ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, TIZWAY THAT WAY

FIRST RACE

The best bet on the card in the first race of the day. TIZWAY THAT WAY benefits from a tepid pace scenario in this $12.5k claiming starter allowance. Though she is not a front-runner, she figures for a pressing trip chasing slow splits. Her recent efforts are solid, her recent numbers are among the highest in the field. PRINCESS LEIA won a similar starter allowance three weeks ago at Santa Anita. She could make an easy lead setting an easy pace. Her only previous start on this track was a toss; she was wide from an outside post. ‘LEIA probably is the one to catch. PRINCESS KENDRA is perplexing. She was the 3-2 favorite last out based on solid recent races against similar company. But she produced no speed at all, trailed the field, and merely went through the motions. Disappointing effort with no visible alibi. However, if the one subpar effort can be forgiven, she merits consideration. IPRAY will pick them up late.

SECOND RACE

The California comeback by BLACKOUT was a dominating $32k claiming sprint win on the Santa Anita hill. He cruised by more than three lengths. Up sharply in class to N2X/$62.5k claiming, he stretches to two turns and should get a pressing trip right behind the speed. Tough to beat if he runs two alike. He is trained by Peter Miller, who also entered PERFECTLY MAJESTIC. The latter returns to the course on which he has had the most success, winning 3 of 10. He finished in the money five straight on turf, including two solid efforts recently at this level. Deep closer ECKERSLEY has run races that put him in the hunt. The pace should be lively; the race could unfold in favor of his style. SAWYER’S HILL and DREAMS OF VALOR are front-runners that insure an honest pace. Lightly raced MAESTRO DEARTE might be ranked too low by this handicapper. He ran like a horse that needed the start last time, his first in more than seven months. Expect improvement second start back.

THIRD RACE

BATTLE OF MIDWAY returned to form with a dominating win in a minor stake last month; the G1 winner is positioned for a big autumn-winter. He has speed, he can finish, and he likes the Del Mar racetrack. He won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile here in 2017 and looks like a low-odds standout moving back up the ladder. DABSTER, a late-developing Curlin 4yo, ran super finishing second last out in a G2 at a mile and three-quarters. He set the pace, he fought back after he was hooked by the favorite, and finished more than four lengths clear of third. He shortens to a mile and one-eighth; he honed his speed with a pair of recent half-mile works. ISOTHERM might not have liked the Churchill Downs surface last out; he ran well at Del Mar in summer when second to DABSTER in a minor stakes race. GIFT BOX is an interesting newcomer to the West Coast handicap division, based on speed figures he has been earning against allowance company in New York. GIFT BOX reportedly will scratch, and make his California debut in another race.

FOURTH RACE

The first leg of the pick six is a scramble; lots of ways to go in this maiden-80 turf route for 2yos. The call is SALAH, runner-up in a productive maiden-50 on dirt last out. The first- and fourth-place finishers returned to win; the thirdplace finisher returned to finish second. Turf is the unknown; SALAH is not exactly bred for grass. But his dirt form is good, and his turf rivals at this higher level might not be as strong as he met last out on dirt. SURPRISE FASHION switched to grass last out and ran the best race of his career. He ran the final quarter-mile in 23.70 seconds (good for this level), but the race-shape worked against him. The 1-2-3 pacesetters stayed in that position all the way around. There is sufficient pace here to run at; he will roll late. KNIGHT’S CROSS faced better recently, while his stablemate CARBON ZERO will rally. This race is tough.

DEVIL’S BEAUTY, a 9-for-23 veteran, drops to the bottom class level ($8k claiming) after going off form this fall. She ran well over the Del Mar track in summer, and gets a weight break with a seven-pound apprentice rider. LUCKY STUDENT tried two turns last out, the experiment did not work. She shortens back to her preferred sprint trip for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who has won with 7 of his last 14 route-to-sprint starters on dirt. SOUGHT MORE PEP, a six-time winner this year, finished an okay third last out. She should be forwardly placed.

SIXTH RACE

Lightly raced and well-regarded by his connections, FLYING SCOTSMAN gets tested for class in this G3 turf mile for 2yos. He ran well in his debut, and improved a ton second out with a game maiden victory. The one minor knock on his maiden win is the horse he beat (Omaha Beach) returned to finish a disappointing second as a heavy favorite. Still believe ‘SCOTSMAN has much upside. This is just the third start of his career. RIJEKA finished third in a strong stakes race last out. Freshened since that early October effort, he won his U.S. debut over the Del Mar turf course while making his first start in two and a half months. The point is, he runs well fresh. VANTASTIC stretches out following a sharp maiden win on the hill. He appears to be the speed of the field. Trouble-prone TAKEO SQUARED also will roll late.

SEVENTH RACE

Despite the inside post, habitual runner-up BIZWHACKS gets the call in this maiden sprint for 2yo fillies. She finished second three of her four starts on dirt. The rail is a potential challenge, however. CLAUDELLE is believed to be a better filly than her third-place finish last out as the oddson favorite in a route. Runner-up in her first two starts in sprints, she came back to work well, and is back at her preferred sprint trip. SLEWGOODTOBETRUE will be among the favorites after a promising runner-up debut. GAHIRA is a fast-working first-time starter from a stable that does well with these. TO THE MORNING has shown quickness in morning works.

EIGHTH RACE

SIX POINT RACK fell short in his comeback last month at Santa Anita, but his highly rated thirds over the Del Mar turf course in summer might be enough to win this Cal-bred N1X turf mile. The obvious challenge is he has lost 12 times at this class level. Lightly raced JET SET RULER, a 3yo, is one of the best finishers in the field (23-and-change final quarters). Each start has been better than the start before; this is only his fifth career start and second at this level. ACCLIMATE followed his better-than-looked wide-trip maiden victory with a claiming-race upset first try on grass. Sharp gelding going up the ladder, seeking his third straight. PUSH THROUGH defeated maidens last out with a 23.09-second final quarter.

NINTH RACE

The highly rated runner-up finish by SOUGHT BAI stamps him the one to beat in this maiden-20 sprint. He set fast fractions, finished more than four lengths clear of third, and should be long gone. Although he is an eight-start maiden, his only two starts on dirt were fast second-place finishes. Looks like graduation day. LITTLEBITAMEDAL goes route to sprint, drops from maiden-40, and looms a threat from off the pace. SPANISH BAY drops from maiden special-weight to rock bottom maiden-20, and adds Lasix. ASTONISHING TWEET pressed and faded in his debut vs. better. He can improve. That is a wrap for this handicapper. Taking time off, comeback scheduled for Dec. 26, opening day of the Santa Anita winter meet.