ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, PIONEEROF THE WEST

FIRST RACE

HONEYMOONZ OVER dueled at GG Nov. 29 before tiring to finish 3rd. Still, that wasn’t a bad first outing in a couple months and Miyadi saw fit to claim him (29% off a claim). The return to dirt shouldn’t be any problem, as while he’s winless in 8 dirt tries he’s certainly run well in a number of those, including a solid 3rd in his only try on this track. STREET ZOMBIE ran on for 3rd, albeit well beaten (9 1/4 lengths) at this level at DMR Nov. 17. He was claimed by Vallejo who has big numbers off the claim (38%) and ran well here in the summer. PLATINUM EQUITY pressed the issue before finishing 4th last time out at DMR Nov. 12, but that came vs. much more expensive ($35K), on turf and routing. He drops, moves to dirt and sprinting, which he’s handled before, and gets blinkers. A bullet work at SA Nov. 25 encourages, too.

SECOND RACE

CREATIVE HIT hasn’t run in 3 months but the gelding’s maiden win - which coincidentally came over this track at this trip Sept. 9 - came off a layoff as well. That run was flattered, too, as 2 he beat that day came right back to win. Yes, it’s first time vs. winners but he’s proven fresh, proven here and has worked strongly. GUTSY STREAK continues his superb form, having won his last 4 starts. Yes, that’s all come vs. cheaper but it’s also all come here. He’s also been claimed in 6 straight (8 of last 9) so a number of horsemen have seen something they like. IVY MIKE broke his maiden here in June. He was then no factor when 7th at DMR July 19 but that was his first time vs. winners and came for twice this tag. He’s been freshened since and could bounce back with the drop and return to this track.

THIRD RACE

RON’S CAT has ample speed, though that got her into a duel at DMR Nov. 9 and she paid the price, fading to 5th. However, not only did she duel, that was her first start in 4 1/2 months. She can benefit from that run and has worked well since. Her 2 sibs to race are winners. SILK FROM HEAVEN, a daughter of G1 SW Richard’s Kid, has worked well for her debut for a trainer who can fire first time out. DERBY LUCK showed talent in her debut at SA May 17, pressing the issue and finishing 3rd, albeit well beaten (7 3/4 lengths). She hasn’t been seen since but it’s nice to see no drop for her comeback and that she’s worked well. She also returns with blinkers. All 3 sibs to race are winners including Zip Cat (23-5-7-1, $112K) and Mach Seven (31-35-6, $115K). ROSE DUNN has worked well for her debut and the $200K daughter of Violence’s 2 sibs are winners including Grandpa’s King (47-7-7-6, $97K).

FOURTH RACE

DOMINATING WOMAN ran too good to lose in her last pair, first finishing 2nd down the hill at SA Oct. 18 and then 2nd beaten just a head on dirt at DMR Nov. 16. She drops and her speed should have her prominent from the start. It also doesn’t hurt she ran very well in her only 2 prior starts here (2nd, 1st). QUEEN BEE TO YOU has been racing primarily on turf and she was good enough to be 2nd in a stakes on DMR turf Aug. 10, but she’s proven on dirt including running well here (3-1-1-1). STARR OF QUALITY comes off a good 2nd in a race like this at DMR Nov. 15 and a bullet work since is most encouraging, particularly since trainer Spawr isn’t one to really press down hard on his horses in the a.m. So, if one of his horse’s works fast, it likely means they did so on their own and without heavy urging.

FIFTH RACE

ACCORDING TO BUDDY may be poised to break through. He was no real threat in his first 2 starts, but outing No. 3, at this level at SA Nov. 3, saw him stalk and finished well to be 2nd. He’s worked well since, too. All 7 sibs to race are winners including Intuitive Miss (46-10-5-4, $47K), Intuitional (11-31-2, $88K, 2 SPs) and Intuitive Nature (32-3-5-4,

$101K). CHAMPSACHAMP was no factor first time out at DMR Nov. 9, but you can always be forgiving about a debut and it also came vs. straight maidens. So, now he gets the most important drop in the game, with a bullet in tow and blinkers on. Five of his 6 sibs to race are winners including Broadway Empire (18-7-1-1, $531K, 4 SWs including 2 G3s, also 2 SPs) and Cinderella’s Dream (4-2-2-0, $133K, SW, G2 SP). DESERT MOVIE brings a full, solid work tab into his debut for a trainer who can fire first time out. Five of his 7 sibs to race are winners including Sambamzajammin (10-1-3-1, $132K, 3 SPs) and full-sis Moving Desert (19-1-46, $182K, 3 SPs).

SIXTH RACE

THE WHITE SHADOW has loads of speed and after a sharp 2nd beaten just a nose on FNO dirt Oct. 8 they thought enough of him to toss him into a stakes at GG Nov. 10. There he pressed the issue and stayed on well for 4th. He gets a significant drop and a return to dirt, and it’s no small matter one of the circuit’s top rider (Prat) takes the call. OWNING has run into some of the best juveniles on the SoCal circuit and today’s class relief might get the $260K son of Flashback back on track. He also gets blinkers. KID KOIL broke his maiden in game fashion over this track Sept. 6. He then found stakes foes here Sept. 22 a bit too much to handle but has been freshened. The drop helps and he worked well at DMR Dec. 2.

SEVENTH RACE

PIONEEROF THE WEST ran 3rd for this price at DMR Nov. 30 and was claimed right back by Cerin, who lost him via a claim in his prior start. Obviously the class level and distance suit and his only prior try on this track resulted in a big win. TOPGALLANT has been knocking on the door since summer and figures to be finishing. ABOVE BOARD comes here sharp as a tack off 3 straight wins. All came vs. likely lesser than he’s facing here but you can’t deny his current form that includes a smart victory on this track Sept. 21.

EIGHTH RACE

COIL ME HOME gamely beat maidens at SA March 17. He was then not seen for 8 months and in his first start back, which was his first start vs. winners and first on turf, he had a troubled start and ran 7th. He was far from disgraced, however, beaten just 3 lengths. It’s most encouraging to see no layoff since, no drop and that Prat stays. The return to dirt can only help. CLYDE’S PRIDE has done nothing wrong in 4 starts including a romping win over maidens in his first try on dirt last time out at DMR Nov. 9. That was also his first start in nearly 5 months. JOE JACKSON finished a length ahead of COIL ME HOME in 5th in that Nov. 18 turf sprint so he ran decently as well. That was his first start in a couple months so he can move forward, and he ran well (3rd) in his only prior try on this track.

NINTH RACE

Hard to be too enamored with any in here but JABBER NOW brings ample speed into this, drops in price and ran 2 of his best races, including his lone win, over this track at this type of trip. TIZ MI HAINA graduated in style here in July 2017. There have been 3 long layoffs and 2 dull outings since but the return to this track and significant drop might get her back on track. GONE SKYWARD looked good beating maidens here Dec. 1 as the 1-9 favorite. He faces winners for the first time but they’re all maiden winners-only so the class hike isn’t as big as it might otherwise be. She’s pretty quick.