ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 2, SAVROLA

FIRST RACE

MY PERFECT GEM ran well in his debut, runnerup in a maiden-30. Gelded since, he drops to maiden-20 for his second start, and meets a field that includes several that are stuck at this class level. The front-runners in this field are dubious; the race could set it up for his closing style. Those dubious rivals include five-start maiden ROCKIN MY MOJO and seven-start maiden MALIBU D’ORO. Alternate preference is ROCKIN MY MOJO, who has more speed than he showed last time when he raced wide and finished an okay third. He produced speed every previous start, switches to seven-pound apprentice rider Laura Werner and is likely to be involved early. MALIBU D’ORO is quick, wheeling back 13 days after the best race f his career. That was a third in a similar maidenclaiming sprint at five and a half. He stretches to six and is another likely to be mixing it up early.

SECOND RACE

The third-place finish last out by SAVROLA was much better than it looks on paper. Facing older starter allowance foes at Pleasanton, he raced four- and five-wide start to finish, kept digging through the lane, and missed by just slightly more than two lengths. It was actually a big effort, in his first start on dirt. The Northern California-based gelding drops in to face 3yo claiming company, gets a top local rider and can post an “upset” over potential favorite SMALL TOWN HERO. The latter faced tougher company his recent starts, including back-to-back fifths against older. Like the top choice, ‘HERO drops in to face 3yo claiming rivals, has enough speed to establish position near the front while saving ground, and has the top speed figures in the lineup. SLASHER has run races that put him in the hunt, although it remains to be seen if two turns is his preferred trip.

THIRD RACE

Despite a lackluster fourth-place debut, CROATIAN gets the call to win this turf sprint for 2yo maidens. He showed speed in morning works prior to his debut, but produced none of that in his debut at Los Alamitos. He was sluggish leaving the gate, gradually dropped back, and made no run at all. It was a curiously flat effort. Chances are, he is better than that race suggests. Trainer Bob Baffert wheels him back on relatively short rest, switches to grass, and changes riders. If he can produce the speed he showed in the morning, expect major improvement. First-time starter DESERT DOMINATION has bullet works at San Luis Rey Downs, and a pedigree that should be good for turf. The young sire Soldat is not known for debut winners however, and Peter Miller first-timers on turf win less often than his first-timers on dirt. But those sharp works cannot be ignored. Also-eligible CANDYMAN GARRET ran a winning race in his debut, runner-up while more than seven lengths clear of third. The winner Texas Wedge earned the then-highest Beyer Figure of the year (86) by a 2yo male. BOMBARDEO has sharp works for a stable that is loaded with 2yos.

FOURTH RACE

THORPE D’ORO lost as the 1-10 favorite last out, but he ran a winning race. He pressed/dueled through a fast pace, shook free and got worn down late while finishing more than four lengths clear of third. He earned another good number (86 Beyer), is drawn outside his main pace rival, and enters as the logical chalk in this mile race for older maidens. ROOSEVELT improved a bunch last out. Though no match for the top choice in the stretch, he ran well to finish third and enters with an improving pattern and a slightly weight break over the top choice. The seven-start maiden ZICONIC will roll from behind in a race that could unfold with a strong pace. His stablemate is ninestart maiden HOLLYWOOD STRIKE, who could get a great trip sitting third behind the speed. BELOVED HOLIDAY stretches out from a respectable third-place sprint debut.

FIFTH RACE

A competitive field of allowance fillies and mares entered this mile turf race; BELVOIR BAY stretches out following a creditable third-place sprint that was her first since last year. She can carry her speed two turns, and is the choice to wire the field if she can avoid a duel with the rival two stalls to