Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
ANALYSIS
FIRST RACE
SHANGHAI FANTASY makes her California debut as possibly the speed of the field in the meet’s first maiden-claiming race for 2yos. ‘FANTASY showed speed in her debut at Keeneland, chasing the tearaway pacesetter before tiring in the lane. Sold privately and transferred to California after that fourth-place debut, she drops from MSW and might be the quickest of the quick. However, it is unusual she does not have a recorded work since May 1. First-time starter IRISH TERRIER is a firsttime starter by first-crop sire Boisterous, whose first runner was debut winner Six Pack Gal one week ago. ‘TERRIER is the first foal from a maiden dam. BABY FRANKIE has a couple gate workouts that suggest he is ready to fire, although this stable is not known for winning often with maidenclaiming first-timers. ZIP’S SECRET, stablemate of the top choice, chased and faded in her MSW debut. She drops in class and is likely to improve second start in California.
SECOND RACE
ROCKET FUEL nosedives from $20k claiming to $10k, and could be loose on the lead in a sprint otherwise is void of speed. He was claimed two starts back for $16k by trainer David Jacobson, who wins with steep droppers. Jacobson also is 5-for-16 second-off-the-claim this season in So Cal. Come catch him. MATRICULATE also meets easier, while returning to a preferred trip. Except for when the track is wet, MATRICULATE has always been more effective around one turn. VAN LINGLE MUNGO finished an okay third in his Santa Anita debut. He drops one level and will be running late. He has won just four races, with 12 seconds and 11 thirds. TRUE VALOR finished second last out, more than four clear of a next-out $6,250 claiming winner.
THIRD RACE
VEGAS ITCH should win this maiden-20 route. Runner-up all three starts at this level, with a conspicuous edge in recent speed figures, he enters as the most probable winner on the card at corresponding low odds. Maiden-20 favorites (both genders, all distances) are 7-for-13 this meet. ‘ITCH is a 10-start maiden, but looks tough to beat. HARD ARCH, a 12-start maiden, returns from a seven-month layoff. The colt’s figures last summer are good enough; trainer Vladimir Cerin has won with 25 percent of his starters the past six months. CHIKSIKA stretches to two turns second start back from a long layoff. His 2016-17 winter form is good enough.
FOURTH RACE
MORGAN S. is the one to beat, although this Calbred N1X will not be easy from the inside post. The comebacker returns with a solid work pattern, and a history of firing fresh. His debut victory last summer is the fastest race in this field; he had legit excuses for subsequent losses as the favorite. He wheeled back too soon (16 days) last summer; his runner-up effort his most recent start in fall was actually good. He dueled on a blazing pace; the winner returned to win again. SMILING ANGELO is drawn directly outside the top choice and facing winners after a resounding debut victory by more than four lengths. The pace is likely to be faster here, but debut winners from this stable have a solid record first against winners. Trainer Phil D’Amato has won with 5 of his last 10 secondtime starters that won first out. FIRE TO THE WIRE figures off his runner-up finish last out in a $16k claiming N3L sprint. He pressed a hot pace, missed by a nose and finished seven lengths clear of third. Big effort by a gelding in peak form. TRICKONOMICS adds speed; SHADES OF VICTORY won his only previous start on dirt; he was claimed last out by a trainer whose first-off-the-claim runners frequently outrun their odds.
FIFTH RACE
This maiden-40 is the newest, and lowest, class level for turf sprinters. This race is a split of race 8. Nine-start maiden CONQUEST SMARTEE is difficult to trust, having finished third as the favorite both recent starts. Seven starts on the hill produced six in-the-money finishes. On numbers, he is fast enough to handle this modest field. No surprise if he falls short again. HARLISS has more speed than the top choice, and therefore is a threat on
the front end. He finished behind the top choice last out, but was positioned in front of him until the middle of the stretch. UPO drops from MSW to maiden-40. He has sufficient speed to be involved early. MOONMAN returns to the $12.5k claiming N2L level after taking a couple shots in marathon stakes including a third-place finish in a Grade 3. There is enough speed in this field to flatter his closing rally; his third-place finish at this level in March might be good enough. WISE CURLIN followed his maiden-20 victory with a respectable runner-up finish at this level in his first try against winners. He benefitted from a slow pace last out; the fractions are likely to be quicker here. SHACKALOV, the only 3yo, has a look based on his maiden win three back. INFORMALITY might be ranked too low by this handicapper. Overmatched recently vs. Cal-bred N1X foes, he returns to the level at which he has three runner-up finishes for his last four starts. MIRACLE MARCH is first-time claim tag. That is a productive angle at this class level.
SEVENTH RACE
Vladimir Cerin trainees CLEAR THE MINE and LITTLE SCOTTY are tough to separate in this N2X/ optional $62.5k claiming route. CLEAR THE MINE was claimed from a solid runner-up finish last out; his versatile style should lead to a good trip behind the speed. Cerin is 8-for-17 first-off-the-claim the past year including three in a row. ‘MINE is the call to wear down his stablemate. However, LITTLE SCOTTY could be tough to catch. Both wins by ‘SCOTTY since switching to dirt were big-margin blowouts including a seven-length N1X romp last out at a mile and one-quarter. The grey frontrunner is the one to catch, though possibly facing a tougher pace scenario at this shorter distance of one mile. SORRY ERIK will roll late, second start back from a nine-month layoff. His third-place comeback was solid. FERGUSON will be forwardly placed, as will RIVER ECHO.
EIGHTH RACE
This maiden-40 turf sprint is a split of race 5. CAMPS BAY is the tepid choice, based on his runner-up finish last out in which he finished a half-length in front of race-5 selection Conquest Smartee. BIG BAD GARY and BOB’S BAD BOY have something the top choice lacks. That is, speed. ‘GARY is an 11-start maiden whose two previous starts on the hill were actually okay. ‘BOY also will be forwardly placed, assuming a clean takeoff. He lost all chance at the break last out. COURTSHIP drops in class and adds blinkers.