ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, AXELROD

FIRST RACE

After compromising trips in successive races, ICY STREET is ready to win. In his July comeback, he was banged around at the start, clipped heels early, was blocked into the lane and finished well. Last out, he was blocked on the rail into the lane, steadied trying to squeeze through inside, briefly lost momentum, then finished with a rush to miss by a head behind a horse that returned to win again. Two bad trips, two good efforts, ICY STREET is ready to win. ACKER rallied wide and finished strongly in a solid third-place comeback. He galloped out with run past the wire, starting for the first time in three months. Big effort first-time turf, and unlike the top choice, ACKER is proven at this mile and one-eighth trip. WISE CURLIN has an upset chance on the front. This race came up light on speed, WISE CURLIN could make the lead. If he coasts early, he could be gone late. INDOCTRINATION was under a drive on the far turn and finished seventh as the favorite in a similar race. Blinkers on.

SECOND RACE

Despite misfiring last out as the odds-on favorite, RIZZI’S HONORS gets the call over JENNA’S FAITH in this $16k claiming N3L sprint. RIZZI’S HONORS did not have a visible alibi last out at Pleasanton, unless it was she resented rating tactics. Bottom line is she misfired, and backed up. She returns to So Cal, to the Santa Anita track on which seven starts produced a win and five other in-the-money finishes. Expect jockey Tyler Conner to use her speed; her daylight victory two starts back vs. N2L claiming sprinters would be fast enough to win with a front-running/pace-pressing trip. JENNA’S FAITH has been running well enough vs. tougher to vie for favoritism. Claimed from a third-place finish last out in a Calbred N1X/optional sprint, she will roll late. Entering this racing week, 8 of the last 12 sprints at six furlongs were won by a horse that rallied from the middle or back of the field. TUSCANY BEAUTY improved last out with a runner-up finish at Los Al; both wins were at Santa Anita.

THIRD RACE

Florida shipper TILLIE’S LILY gets a class test in this N2X turf sprint, following a blowout vs. suspect company early last month at Gulfstream Park. The 2-for-2 filly raced in second position and kicked away by nearly three lengths without being asked. Big win over dubious competition. The race produced two next-out winners, but one of those won a five-runner off-turf event; the other won in Mexico. The point is, it might not have been much of a field behind TILLIE’S LILY. But visually, the win was dominant. Her work pattern since arriving in California has gaps, but the pace scenario favors her pressing style. There is not much speed in this small field. STURDY ONE finished next to last in her most recent start, but previous starts this season were sharp including a win and a second over this downhill turf course. Versatile filly wins races, and trainer Ian Kruljac is 5-for-14 since the start of Del Mar. SWIRLING overcame a bad start to win a N1X at Del Mar; the 2-for-2 filly won first time out on this downhill course.

FOURTH RACE

MISTER MOJO drops from a fast-pace maiden special-weight in which he dueled on a hot pace before tiring. He drops to maiden-40/50, shortens to five and a half, and could be gone wheeling back in 13 days. PSYCHEDELICAT is a nine-start maiden that has never raced at this low level. His stalking style could play well, because the top choice is pure gas. If he stops, he could drag down other speed with him and set it up for PSYCHEDELICAT. First-time starter DOMINANT DON debuts for a stable that occasionally pops with older firsters. The colt’s workouts at San Luis Rey look good, on paper. YA GOTTA WANNA adds blinkers for his second start; his debut was an okay second as the favorite at Los Al. STREET TO INDY drops in class and returns to dirt. His best races have been dirt sprints. Upset candidate.

FIFTH RACE

CHAY UP AND AWAY finished in the money both starts vs. Cal-bred maiden-50s this summer at Del Mar. She drops to maiden-20 for her third start, adds blinkers and enters as the conspicuous favorite. Looks too obvious. KNOW IT ALLHOUSEWIFE continued her improving pattern with a runner-up finish by a nose. Each recent start has

SIXTH RACE

Runner-up in his dirt debut around two turns, bred top and bottom for grass, FRIENDLY OUTTHEDOR is the one to beat in this maiden turf route that is a split of race 1. He ran well first out. He pressed the pace, opened up in the lane, and finished more than five lengths clear of third. By a sire that won more than $3 million on turf in Japan, produced by a California-bred turf stakes winner, FRIENDLY OUTTHEDOR has nowhere to go but up while switching to grass. SALTINI finished third by a head in the same race that race-1 selection Icy Street exits. SHAKY ALIBI finished a promising second in his debut, a five-furlong turf sprint at Del Mar. He stretches to a mile and one-eighth for his second start, and is quick enough to set the pace. COMBAT ZONE, runner-up last out, will roll late as a logical contender.

SEVENTH RACE

Already proven around two turns, the 2yo AXELROD stands out in this starter allowance route. He set strong fractions two back when he wired maiden-50s at Del Mar; last out he was in tough and faded to fourth in a stakes race at Pleasanton. Back in So Cal, drawn outside his main rival, AXELROD enters as the most probable winner on the card. PSYCHO DAR won this sprint debut with a pressing trip, followed by a respectable third in a starter allowance sprint. He stretches to a mile, is quick enough to make the front, and might be the one they to catch. BUILDER wired maidens at Los

EIGHTH RACE

SUNDAY PROPHET stretches to a mile following a promising runner-up debut in a turf sprint at Del Mar. She set a fast pace, and outfinished all but the deep-closing winner. Good effort. This turfmile distance should be okay; her main rivals are career maidens. They are 13-start maiden SCANDAL, and seven-start maiden CAUSEFORCOMMOTION. In defense of SCANDAL, she did “win” two years ago but was disqualified for interference. A vet scratch Sept. 8 at Golden Gate, she worked well since and finished in the money 10 of 13. Sooner or later, the 5yo mare will win “again.” CAUSEFORCOMMOTION finished in the money four straight, and was in front of SCANDAL at the wire last time. BEE SWEET has three successive runner-up finishes. First-time starter GOLDEN KITTEN is a full sister to multiple G1 winner Big Blue Kitten. 285 West Huntington Drive Arcadia, CA 91066 (626) 574-7223 Main track: One mile, oval. Distance from last turn to finish line: Turf course: About Seven Furlongs 990 feet.

TAKEOUT INFORMATION ■ Win, place, and show: 15.43 % ■ Two-horse exotic wagering: 22.68% ■ Trifecta, Superfecta, Super Hi 5, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 6: 23.68% ■ Pick 5: 14% ■ Daily Double: 20%

NOTE: A horse which wins a non-winners of $3,000 other than maiden or claiming, or two races, for Calbreds, shall remain eligible for that comparable open allowance race, provided that horse did not win a race other than claiming following that Cal-Bred win. Once a horse has won the two first condition allowance races (Cal-Bred and open), then the Cal Bred win will be disregarded in future allowance races for eligibility purposes only.