ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, PRETTY OWL

FIRST RACE

Twilight racing, first post 4 p.m. The card begins with an upset candidate from Arizona. NEHEMIAH showed speed and tired in his debut four months ago at Turf Paradise. That allowance race produced two next-out winners; NEHEMIAH has been away since. He makes his comeback for trainer Molly Pearson, with three recent workouts over this track, and returns in a Cal-bred maiden-50 that might not be that tough. The 2yo is a sibling to Top Hat Wildcat, who improved a bunch in his second career start last summer, winning a maiden race at Canterbury Downs. NEHEMIAH is likewise spotted for an upset. ROYAL TRUMP chased and cracked in his debut, a highly rated maiden-claiming race that was the fastest of the season in Southern California. ROYAL TRUMP drops in class, and is likely to improve second time out. SHANE DOAN finished second as the favorite both starts this spring at Canterbury. He adds blinkers for his local debut, has a creditable last-start speed figure (53 Beyer) and will be among the pacesetters.

SECOND RACE

The N1X crusher two weeks ago by CHICAGO STYLE was visually impressive. It was his fourth win from five starts, and stamps him the horse to beat moving up in class to N2X while running at the same mile and three-eighths distance. The main challenge is the short turnaround between starts. FRENCH GETAWAY misfired in the G3 Cougar II, while seemingly uncomfortable with the footing (dirt). He prefers turf, returns to that surface here, and proved in two previous marathon efforts that he can stay the distance. CONQUEST TYPHOON is back from the Midwest circuit, and dropping from a stakes into a N2X/optional $62.5k claiming race. Three years ago as a 2yo, he won a Grade 3 over this course.

THIRD RACE

The pick six begins with a messy maiden-32 for 2yos. WILLOWS BABE finished second in back-toback starts against better company, earned okay figures in both, and looks like the one to beat at the bottom level for 2yo maidens. The knock is she is not particularly quick; this race is only five and a half furlongs. TIGER MOM finished next to last in his debut vs. special-weight maidens two months ago at Golden Gate, a race that produced two next-out winners including a stakes winner. Freshened since, dropping in class to maiden32, and switching to dirt, improvement is likely. SUGARATSUNDOWN adds blinkers and also shows up for a claim tag for the first time. WE WILL RE JOYCE has speed, adds blinkers, and wheels back seven days after pressing and fading in a statebred special-weight. This race is tough.

FOURTH RACE

PREACHER ROE ran too good to lose opening day of the meet. He dueled throughout, fought back in the lane, and missed by a head in a sharp comeback. Now he moves from dirt to turf, does not necessarily require the lead, and could get a comfortable trip saving ground tucked just off the speed. ALASKAN SON drops from allowance to restricted claiming ($32k, non-winners this year), and returns to the turf course on which he ran the best races of his career last summer, a maiden win and third in an allowance. PATH OF DAVID will be rolling late; TOUGH BUT NICE adds speed; CROWN THE KITTEN drops and is another that has run races that put him in the hunt.

FIFTH RACE

This Cal-bred maiden-50 is a split of race 1. BIG BAD GARY drops in for a tag after chasing better his first two starts. His last-out sixth earned a figure (55 Beyer) that would probably be good enough. The knock is he is not particularly quick. MAC MCLOVIN added blinkers for his second start, flashed improved speed, then backed up. He is improving, and probably will be positioned in front of the top choice. RESPECT THE SHOT makes his debut with decent-looking workouts, and modestlooking rivals. UNOBTAINABLE wheels back in eight days for this third start of the meet. He is the first horse this summer to make three starts. He has speed and finished well clear of third last time out.

SIXTH RACE

Second-time starter PRETTY OWL looks tough to

beat in this sprint for maiden fillies and mares. She ran super in her career debut on opening day, runner-up while nearly four lengths clear of third. She worked twice since, a pair of sharp half-miles over this racetrack, and benefits by the additional half-furlong. The only knock is price; her odds are likely to be low. She is trained by Bob Baffert, who also entered comebacker HOT BLOODED GIRL. She has speed and will keep the pace honest.

MEIJI debuts with a rock-solid workout pattern for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer; her dam produced three winners, two multiple winners. ANONYMITY is a full sister to G1 winner/2011 champion juvenile colt Hansen. Her workouts suggest she is ready to roll.

SEVENTH RACE

This is a strange turf stakes for California-bred fillies and mares, because it is completely void of pace. The comeback mare MAJESTIC HEAT won this race a year ago with a pressing trip; she could fall into the lead this year by default. She trained well for her first start of the season, drops from graded company, runs well fresh and could get a leisurely trip setting or pressing easy splits. MOONLESS SKY occasionally produces speed. In this paceless race, sh e could find near the lead. SHEHAS THERITESTUFF rallied from behind a slow pace to win a N2X with a big late burst. The pace scenario might be similar in this race; ‘RITESTUFF might be the best finisher in the field.

EIGHTH RACE

KIONNTAL was hounded through a strong pace in his comeback win, a race run over a slow surface. He fought back late and won with a respectable figure. That maiden-claiming race made him eligible to this starter allowance; the lightly raced gelding can score right back in a competitive onemile dirt race. WAR UNION is in from the Midwest, where two starts this spring were a solid maidenclaiming win and a respectable fourth in a starter allowance. DUKES UP returns from the Midwest, gets in light with a seven-pound apprentice rider, and should be forwardly placed.