ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, SETTLE IT

FIRST RACE

The 3yo RAVEN CREEK is back doing he what he does, which is sprint on the Santa Anita hillside turf course against his age group. The best performance of his career was a Jan. 1 maiden win on this course; he was in tough spots his next three starts facing stakes types and older. He shortens from a route to a sprint, drops to a state-bred N1X restricted to 3yos, and is sufficiently versatile to make the running or rally from off. CROISSANT also benefits from the distance cutback/class drop, while adding blinkers. His five-length maiden win in February puts him in the hunt. Comebacker BRAVE HELIOS makes his first start since September. He runs well fresh, handles turf (maiden grass victory last fall at Golden Gate) and will rally late. VUTZAK is fast, and a candidate to wire the field second start back from a short layoff. He finished in front of the top choice when they met early this year.

SECOND RACE

EMPRESS OF LOV was in tough last time in a $200k stakes race; she figures as the one to beat in this claiming route based on her starter allowance win two starts back. The drop to claiming 3yo fillies is sudden, coming just two starts after she defeated older, but this stable has won with similar moves in the past. Best horse, uncertain if she is the best gamble. MISCHIEVOUS SONG stretches back to a route distance similar to the distance at which she won a maiden-30 two back. INSTINCTUAL KASH was in tough last out in a turf route against older fillies and mares; four successive runner-up finishes this winter at Turf Paradise make her a legit contender in this main-track route. WAMPUS won a maiden-20 last out, the race was somewhat validated when runner-up Misty Slew returned to win.

THIRD RACE

The 2yo filly SETTLE IT adds blinkers after a runner-up debut that appeared to be a mere prep. She lagged off the pace, lost ground, and finished evenly for second without urging. It was a schooling run by the daughter of Square Eddie, a full sibling to stakes winner Jimmy Bouncer. The addition of blinkers suggests more speed is forthcoming, expect a major forward move with a race under her belt. First-time starter JELLYBEANKRISTINE debuts for a stable that has had success with 2yo first-timers. Her works look okay, and other than the top choice, this field looks modest. SIX PACK GAL, by first-crop Boisterous and a sibling to five winners, makes her debut for trainer Mike Machowsky, who was 3-for-10 last year with debut 2yos. ROLINGA flashed speed and tired to finish third in her debut. She can improve with a race under her belt.

FOURTH RACE

DIZZY DIVA benefitted from the slow pace last out when runner-up in a similar restricted claiming route, but she did finish more than four lengths clear of third and is the tepid choice to win this low-level claiming route. It is uncertain if two turns is really her preferred trip, but there are few alternatives in this six-runner field. PRINCESS LEIA returns to the class level at which she finished second early this year. She earned a career-best figure last out (66 Beyer) on turf, in a starter allowance that was validated Sunday when the winner Wicked Old Fashion returned to win again. Dirt is a question for ‘LEIA, who did not place in four previous starts on “fast.” LOVELY LINDA changed trainers since raced; she will be forwardly placed. REINAHERMOSA finished third last out in the slow-pace race the top choice exits. The likelihood of a quicker pace suggests REINAHERMOSA has an upset chance.

FIFTH RACE

ARMOUR PLATE, stakes-placed on turf as a 2yo, makes his comeback for new trainer Bill Spawr in this N1X turf sprint for 3yos. His comeback works are solid, his turf form last year was good. All systems go first start back. Spawr won a week ago with comebacker The All Button for owner Peter Redekop. Same connections here. CALEXMAN scratched from the G3 Laz Barrera last weekend to go in this first-level allowance. His runner-up effort last out in a highly rated N1X dirt route earned a big number (86 Beyer). Furthermore, prior to weekend rain, speed was holding in turf

sprints. AXELROD improved each subsequent start including a close third last out in his first try on the hill. MOVE OVER might be ranked too low by this handicapper. He missed by a head in a similar turf sprint two back, then finished third by a half-length last out in a stakes race at one mile. He wheels back in 13 days and will roll late. NOW BLESSED set/pressed a strong pace in her comeback, missed by a half-length but finished five lengths clear of third. It was a sharp return by the 4yo maiden sibling to graded winner Notional. She posted four sharp works since, shortens to five and one-half furlongs, and should be tough to beat on the front end. She is not a slam dunk however, due to the presence of apparently wellmeant first-time starter SMART DORIE. The latter debuts with a series of sharp works; the daughter of Smart Strike is a sibling to G3 winner Decelerator (debut winner) and four-time winner Cool Blue Red Hot, runner-up by a nose in her career debut. The point is, SMART DORIE is bred to win early, her works are solid, and as a 3yo she gets five pounds from the top choice. Inside post no bargain for a first-time starter, but a “must use” nonetheless. JEST A PRINCESS finished last in her debut last spring at Belmont. She changed trainers since, and makes her first start for Bob Baffert.

SEVENTH RACE

TANGLED UP IN JU was claimed from a sharp N3L win last out; she looms the one to beat moving up in class to face open $20k claiming fillies and mares. Her numbers are good, her front-running style and outside post should translate to a pressing trip in the clear. PRINCESS ASHLYN prepped last out in a fast-pace allowance, and now drops in for a tag. The 6-for-25 veteran could vie for favoritism with the top choice; she looms a legitimate candidate on the front end. This is an easier spot than the N1X she exits. SCATHING will roll late in a race likely to unfold at a strong pace. REVENUE VIRGINIUS also is a late threat, shortening from a route to a sprint and returning to dirt.

EIGHTH RACE

Runner-up in a similar maiden-75 turf sprint last out, LADYBUG is the obvious one to beat back at the same level. Following two losses as the favorite, she can make amends in the finale. NAVAJO DREAMER finished third in the same race the top choice exits. ‘DREAMER set/pressed the pace in that race, with blinkers she might adopt an off-thepace strategy this time. SHE’S LEGIT finished an okay fifth in her debut vs. MSW fillies. With a race under her belt and drop in class, improvement expected. TRUE TESTAMENT drops to maidenclaiming for the first time. She adds speed.