Questions abound in feature

ARCADIA, Calif. – There are more questions than answers in a salty allowance sprint that is the feature race on Friday at Santa Anita.

Ax Man finished 12th in his comeback. Can he return to form second start back? Spokane Eagle was a $20,000 claiming horse only three months ago. He won a highly rated first-level allowance last out. Is he good enough to win even while jumping a condition?

Edwards Going Left is a multiple stakes winner, but notoriously slow from the gate. He gets an experimental equipment change Friday. Who knows if blinkers will work? And the ultra-quick Calexman will be a pace factor, but he missed training due to rain. Is he sufficiently fit?

Six entered the seven-furlong allowance, which has multiple conditions. The race is open to non-winners of three other than, or non-winners of four lifetime, or non-winners of a race since April 1, or $80,000 claiming.

Edwards Going Left is the most accomplished entrant, but his third as the favorite in a recent Cal-bred stakes was not the type of performance trainer John Sadler was looking for.

“He was bad in the gate, and broke bad as usual,” Sadler said. “So we’re going to put some blinkers on him and try to get him going, try to show more speed.”

Edwards Going Left also changes riders to Joel Rosario.

Calexman ran super in the Grade 1 Malibu last out. He set a fast pace after breaking from the rail, led to inside the eighth pole, and then tired and finished sixth.

“You wish you had a different result, but the effort was decent,” trainer Vladimir Cerin said.

Under normal circumstances, the Malibu effort by Calexman would make him the horse to beat Friday. However, Cerin said preparation for the Friday allowance has not gone according to plan.

“I missed working him; the weather has not cooperated,” Cerin said. “He looks great, but I don’t know if he’s fit enough to carry [his speed] seven-eighths.”

If the pace collapses, Jerry Hollendorfer-trained route-tosprint longshots Full of Luck and Shivermetimbers have looks rallying from behind.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ax Man, by Misremembered Last 3 Beyers: 88-78-78

◗ The favorite here, Ax Man pressed the pace in the Malibu before he finished 12th of 14 while making his first start in five months and first since being castrated. Bob Baffert trains the 3-for-7 gelding.

Edwards Going Left, by Midnight Lute Last 3 Beyers: 89-85-94

◗ He has won seven races, including two stakes, and earned $511,930 since being claimed for $30,000 from his career debut on Feb. 9, 2017.

Calexman, by Midshipman Last 3 Beyers: 94-88-85

◗ His front-running style ensures an honest pace.

Spokane Eagle, by Speightstown Last 3 Beyers: 93-84-80

◗ He won a first-level allowance sprint last out while earning the highest figure of his career.

◗ Trained by Peter Miller, he is jumping a condition Friday. He is eligible to the second condition. The optimistic placement, outside post, speed, and seven- to nine-pound weight break makes him a top contender.