ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, LADY MAMBA

FIRST RACE

Trainer Doug O’Neill and owner Paul Reddam entered the top contenders in this turf mile for California-bred maiden fillies; MO SEE CAL and AN EDDIE SURPRISE headline a modest field. MO SEE CAL improved second time out, splitting a field of sprinters after dueling on a fast pace. She showed in her better-than-looked debut (off slow, finished fourth) that she handles grass. AN EDDIE SURPRISE finished last in her comeback nine days ago, but her runner-up debut two back in a turf sprint gives her a look. First-time starter NOTHING BUT HEAT is a full sibling to G3 winner How Unusual; trainer Peter Eurton popped here one year ago with a first-time starter in a turf route (Pacific Wind paid $29). First-time starter JUST KATHY, by Cyclotron, is a sibling to G1 winner What a View.

SECOND RACE

Third after dueling through a blazing pace in his comeback, LOMBO is the one to catch in this 3yo maiden special-weight. First time out, he contested blazing fractions (:21.73 and :44.64), and tired. That six-furlong race is the fastest six-furlong sprint of the meet (1:09.43). Although LOMBO finished more than 10 lengths back, he faces a less-demanding pace scenario here. Come catch him. Frist-time starters MASKED and SHOW TIME ROCKET each make their debut for trainer Bob Baffert, who is 10-for-26 (38 percent) with debut colts from the 2015 crop. MASKED and ‘ROCKET both appear to have trained well; MASKED drew a more desirable post than his stuck-on-the-rail stablemate. ROUTE SIX SIX ran better in his debut than the ninth-place finish position suggests. He raced greenly early, made a middle move into and through the turn, then went evenly late. He should move up a ton with a race under his belt. His bullet workout since raced suggests improvement. SOLTERO was a vet scratch Jan. 1, but four days later he worked a fast five furlongs. He adds blinkers and can improve from his debut.

THIRD RACE

Average field size this meet was a robust 8.93 per race going into the week; that number will drop due to small fields Saturday including this sixhorse $32k claiming mile. JUST KIDDING is in sharp current form, runner-up last out in a starter allowance and returning to the Santa Anita track on which he scored his two most-recent wins. KONA DREAMS runs well fresh; this is his first start in two months. The last time he returned from a short layoff, he scored a 20-1 upset on this track during the fall meet. I WILL SCORE stretches to two turns and drops in class. He looks like the speed of the field. Come catch him. HAWKS PEAK figures for a pace-pressing trip positioned second or third. He set the pace in both of his wins, so it is uncertain if he can be as effective from off the pace.

FOURTH RACE

Sharp workouts by older maiden LADY MAMBA suggest she will deliver a top effort first start since July. The lightly raced $1 million War Front filly ran well both starts, third to Unique Bella in her debut in fall 2016, and runner-up in her comeback last summer. This is only her third start; based on bullet workouts she is ready to fire first start back for trainer Peter Eurton. ACHIRA ran well both starts last fall, closing from the back of the pack to finish third and second by a neck. The deep-closing filly will roll late. ACHIRA is a 4yo; her 3yo sibling Almond Roca is a major contender Saturday in a $125k stakes at Tampa Bay Downs (Gasparilla Stakes, race 3). MORNING DANCE finished third by a neck her most recent start in early November. She is trained by Phil D’Amato, who also entered NIGHT BLOOM and CHALKY. NIGHT BLOOM is making her first start since moving to the D’Amato stable; CHALKY finished a closing fifth in her career debut two months ago. Blinkers on.

FIFTH RACE

SEAU drops from special-weight to maiden-20 for the first time, and could start at a short price. A 12-start maiden, his career-best performance

was the last time he ran long on this track. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer does well with this maneuver; his four recent MSW-to-maiden-20 droppers in Southern California produced two wins, two seconds. DOMINANT DON drops from maiden-40, adds blinkers and stretches to a route for the first time in the third start of his career. He probably is quick enough to make the lead if he chooses. IS

TREVOR CLEVER, in the money both recent starts against similar, is a logical contender, while career maiden DOWNSIDE UP finished in the money more than half his 15 starts. TINABUD makes her California debut for a hot stable after defeating a suspect field of maidens last out at Fair Grounds. Five she defeated ran back, only one hit the board. However, that maiden-30 victory was a vast improvement over her first start; she makes her local debut for trainer Bill Morey, who entered the week 4-for-9 at the meet. All four wins were prices; lowest payoff $14.60. TINABUD can follow suit, possibly at a price, in a starter-allowance route for 3yo fillies that is not particularly strong. She is a new face in a weak race. SAUCE ON SIDE crushed maiden-30s by more than four lengths last out; her 65 Beyer could make her the favorite. WINSINFASHION misfired on turf last out; her slow-pace maiden romp two start back makes her a contender.

SEVENTH RACE

The field’s only graded winner, BENDABLE returns from a three-month freshening as the horse to beat in this G3 turf sprint. Her work pattern is solid, she runs well fresh, and her pedigree suggests a switch to turf is fine. Her dam won three races on turf, and produced three turf winners as a broodmare. BENDABLE has tactical speed and should get a good trip positioned right behind the speed. If wet weather forces this race to be moved to the main track, that is fine. BENDABLE is 3-for-3 on Santa Anita dirt. CONIAH also returns from a layoff. Runner-up three successive stakes last spring and summer, including two stakes on this hillside course, she has a solid workout pattern and should fire her best shot first start back. ANITA PARTNER is a hillside specialist, 3-for-6 over the course and in the money every start. She finished third behind CONIAH in a turf sprint stakes here last spring. BEAU RECALL goes route to sprint and will rally from the back; PRINCESS PRINCESS made the Daily Racing Form “horses to watch” list after a wide-trip fifth last out.

EIGHTH RACE

GOSOFAR drops from starter allowance to $12.5k claiming non-winners of two. It is the lowest class level for winners in Southern California, and frequently won by horses dropping to the level for the first time. ROCKY’S SHOW could wire the field if able to reproduce his Los Alamitos form on this racetrack. He set a wild pace last time, and finished second. That race turned out productive. The winner returned to finish second with a big figure; the third- and sixth-place finishers returned to win. ROCKY’S SHOW is a must-use. JAY MAKES US LAUGH, whose owners Howard and Janet Siegel named him for Santa Anita hornblower Jay Cohen, faces winners after a frontrunning maiden win last month at Los Al. OOPER WALLAH and INFORMALITY will be rolling late. The 1-2-3 choices all have speed; this race could unfold perfectly for a late-running longshot.

NINTH RACE

TRIBAL FIGHTER returns from a three-month freshening to the hillside course on which he scored his most recent win. He runs well fresh, has speed but does not require the lead, and merits horse-to-beat status first start back. HARBOUR MASTER improved as the 2017 season unfolded, except for the saddle-slip debacle here on opening day. He cuts back to a sprint, is reunited with Kent Desormeaux, and will roll late. ANATOLIAN HEAT has a running style similar to the top choice. Both will be forwardly placed, both are course specialists. ANATOLIAN HEAT is trained by Peter Miller, who also entered CONQUEST TSUNAMI. The latter makes his California debut with sharp workouts. Win or lose, he will contest the pace. European import RONALD R runs well fresh and gets Lasix for his U.S. debut. 285 West Huntington Drive Arcadia, CA 91066 (626) 574-7223 Main track: One mile, oval. Distance from last turn to finish line: 990 feet. Turf course: About Seven Furlongs

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% ■ Early pick 5: 14% ■ Late pick 5: 23.68% ■ 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.