ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 9, WELL DEVELOPED

FIRST RACE

This turf sprint for maiden Cal-breds is the weaker split of race 3. First-time starter MASTERPIECE DAY appears to have trained well enough to fire first out. The homebred by Suances is the first runner produced by a mare than won 11 races including her career debut. Basically, this race is ripe for a new shooter. ANIMO has been all speed and no stick. But this is his second start following a layoff, he is likely to set the pace, and if he slows down early, he could steal it. COOL YOUR JETS will roll late. Too late, again? Three starts, he finished well each time. Too late each time. RULE NUMBER EIGHT ran races in Northern California that are good enough for this field.

SECOND RACE

Only five entered this $16k claiming sprint. None of the entrants have speed. Strange pace dynamic. JUNIOR GILLIAM gets the call after finishing second in a pair of highly rated $12.5k claiming sprints. MADELYN’S WILD MAX returns to the level of his most-recent two-length score. He was in some tough spots recently. NOBLE NICK has produced sprint speed; he also has a pair of bullet works since raced. Maybe he will make the lead? Or perhaps it will be stablemate CARVILLE, who has route speed, on the front end. GENTRIFIED goes route to sprint for a hot stable.

THIRD RACE

SIR EDDIE is sitting on a maiden win, third start of his career. He ran well dueling on a fast pace in his debut, then improved next out finishing second while rallying from behind. That was a turf sprint for Cal-bred maiden 3yos similar to this. One more step forward by the improving gray should make him tough to beat. FLY FIRST CLASS is first-time turf, first-time gelding, first-time not wearing blinkers. He gets in light with a seven-pound apprentice jockey and will take them as far as he can. In three previous starts on dirt, as a colt, he set the pace and faded. ULTIMATE BANGO shortens back to a downhill sprint after an okay fourth racing one mile. CAPTAIN BUZKILL and HIT THE SEAM will rally from the back. This race is the stronger split of race 1.

FOURTH RACE

BLAZE’N PROSPECTOR is not the horse he was last year, but with two comeback races under his belt the veteran should be set for his best in a shallow $6,250 claiming sprint. He has speed, drops in class and gets off the rail. LAMBO LUXX is a contender except for one factor. He is stuck on the rail, a position from which he has never had success. On the other hand, he is a pro that won 5 of his last 16. OMDURMAN finished in front of the top choice two starts back and finished third a month ago at this level. An 11-time winner, he kind of belongs. PUNDY has speed, which gives him a longshot look.

FIFTH RACE

ELEAZAR WARRIOR finished a clear second last out in a similar bottom-level five and a half. That was only the second start of his career; that 65 Beyer is the highest fig in this field. Horse to beat, no doubt. GOING AWAY PARTY has a look at a price. He drops from state-bred MSW to maiden20; moves inside to outside and is likely to show more speed. Price play? CAPTAIN N. BARRON improved last out with a respectable third-place finish that earned an okay fig. On the other hand, he was outfinished for second by the 18-start maiden ROYAL SEEKER. The latter will be clunking along late; OUR TIGER’S BOY has some speed.

SIXTH RACE

A slight drop from Cal-bred N1X to $40k claiming N2L gives CLOSING TIME the slight edge over R CHA CHA, runner-up at this level last out. CLOSING TIME is a late-runner, over a course that does not typically reward that style of running. Yet based on his best recent efforts, he gets the call to storm home late and get up in deep stretch. Otherwise, R CHA CHA could be gone. He ran the race of his career last out, on this downhill course at this level, finishing second in a relatively fast heat. He goes from one top barn to another via claim, and perhaps is the one to catch. He’ll have to use his speed from where he is drawn. GENERAL MACH

FOUR should get a great trip in the clear just off the speed. He finished third last out under similar conditions. AWESOME HEIGHTS was farther off the pace than expected last out, and did not rally. He is a better colt than that race looks. SMUGGLER UNION can improve second start back.

SEVENTH RACE

NAUGHTY SOPHIE ran too good to lose in her runner-up debut. She dueled throughout and finished more than four lengths clear while earning pace-speed figures that exceed par for this maiden-30 level. She shortens from six and a half to six, and based purely on ability she is the one to beat. The challenge is trip. From a post near the inside, blinkers on, have to believe she will go on with it. But there is speed to her outside, and she probably will be under constant pressure. BABY BROWN finished second and was claimed from her debut nearly two months ago. She goes first start off the claim by Bill Morey, who is 6-for-10 f.o.c. the past four months (GG and SA combined). Improvement sure seems likely. TAKES TWO TO TENGA flashed more speed her second start; TENGS RHYTHM finished third all three starts, none with a good trip. First-time starter BREATHLESS CHARM must be considered at a price. Her skilled, low-profile trainer has produced a steady trickle of longshot winners for years in So Cal.

EIGHTH RACE

Interesting N1X sprint pits two good fillies. Locally based and lightly raced WE ALL HAVE DREAMS drops from a G1 route in which she pressed and tired; G1-placed New York shipper LIBBY’S TAIL makes her California debut as the “class” of the field. In a close call, we’ll side with WE ALL HAVE DREAMS. She has done a lot in three starts: runner-up debut, romp second out, pressed and faded Santa Anita Oaks third out. ‘DREAMS cuts back to one turn, drops in class and has room to improve in just her fourth start. LIBBY’S TAIL was a top 2yo filly on the East Coast in 2016; her 2017 campaign was limited. She is now trained in So Cal by Richard Baltas, who has done well with similar arrivals from the East. Contender based on her good form there. CONQUEST FLATTERME might not be good enough for a N1X, but you cannot knock a claiming mare that won three of her last four including a “ridden out” victory by five lengths last out. LIFE OF ILLUSION has improved almost every start, she moves up followed a MSW win that was the best race of her career.

NINTH RACE

WELL DEVELOPED is poised to upset this $100k stakes for Cal-bred turf milers. The lightly raced and honest gelding (5 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds) improved each start including a sharp runner-up N2X comeback in which he set a strong pace to deep stretch. He proved last fall he is effective rallying from behind; he could get a covered-up trip just off the speed. Though untested vs. stakes runners, WELL DEVELOPED is an improving sort on his way up, facing tough veterans that perhaps have peaked. Tab for an upset. WARD ‘N JERRY is the allowance-caliber veteran that gave one cagey pick six bettor the entire Santa Anita pool on Nov. 6, 2016. ‘JERRY was stakes-placed last year in a $250k Cal-bred stakes; he is likely to improve second start back following a run-around-thecourse comeback. His races here last spring put him in the picture, from off the pace. ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR is the respected 7yo gelding that has been a treat to watch win a half-dozen stakes in So Cal from 2015 to 2017. The old boy is the class of the field ($1.3 million), and appears to have trained well for his comeback. A mile is shorter than he prefers; he will rally. B SQUARED is interesting, though two turns is possibly farther than he wants. He is legit in Cal-bred stakes sprints, but not routes yet. Consider him a live longshot.