ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, WARRIOR’S MOON

FIRST RACE

WARRIOR’S MOON is poised for a maiden victory in this turf mile for Cal-bred 2-year-old fillies. Her initial turf route last out was super. After trailing the field, she uncorked an eye-catching four-wide move on the far turn, swept to the front, then lost her punch and finished third. Super effort, in hindsight probably a premature move. Solid work pattern since, graduation imminent. JODIE FASTER ran well in her sprint debut, runner-up by a neck while earning a higher pace figure than speed figure (Tom Brohamer figs). That indicates a greater likelihood she will handle this longer distance. However, a challenge is footing. Progeny of Empire Way are 1-for-63 on turf according to Daily Racing Form data. SASSYSERB finished second last out, nearly two lengths in front of the top choice. The winner of the race (Warren’s Showtime) returned two starts later to win a stakes race. This race is a split of race 4.

SECOND RACE

Five-runner field, TEQUILA SUNRISE gets the call. She has tactical speed, finished an okay third last out in her first try at this non-winners of two claiming level, and she seems to prefer the Santa Anita surface. CONFORMATION split the field in her comeback, finishing third of five. She can improve second start back. DISCRETE STEVIE B stretches out to the distance of her maiden win, and returns to the SA surface of her maiden win. SHANGHAI BARBIE has speed and ran the best race of her career here in April. TENGS RHYTHM also stretches out; she finished in the money all five SA starts. Basically, this race is an “all.”

THIRD RACE

BOOGALUTE drops to claiming ($25k claiming, N2L) for the first time; his five rivals all have lost at this class level. The opening-day effort by BOOGALUTE was not great, but that was an entrylevel allowance. Easier spot, blinkers on. FAST AS CASS could vie for favoritism based on the pace angle. Not much speed in this field, ‘CASS will be forwardly placed setting or pressing fractions easier than he faced both recent starts. Would not

be surprised if he made the lead. BROKE AWAY

GREY is a deep closer that will be rolling late. INDY JONES should be forwardly placed.

FOURTH RACE

This turf mile for Cal-bred 2yo maiden fillies is a split of race 1. This division is softer. First-timer CALIFORNIA KOOK is bred to win early. One year ago (Oct. 18, 2018), her full sister Kookie Gal won her career debut racing a mile on turf against state-bred maiden fillies. Same pattern here. Both ‘KOOKS are trained by Peter Miller, owned and bred by Gary Barber and Wachtel Stables. Same connections, modest rivals, five-pound weight break, new face in a weak race. One knock, however. Kookie Gal won her career debut last year with a stronger workout foundation than CALIFORNIA KOOK. Stretch-out NAVY QUEEN is a Midshipman filly switching to grass following an okay runner-up finish in a dirt sprint. Her even-paced running style and pedigree give her a right to run long on grass. BIG TIME GRAMMY is a second-time starter with a right to improve stretching out and switching surfaces. RIDE SALLY RIDE finished willingly in both sprints.

FIFTH RACE

Despite a complete misfire last out as the favorite in a similar Cal-bred MSW at Los Alamitos, CLAIM OF PASSION gets the call based on his runner-up finish two back vs. similar. He faces a weak group, and can win if he runs back to his Del Mar effort. CORRANA EN LIMEN has speed, adds Lasix and looms a contender on the front end. This 6.5-furlong sprint came up surprisingly void of speed; ‘LIMEN could make the lead or at minimum press the pace. BRACE FOR IMPACT broke slowly from the rail in his debut, was hard-ridden to duel for the lead inside a multi-horse jam, and then faded. He should improve second time out, and does have enough gas to make his presence felt early.

SIXTH RACE

TRIBALIST is the class of this Cal-bred turf sprint stakes, the 8yo is the horse to beat taking a massive drop from G2 into a restricted race. He was compromised by a wide trip last out against tougher, finishing fifth by two and onehalf lengths. Easier group here. Wagering value is dubious however, and two rivals enter with an upset chance including CASTLE. The latter has trained exceptionally well since being claimed for $40k nearly two months ago by Mark Glatt, who is 8-for-16 first off the claim since February. GRINNING TIGER, a late supplement, is quick enough to make the lead from the outside post. Front-runners have won more than their fair share of turf sprints this fall; ‘TIGER has a shot to steal it. Bottom line: TRIBALIST the most likely winner, but wagering value could be CASTLE and/or GRINNING TIGER.

SEVENTH RACE

This sprint for Cal-bred maiden 2yos is a wide-open scramble. FLAT WHITE gets the call, based partly on his sharp half-mile gate work Oct. 13 (viewed on XBTV.com). The gray showed speed in company with $500k yearling Friar’s Road; 5.5f is an appropriate distance at which to debut. Progeny of New Year’s Day (since relocated to Japan) win more than their share first out. PAPSTER debuts with a series of fast workouts, albeit over the quicker surface at Los Al. But the Cal-bred sired by Munnings (16 percent debut winners) appears fast based on published works. The one to catch, perhaps? TOTALLY TIGER should be among the favorites, based on in-themoney finishes his first two starts. He is not quick however, and must try to win this by rallying from behind. ZERO DOWN, a sibling to stakes winners Don’t Sell and How About Zero, misfired in his debut in May; this is his first start since.

EIGHTH RACE

First-time starter BRUJA ESCARLATA looks “live” in this 5.5 turf sprint for maiden 2yos. Sharp works, stable does well with this type, bred for grass and bred for speed. The son of Street Boss is a sibling to G3 juvenile winner Sombeyay, who won his career debut by six lengths in April 2018. QUEEN LICIA benefits by the turnback to a sprint. She went too fast setting the pace last time racing one mile, and tired into the lane. Her running style and pedigree suggest sprinting will be her deal. NU PI LAMBDA finished a creditable second in her debut. She is fast enough to establish position from the inside post. BLYE SKY BABY appears to have trained well enough to merit consideration first time out.