ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 2, DESERT MADAM

FIRST RACE

JILL MADDEN looks like the one to beat as she returns to the level of her Los Alamitos win two starts back. A front-runner/pace-presser, her challenge is avoiding a duel with the stretch-out sprinter in post six. If she cannot avoid a duel, ZANAB might wear her down. ZANAB made a middle move and took the lead from ‘MADDEN last out, then lost her punch and finished second. Her off-the-pace style would be effective if the frontrunners get in each other’s way. HONOR MAKER crushed $8k claiming types by more than 11 lengths last out, her first start since being claimed by Dean Greenman. That romping win was over a Santa Anita surface that is unusually slow this meet. Sharp filly in good form merits respect wheeling back in 18 days. FOR THE LOVOF PATTY is the aforementioned sprinter that could make things tough for the top choice. SASSY ASHLEY fits with these, based on her runner-up effort on this track in March.

SECOND RACE

DESERT MADAM looks like too much racehorse for these $12.5k claiming fillies and mares. She was in tough her last two starts; her starter allowance win on this track in June (carrying 131 pounds) would be fast enough to handle this level. She has tactical speed, does not require the lead, and enters as simply the best horse in the field. Trainer Bill Spawr is 13-for-28 (46 percent) with Santa Anita favorites the past year. SHES WILDNFREE ran around the track and finished a one-paced third last out. Kind of a disappointing effort, actually. But that race was at Los Al; her best races this year have been at Santa Anita. SWISS SKIMMER moves up two levels following a runaway win for $8k; SWISSARELLA should be forwardly placed saving ground from the inside post.

THIRD RACE

Three main contenders are tough to separate in the first leg of the pick six. A decent third last out by QUINN MURPHY in a claiming turf route for 3yos gives her the edge in this $25k claiming N2L turf route. She is a deep closer; there is sufficient speed to flatter her rally even with the rails at the outermost 30-foot setting. LOOKIN FOR A DANGER, a presser, will be positioned in front of the top choice. ‘DANGER wired maiden-50s on this course in June; she may need to sit second behind the stretch-out sprinter in post seven. If she can, she gets first run. WISHFUL WINKING is the third top contender. Like the top choice, ‘THINKING has been facing better, but needs a pace setup. She might get it, because the aforementioned sprinter SAPODILLA will be rolling on the front end.

FOURTH RACE

This Cal-bred maiden-50 for 2yo fillies is ripe for a first-time starter such as BRAGGING RIGHTS. Although she has been training over the Los Alamitos surface and debuts on the slower Santa Anita surface, she qualifies on the “new face, weak race” angle. The past five years, Bob Baffert is 8-for-29 with first-time starters in maiden-claiming races (4 for 11 with 2yos). Second-time starter BLESS THE CAUSE is quick enough to set the pace from the rail. She led into the lane last out, and faded to fifth. With a race under belt, she is likely to carry her speed farther even while stretching out another half-furlong to six. PUT IT ON ICE makes her career debut with a series of slow works, which is typical from this stable. Trainer Steve Miyadi and jockey Evin Roman are 3-for-7 this year with 2yo firsttime starters.

FIFTH RACE

After running well twice on dirt at Del Mar (third and second), Mick Ruis-trained ESKIMO ROSES is probably facing easier company in this maiden turf sprint. He dueled on fast fractions both starts; the race he exits produced two next-start winners. The challenge is reproducing top form on turf, and establishing position breaking from the inside post. First-time starter BARTLETT HALL sports a work pattern that suggests he could be “live” first out for trainer John Shirreffs who is 3-for-6 with debut 2yos the past four years. Bred for grass, the son of first-crop sire Data Link was purchased for $90k at a 2yo sale in April. His works suggest he is well-meant. FENGARI, a $170k purchase at a 2yo sale in March, also has a solid workout pattern for his debut. SCRAMBLED is a Tapit colt that is the first foal produced by G1 winner Egg Drop. He is trained by Phil D’Amato, who entered also-eligible

first-time starter GOOD GUY BAD GUY.

SIXTH RACE

AVICII is a borderline standout in this N2X fillymare sprint. She chased a fast pace and inched clear last out for the ninth win of her career; her speed gives her a tactical advantage in a race that came up light on pace. She won a N2X on this track in May; she is entered at the level again while running for the optional $62.5k claim tag. First off the claim by trainer Bill Morey, AVICII is the one to catch. RUN FOR RETTS returns from a two-month freshening. She lost five times at this class level, but finished a close second in June at this level. Her speed figures (Beyers low-80s) put her in the hunt. JUST A LITTLE HOPE got an ideal pace setup 18 days ago, and stormed to a sharp come-frombehind victory. Three dirt sprints produced two wins and a second, but the tepid pace scenario in this sprint does not favor her closing style.

SEVENTH RACE

In a competitive turf sprint for Cal-bred fillies and mares, WINEMENOW gets the call returning to the downhill course where she upset maidens in February. Her most recent start, third in a turf sprint at Del Mar, may have been better than it looks. The race was dominated by pacesetters; WINEMENOW rallied from next to last and missed by only two lengths. The longer distance of this six and onehalf furlong scramble benefits her rally. SECRET THORN finished in front of the top choice last out, while flattered by the “race shape.” Outside post, probably the speed of the field, she has a chance to wire the field. That is, if she can stay the distance. PASCHALITSA ran better than looked her most recent turf start, fifth with a wide trip around two turns. Freshened, back on turf, upset candidate from off the pace. WARRENSCRYSTALIZED trounced $16k claiming fillies and mares (N2L) in a style that suggests the class hike to Cal-bred N1X is within reach. HOW ABOUT ZERO might be ranked too low by this handicapper. The stakesplaced filly is arguably the “best horse” in the field, but she has not raced since March.

EIGHTH RACE

HAWK’S EYES and ROYAL F J are tough to separate in this $6,250 claiming sprint. The call goes to HAWK’S EYES, a nine-time winner up in class after winning a restricted claiming race for the same price tag. Sharp veteran can wear down the speed. ROYAL F J is a 10yo veteran that finished second last out after uncharacteristically setting the pace. He is best chasing a target, and should get that trip here. GOLDEN ATLANTIC won a pair at Los Alamitos; he is the best of the speed and could get brave. MADELYN’S WILD MAX is a 10-time winner that will finish. Wide-open finale on a wide-open Thursday card.