ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, JUANSAGAIN FIRST RACE

Racing resumes at Santa Anita with a competitive nine-race Friday card and good-sized fields. MR. HINX, 3-for-3 in sprints, is an obvious choice in this N1X turf sprint for 3yos. He won on the downhill course in February, won a Cal-bred sprint stakes on dirt in April, and shortens up after a wide-trip fifth in a two-turn stakes at Golden Gate. WHO CARES finished a creditable second last out in a Cal-bred N1X turf sprint vs. older. He actually had a good trip after breaking from the inside post, weaved through traffic and missed by less than a length. He goes inside to outside, and switches to Rafael Bejarano. However, the field he faced last out was not particularly strong. The winner was moving up from a $16k claiming N3L win. WHAT’SONTHEAGENDA set/pressed a kamikaze pace and finished a solid third last out in a stakes race that was his first start on the hill. He has a shot to steal it if he can ration his speed second time over the course. EXOTIC GHOST has one win, one third in two hillside starts; stakes winner VENDING MACHINE shortens up and drops in class; RITZY A.P. and BILLY BIG go route to sprint and will rally late.

SECOND RACE

SECRET SHOPPER drops in class and shortens to five and a half furlongs after pressing a hot pace last out vs. better. She is the one to catch in this maiden-50 sprint for fillies and mares, but wagering value could be nil. This stable’s MSWto-maiden-claiming class move generates underlay prices. The past five years on this circuit, 14 such droppers produced one winner that paid $2.80. SECRET SHOPPER is the one to catch, but far from a sure thing. TIKI BAR LOGIC makes her first start of the season, returning for a claim tag after trying special-weight maidens all four starts last year as a 2yo. Workout pattern looks decent for a return at a short distance, her stable is having a big meet and has done well with comebackers dropping from MSW to maiden-claiming. Trainer Mike Machowsky won with his last two such droppers ($9.20 Holy Chic in March; $11.40 Secreto Primero in May 2016). UNLUCKY HILLARY is a Mick Ruis-trained first-time starter to be ridden by apprentice Austin Solis. That has been a profitable recent angle. Ruis and Solis are 2-for-4 this year with firsters ($21.20 Summer Buddha, $92 The Critical Way. NORWEGIAN SPY is first-time tag, first start of the year.

THIRD RACE

Well-publicized 2yo filly TYFOSHA makes her career debut for trainer Doug O’Neill with flashy works. Those include a May 19 gate move in which she reportedly outworked stablemate Saudi Chroma, who “flattered” the work when she returned six days later to win her debut in stylish fashion. TYFOSHA is a Flatter filly whose stakeswinning dam Penny Marie produced six winners including three multiple winners. Penny Marie won her career debut by seven lengths in 1:08.99. TYFOSHA worked twice after her team work with Saudi Chroma, and looks ready to roll. First-timer starter SURRENDER NOW, a $220k purchase at Barretts, has posted a series of fast works at San Luis Rey Downs that hint she is ready to fire under trainer Peter Miller’s main rider Norberto Arroyo. Miller also entered MONDAYMORNINGBLUES, who had a brutal trip finishing fourth as the favorite last month in her debut. She steadied multiple times, and missed by three lengths. With a race under her belt and a rider switch to Tyler Baze, improvement is expected. Both Miller trainees are by first-crop sire Morning Line. NOTHINS FREE has worked well, and gets in light. Inside draw in a tough field, however. She is not a confirmed starter. Good race for 2yo maiden fillies.

FOURTH RACE

The pick six begins with a Cal-bred maiden-50 at a mile on turf; probably no stars in this field. HI HEAT BOY seems like the one to beat He stretched out for his third start last time and finished a creditable fourth. The gradually improving colt gets in light with a seven-pound apprentice, and is the tepid choice only, assuming another step forward. OCEAN DREAM is a maiden filly that has made 11 starts already, yet she is in with a chance vs. the

boys based on her runner-up finish two starts back at Golden Gate. Overmatched last time in a stakes race, she drops and will be running late.

