HORSES TO WATCH

DEL MAR

LAJATICO

Trainer: Doug O’Neill Last race: Aug. 16, 3rd Finish: 1st by 1 1/4 Beyer: 88

A fast pace over a closer-friendly course did not foil this vastly improved frontrunner, who wired second-level allowance foes with a career-best Beyer Speed Figure. Turf-sprint filly is in peak form, and longer distances are ahead at Santa Anita.

BOLSTER

Trainer: Leonard Powell Last race: Aug. 16, 4th Finish: 1st by 4 1/4 Beyer: 79

A full brother to Grade 1-winning sprinter Points Offthebench, this recently gelding crushed statebred maiden-$50Ks and should score right back in a starter allowance.

MY BOO

Trainer: Gary Sherlock Last race: Aug. 18, 4th Finish: 2nd by nose Beyer: 64

A California-bred 2-year-old sired by Ghostzapper, this colt finished with a rush in a promising career debut. Maidens from this stable typically improve with racing.

MOONSHINE MEMORIES

Trainer: Simon Callaghan Last race: Aug. 19, 6th Finish: 1st by 1 Beyer: 83

This debuting 2-year-old filly wired the field in a fast six-furlong time of 1:10.08 and galloped out super past the wire. Sharp win by a good filly. She runs next in the Grade 1 Chandelier on Sept. 30 at Santa Anita.

MEADOWSWEET

Trainer: Cliff Sise Last race: Aug. 19, 10th Finish: 5th by 2 Beyer: 88

She did not relax while pressing the Del Mar Oaks pace, made the lead in the lane, and tired to fifth. That was a good effort in her fourth start. She is one to follow on the Santa Anita turf, which is more conducive to speed.

– Brad Free

WOODBINE

KING AND HIS COURT

Trainer: Mark Casse Last race: Aug. 20, 8th Finish: 3rd by 1/2 Beyer: 81

The 2016 Canadian champion male 2-yearold didn’t have a clear way through the stretch before making a wide bid and then flattening out a bit in the 12-furlong Breeders’ Stakes. He should be tough on the turnback to a mile against Ontario-sired 3-year-olds in the Sept. 23 Vice Regent Stakes.

DIXIE MOON

Trainer: Catherine Day Phillips Last race: Aug. 19, 5th Finish: 1st by 1 1/2 Beyer: 74

According to jockey Eurico Da Silva, she ran greenly during her workmanlike debut score going seven furlongs. The longbodied daughter of Curlin is bred to run long and could be a factor in 2-year-old filly stakes here this fall.

SINE METU

Trainer: Debra Rombis Last race: Aug. 19, 4th Finish: 2nd by 1 Beyer: 78

He came up empty after being hustled early in the first leg of the Woodbine Turf Endurance Series and then rebounded nicely at 52-1 when ridden much more patiently in this second leg of the series.

– Ron Gierkink