ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, SIRCAT SALLY

FIRST RACE

The inside post is a tough spot for FACE OF VICTORY, who probably would win this sprint if he reproduced his most recent start. That was a runner-up finish in a fast-pace, highly rated productive race against older; the 1-3-4 finishers returned to win. FACE OF VICTORY is a fast, improving colt but now stuck on the wood in a race with lots of speed to his outside. A seven-furlong specialist, dropping into a race restricted to 3yos, he gets the call despite the draw. SQUARED SQUARED shortens to a sprint and returns to dirt for his second start following a three-month break. His dirt races here in January-February are fast enough, he could get a good trip forwardly placed just off the speed. WHO’S HOT is quick, dropping from N1X to start for the $50k claim tag. TRUE VALOR dusted maiden-30s by more than six in his California debut. Threat right back. Route-tosprint MOONLIGHT BLUE gets a beneficial pace scenario for his late rally.

SECOND RACE

Second-time starter LADY ACCLAMATION can post a minor upset in this turf sprint for Cal-bred maiden fillies and mares. She trained fairly well into her April debut, but two turns on turf in a fast-pace race was too much to ask. She chased and faded. If that race was designed as a prep, then mission accomplished. She earned a lofty Tom Brohamer-generated pace figure in that race, which already produced two next-out winners. LADY ACCLAMATION is a sibling to a pair of minor stakes winners, she worked steadily since her debut, and may benefit by the cutback to six and a half on the hill. JABBER NOW is a logical contender based on her improving pattern and runner-up finish last out in a similar Cal-bred maiden turf sprint. She finished more than three lengths clear of third, and might not need much better to win this. First-time starter TIZ MI HAINA is a sibling to multiple turf-sprint stakes winner Ambitious Brew from the same stable. Although maidens trained by Marty Jones tend to improve with racing, this filly’s pedigree and works suggest she could be an exception.

THIRD RACE

First-time starter MICRORITHMS is ready to fire. His last three workouts for Bob Baffert were sharp team workouts (viewed on XTBV.com), including two gate moves in which he showed speed from the barrier, and a half-mile work four days ago in which he broke off behind a workmate and finished evenly. The point is, first-timer MICRORITHMS has been “competing” in the morning. All systems go, first out. STONE HANDS hooked good maidens last year (subsequent G1 winners Mastery, Iliad), then tailed off late in the season. Away since January, solid recent works, has speed. ROOSEVELT was a highly regarded 2yo last summer, but broke slowly in his debut, finished last, and disappeared. He returns for his new trainer Simon Callaghan. It is unclear if he is cranked up for his return, but he was once thought to be a promising colt. SIX CIDER split the field his only start last summer. He is likely to have improved since.

FOURTH RACE

WHERE’S THE D drops from $25k claiming to the bottom (unrestricted) $6,250 claiming level. She has speed, okay recent figures, and gets in light. This low class level (filly-mare sprint) has been run four times here this year. Two were won by favorites, another by a second choice, and one longshot ($26.40 Stately Command) that was previously based at Los Alamitos. WARREN’S SUPER CAT, a vet scratch in what turned out to be a two-horse match race on May 12, worked okay since then and shows up at the bottom. She will rally late. STATELY COMMAND seems to have tailed off since her upset at this level three back. But in all fairness, she had a curious trip last out. Wrangled back off the pace, wide through the turn, bumped and carried out farther by a rival into the lane, and faded. It was basically a throw-out race. She was claimed, and obviously has run well enough in the past to win at this level. TRINITYS TURN will pick the up the pieces.

FIFTH RACE

FOREST BLUE is in the best form of his career, up in class to N1X following a dominating starter allowance victory in which he dueled through a strong pace and kicked away. That was his fourth win from his last five starts. He faces a challenging pace scenario in a sprint loaded with heat, but repeatedly has handled pace battles in the past. Stick with sharp horse. TEXAS TWO STEP found seven furlongs slightly out of reach last out, and tired the final furlong after setting a hot pace. Same class level, dropping significant weight with seven-pound apprentice Evin Roman aboard, he benefits from the cutback to six furlongs. JUNIOR GILLIAM is a closer in a race that sets up for his style. Four sprints on this track produced two wins, two seconds. Legit threat from the back of the pack. ROCKET FUEL was fast a year ago; he returns with sharp works for his new trainer.