WARREN’S FANDANGO adds blinkers for his first start since April. The Cal-bred special-weight he exits turned out to be a live race, two next-out winners and one next-out runner-up. BURNIE’S ON BOARD did not show speed last time, which was surprising as he was stretching out from sprints. He faces easier, and should be forwardly placed even with blinkers off. This is a messy race. The smallest field of the day with six entered, but a competitive $50k claiming route nonetheless. MADIBA was unresponsive to a strategy change last time; he dropped out early and never made a run. The gelding runs best when he is forwardly placed, which he figures to be under good, young apprentice rider Evin Roman. MADIBA won at this claiming level two back with a forwardly paced trip. TRIBAL JEWEL is speed, first start since April, for a trainer (Bill Spawr) that does super with horses returning from short breaks. An 11-time winner, the gelding might be the one to catch depending on strategy employed by stretch-out PRIME ISSUE. The latter set the pace in a Calbred sprint last out; he finished second. That was his first start since last summer. He is quick enough to contest the pace, and probably will do just that. The nine-time winner has made five starts for this trainer, with one win and four seconds. GENERAL IKE set a fast pace and finished third in his comeback; he can improve.

SIXTH RACE

JUANSAGAIN trounced restricted (non-winners this year) $10k claiming company last out, wiring the field and winning with plenty left at the wire. He was claimed by Peter Miller, who is 40 percent (13 for 32) first off the claim since last August. Drawn outside his main pace rivals, he shortens from seven furlongs to six, and is the most probable winner on the card moving up to $12.5k claiming. There is plenty of speed in this field however, which could benefit 10-year-old gelding ROYAL F J. He runs best rallying from behind, but found himself on the lead last time and finished third. He will be chasing a target this time, and is drawn inside. For him, that is good. He runs well when he cuts the corner. The old boy has won 2 of his last 7 starts, and making the 98th start of his career. MAY B is pure heat, “stretching out” following a third-place comeback in an 870-yard race against Quarter Horses. LAMBO LUXX and OH NEWMAN will roll late.

SEVENTH RACnE

Lots of chances in this N1X/optional $40k claiming turf sprint. ZURI CHOP gets the call, first off the claim by Vladimir Cerin following a solid third last out in a race from which the second- and fourthplace finishers returned to win. The gelding is not exactly a win type (1-for-18 in U.S.), but his recent form is good and he figures for a forwardly placed trip just off the speed. He set the pace last out, but seems better rallying from behind. DOC CURLIN could improve first since being transferred to trainer Richard Baltas. He won a starter allowance on this downhill course two back, and finished an okay third last out at this condition. There is pace to run at; he will fly late. AOTEAROA ran poorly last out, fourth as the favorite in a claiming turf sprint that was his first start since being claimed by Phil D’Amato. But he returned to work well, and D’Amato stats are better second off the claim (first off claim: 7-for-36, $1.27 return on investment per $2 win bet; second off claim: 8-for-31, $3.33 ROI). AOTEAROA might deserve another shot. TAIMA THE HAWK will roll late; he certainly likes the hill. In the money all four starts including a starter allowance win two back, and a runner-up last out at this level.

EIGHTH RACE

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN can post a minor upset following a better-than-looked fourth last out. He lost ground rallying wide on the far turn and into the lane, and missed by a length and one-half while flattening out late. The pace should be legit in this 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%

$10k claiming starter; he won at this level three starts back. CITY STEEL is the 129-pound top weight; he finished in front of the top choice last out. Other than impost, no knocks on ‘STEEL, an 11-time winner in top form. FINALLYGOTABENTLEY, a sprinter most of career, stretches out for the first time in two years. The sprint-to-route move occasionally can refresh a veteran sprinter, although his career record around two turns is modest. Six routes produced one runner-up finish. Nonetheless, he will be a threat on the stretch-out. I’LL WRAP IT UP adds more speed. Interesting race could set up for a closer.

NINTH RACE

Also-eligible DESERT LAW is likely to improve second time out in this Cal-bred maiden turf sprint. He worked well into his debut, but broke dead last and trailed, pulled himself into contention at the dirt crossing, switched outside for the drive and finished evenly. Not a bad debut, at all. He ran like a horse that could move up a ton second time out. He is the one to beat, if he draws in. Otherwise, MOR CANDY gets the call. He set the pace and tired to fifth in his debut, then set the pace and finished third last out in his first try on turf. Improving pattern, speed, logical contender with or without the top choice. INSUBORDINATION finished second in the same race the top pair exits; GOSOFAR is a six-start maiden with back-to-back seconds at this level.