ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, SOLD IT

FIRST RACE

Two-year-old maiden fillies sprint five furlongs on turf; DEVILS DANCE is the speed of the field. She chased blazing fractions and finished third to subsequent stakes-placed Itsjustanillusion last out on dirt; no such speed demons on this lineup. If she handles turf, ‘DANCE could be tough to catch. MISS STORMY D ran better than it looks in her career debut on the Santa Anita hill. She broke slowly, recovered and sped into contention, waited behind runners on the sweeping turn, cut the corner into the lane, loomed inside and went evenly late. Good debut. She has more speed than she showed, and could get a cozy trip positioned directly behind the top choice. If the pacesetter falters, MISS STORMY D could get first run. MO ME MO MY finished a creditable second in her sprint debut on this course three months ago. She will be rally late. RATHER NOSY and GALLANTLYSTREAMING are logical contenders in a deep field. They finished three-four in the same race MISS STORMY D exits. This race is a split of race 6.

SECOND RACE

SOONER BETTER finished sixth last out at Golden Gate, but the 2yo maiden actually ran okay. He trailed the slow pace, lost ground with a rally-wide move into the lane, finished well, but the leaders kept going. Good try by ‘BETTER, who worked a bullet half last weekend at San Luis Rey, and drops to $50k maiden-claiming. Best of a weak lot. REDROCK TRAIL finished an even-paced second in his So Cal debut vs. maiden-30 sprinters. The hike to maiden-50 signals optimism, he should be near the lead in a race with a murky pace scenario. CLASSY CHASIE broke slowly, lost ground and finished an okay third in his career debut at one mile. It was only a four-horse field at Fresno, but he ran well and can improve second out. ROCKANDAHARDPLACE has improved each subsequent start; he finished a respectable second in a maidenclaiming route on this racetrack in summer.

THIRD RACE

MO SEE CAL freaked last time out when she returned to dirt and caught a “good” track she clearly relished. She crushed Cal-bred allowance fillies and mares by more than 10 lengths. If she runs two alike, this N1X is history. If her victory was a one-off, anything goes. Either way, MO SEE CAL is the one to catch. STARR OF QUALITY has an upset chance from off the pace. Although she has not yet reproduced her May 3 crusher vs. Cal-breds, her recent third-place comeback was decent. Her off-the-pace style would play well if the favorite returns to Earth. WHIRLING is believed to be a better filly than her last-place finish a month ago. Blinkers on for the first time, though it is uncertain if she is as effective on dirt as she is on turf. Lightly raced AUNT LUBIE won a maiden race on this track in summer, was overmatched in a Grade 3, and then freshened. This is just the fifth start of her career, first in two and a half months.

FOURTH RACE

TIG TOG, an 11-start maiden that finished second her last two starts as the favorite at Golden Gate, is the tepid selection in this maiden-62.5k turf route. This is her first start in a maiden-claiming race, same as JOURNAL ENTRY. The latter earned figures vs. MSW company that are fast enough to compete with these maiden-claiming rivals. Blinkers off, new rider, class drop, better is possible. SEE THAT KAT looms an upset candidate, stretching out for the first time and trying turf for the first time. Sired by Animal Kingdom, the changes could lead to an improved effort. SENSIBLE THOUGHTS was compromised by a slow start last time; the best race of her five-start career (three thirds) was on this turf course during the summer meet.

FIFTH RACE

The third-place finish by K P’S SMOKIN last out was better than it looks on paper. She got bogged in traffic through the far turn, lost position while shuffled back, then showed renewed interest through the lane and somehow re-rallied to finish third. Good effort by the filly, who meets a modest bunch of N2L claiming rivals and can win from off the pace. Her only previous start on the Del Mar dirt produced a maiden win by more than 10 lengths. ROLLING SHADOW drops for the first time into the claiming ranks, and returns to dirt for the

first time since her debut in summer 2017. Her speed figures are tops in this field, though they were earned on a different surface. Question mark on dirt. INLAND EMPIRE finished an okay second last out, in front of the top choice. She will be grinding away late. SWEET TREAT figures somewhere in the hunt, first off the claim.

SIXTH RACE

Second-time starter SOLD IT is the most probable winner on the card, racing five furlongs on turf in this split of race 1. SOLD IT set a fast pace in her debut, led to near the eighth pole, and ultimately backed up. Now she shortens from six and a half furlongs, to five furlongs, and switches to turf. Sired by the The Factor with turf influence on the bottom side of her pedigree, the surface switch should be fine. SOLD IT was produced by a dam whose three wins were on turf. As a broodmare, her first foal (Ego) popped at 8-1 in his first start on turf. OBJECTIVE makes her career debut for an outfit that is not known for popping with first-time starters. But this filly’s sharp workouts suggest she might be the exception. DATA STORM KITTY has speed, this is her first start since she set the pace and wilted in deep stretch three months ago.

SEVENTH RACE

The sharp sprinter NINETY NINE PROOF stretches to one mile as the speed of the field; he gets the call to lead gate to wire. He has won at this Calbred N1X level, he has won over this track, his figures are tops in the field and he has the pace advantage. If he can stay a mile, he can be gone.

GROUND ATTACK is racing into shape, his lastout third was solid. The winner was a stablemate that returned to win an open N1X. DULUTH makes his first start since April, and just the third start of his career. His career debut was a two-turn route romp by six lengths, so he does run fresh. PLAIN WRAP probably needed his recent comeback, which was his first start in nearly four months. His winter-spring form puts him in the hunt.

EIGHTH RACE

TOUGH IT OUT has won four races and $111,450 in six starts since he was claimed for $16k in March. His streak includes a victory on this turf course, at this mile and three-eighths distance, at this N1X class level. He is entered for the optional $40k claim tag. SAVE GROUND has an upset chance based primarily on the pace scenario. This field came up light on speed; ‘GROUND should get a comfortable trip either setting slow fractions or positioned second. TARTINI has been stuck at this level all seven U.S. starts, but his best race was his close third behind the top choice on this course/ distance/class level in summer. LUCKY SOUL will be flying late.