $12.5k claim tag three back; she finished in front of only one horse last out. This level is probably where she belongs. GOLIATH’S GIRL finished second three weeks ago for $8k; WARRENSDOLLARSIGNS finished third in the same race.

SEVENTH RACE

The smashing debut by THE STREET FIGHTER was more impressive than the margin (five+ lengths) suggests. He broke last from an inside post, made an extended run through the turn and into the lane, and powered home by daylight. Big win by a good colt who came back to post three sharp works. Up the ladder for owner-breeder-trainer Bruce Headley. PRIME ISSUE is a nine-win pro, including three wins at this Cal-bred class level or higher. The last time he ran, in August at Del Mar, he won this condition while racing for the optional $20k claim tag. Now, more than eight months later, he returns in a similar N1X/optional claiming sprint but entered “not to be claimed” following a layoff of more than six months. Bottom line: good horse in good hands, repeatedly proven at the level and likely to fire his best shot first start back. JIMMY BOUNCER missed by a half-length last out while finishing five lengths clear of third. That race was at this level. He was claimed, the claim was voided after post-race evaluation. Back at the same level, logical contender.

EIGHTH RACE

LEVELER earned speed figures last spring and summer that are fast enough to win this N1X turf sprint, which is a split of race 1. LEVELER has not started since October, but trainer Phil D’Amato won three races the past two weeks with horses returning from extended layoffs. Solid work pattern, ready to fire. STURDY ONE wired $40k claiming turf sprinters last out, and was claimed. While she undoubtedly benefitted from the slow pace, she could get a similar trip here. Not much speed signed on. POSTER GIRL ran like she needed the start last month. Second start back, over a course on which she ran well in February, improvement expected. JEREMY’S LEGACY might be ranked too low by this handicapper. The graded stakes-placed filly perked up last time finishing third in a fast mile; she adds blinkers and shortens to a turf sprint while landing the beneficial outside post.