ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, HOPPERTUNITY

FIRST RACE

John Sadler holds the aces in this maiden-50 turf sprint. Both are qualified to win: KOPITAR on the lead, and CONQUEST SMARTEE rallying from behind. In a close call, KOPITAR gets the nod. Claimed by Sadler two starts back, he ran the race of his career last time when he set a fast pace and only got collared late by a closer. The gelding moves from an inside post to near the outside, and will have the jump over his stablemate. That is CONQUEST SMARTEE, dropping for the first time to maiden-claiming. His turf sprint form is solid, he has faced much better and will be rolling late. RAK CITY has been losing his punch in route races, which suggests he will be right at home at this shorter distance of six and a half furlongs. He is trained by Phil D’Amato, who also entered TEQUILA BLANCO. The latter finished 12 lengths clear of third in his debut in a maiden-20 route. Class hike signals optimism.

SECOND RACE

This allowance sprint for Cal-bred fillies and mares came up shallow. The tepid call is PRINCESS DORIAN, upset winner of a $12.5k claiming N2L race last time out. Her win was somewhat validated when the filly she beat returned to win. While it is possible ‘DORIAN improved due to the wet track, she actually ran well on this track last fall on “fast.” She is back in top form, and could get a good trip right behind the speedster two stalls to her outside. RED STICH has been stuck at this level for a while, but her recent races are good (back-to-back thirds), and the pace scenario benefits her closing style. Logical contender from off the pace. LUCKY STUDENT is the aforementioned front-runner who probably is the speed of the speed. Two turns was too far for her last out; her front-running $10k claiming win two starts back gives her a shot to steal it. LOVE A HONEYBADGER adds heat.

THIRD RACE

BORG returns from an extended layoff, while dropping from maiden special-weight to maiden-20 for an outfit that does super with this move. The past year, trainer Simon Callaghan is 6-for-10 MSW-to-MCL. The summer 2017 race that BORG exits produced three next-start winners. GLORIOUS CROWN also takes a dubious drop. Claimed from a runner-up finish in a maiden-50, he shows up at rock bottom maiden20 and returns to dirt. AWESOME E K has something the top pair lack. That is, a little bit of early speed. Third in back-to-back starts vs. similar, AWESOME E K gets Flavien Prat for the first time and should be in front of the top pair turning for home. MAJESTIC JOURNEY returns from a layoff. The best race of his career was on this track last summer, first start back from a layoff. TRIO OF CHAMPIONS makes his California debut; he showed speed and tired both starts in January at Gulfstream Park.

FOURTH RACE

This Cal-bred maiden turf route is perplexing. NOTHING BUT HEAT is racing into shape; she showed speed and finished midpack last out in a similar race on the hill. But can she stay a mile and one-eighth? That is the question. Her full sibling How Unusual won a G3 turf marathon; maidens trained by Pete Eurton typically race their way into condition. Stab in a puzzler. RADISH is a 15-start maiden with eight in-themoney finishes. Her last start (eased) can be explained by the surface switch to a “muddy” main track. Back on turf, improvement likely. She is trained by Doug O’Neill, who also entered SOUTH BOOT SHIRLEY. The latter finished second her first two starts including a decent runner-up finish last out in her first try around two turns. Turf is new. SUPER PATRIOT is a nine-start maiden; she hit the board all four