SIXTH RACE

The undefeated Cal-bred SIRCAT SALLY should win her seventh straight in this G2 turf route. She can handle the nine-furlong trip, and is drawn outside her only apparent pace rival. Therefore, she figures for a perfect trip sitting second. She has speed and can finish. That is a tough combination to beat. Lightly raced PACIFIC WIND followed her impressive debut victory with a solid thirdplace finish behind the top choice. A lightly raced daughter of Curlin, her best races are still ahead. BEAU RECALL split the top pair last time, runnerup at one mile. This will be her first start beyond that distance, however. Late-blasting milers such as her do not always reproduce the same kick at longer distances. She finished second both times she met the top choice at one mile.

SEVENTH RACE

SPECIMEN is back to one turn in this maiden-20 sprint. He pushed a relatively fast pace last time around two turns and faded. His runner-up effort two back in a seven-furlong maiden-20 similar to this would be fast enough. He looks like a standout, actually. WHERES THE MONEY JACK shows up at the bottom for the first time, while going route to sprint. His half-length loss two starts back puts him in the hunt. RICK’S DREAM broke slowly and finished a creditable third in his debut. Improvement is likely; trainer Hector Palma is on a roll. He entered the week having won with three of his last four starters. Since late last month, Palma is 5-for-13.

EIGHTH RACE

The sharp comeback victory by HAY DUDE in a $32k claiming turf sprint stamps him the one to beat stretching to a mile in this $25k claiming starter. HUNT can run long, has speed but does not necessarily require the lead, and is a fresh horse making just his second start of the season. SKY PREACHER won a $50k claiming turf route last time, which makes him a logical contender in this lower-level starter. A deep closer than runs virtually the same race every time (Beyers in 90s), he was a vet scratch May 26 but worked twice since. Reliable pro will rally late. COUNTY LINEMAN seems to have lost his winning instinct this year, but he is running well, in the money twice recently vs. slightly softer. WOOD MACHINE is 4-for-6 this year, with wins at Santa Anita and Turf Paradise. TRIFECTA is sharp, but stuck in post 10 going a mile on turf.

NINTH RACE

This G2 for 3yo fillies was won by Songbird last year, and Stellar Wind the year before. No such stars this time, but a competitive race nonetheless. IT TIZ WELL, G3 winner two back, was freshened following her distant third in the Santa Anita Oaks. Her workout pattern is sharp; she runs well fresh. SELCOURT misfired as the favorite last time in a sprint stake, but came out of the race to train well including a sharp six-furlong move last Friday. She has been setting or pressing 44-and-change half-miles; the fractions will not be as severe in this mile and one-sixteenth race. She has a shot to rebound, possibly at a hint of a price, first try around two turns. She might be the one they have to catch. NOTED AND QUOTED got buried in traffic in the lane last time, got clear late, and finished a close second in a race she might have won with a better trip. She was a G1 route winner last year. FAYPIEN followed up a big maiden victory by winning the sprint stakes that the two-three selections exits. MAJESTIC QUALITY crushed maiden last out with a big number. An off-the-pace upset is in the cards if she runs two alike.

TENTH RACE

The 4yo maiden OREGON is due for a good trip, after being compromised both recent routes. He was wide last out, four-wide on the far turn and wider yet into the lane, and missed by less than two lengths. He had a similar trip in his previous start when he finished second. OREGON may benefit from a rider switch to Gary Stevens, whose 10-for-36 turf record this meet produced the highest win percent (27) in the colony. KOPITAR makes his first start he was gelded, and first try around two turns. In the money all three turf sprints, he should be a pace factor on the stretchout. MEMBER STATE makes his U.S. debut for winning connections. He finished second to race-6 Honeymoon contender Beau Recall last summer in Ireland. MALIBU MUSIC missed by a nose at 102-1 last time out in his first route.