Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
ANALYSIS
FIRST RACE
PLATINUM EQUITY figures to start at a short price based on his last-out victory in a similar $12.5k claiming starter allowance. The gelding has won seven of his last 10, and loves Santa Anita. Trainer Steve Knapp is 11-for-22 the past five years with dirt-route favorites. ‘EQUITY has more early speed than his main rival MEISTERMIND. The latter was not disgraced finishing third last out in a $100k stakes at a mile and one-quarter; he wants every bit of the mile and one-eighth distance of this race. If the top choice, who is a miler, cannot stay the trip then MEISTERMIND could be along in time. Looks like a two-horse race, although IMPLICITLY is quick enough to make the lead. He gets a weight break with the five-pound apprentice allowance. Pace play?
SECOND RACE
ZORICH should be tough dropping to the maiden20 bottom for the first time. Runner-up last out in a maiden-40 sprint, runner-up three back in a maiden-40 route, he has tactical speed, and the field’s top figures.The versatile gelding should get a cozy trip positioned right behind likely pacesetter MOANA LUNA. The latter has improved each subsequent start including a third last out in a small-field maiden-50. The likely pacesetter is the one to catch. IVORIAN ran okay last time, fourth in a 10-horse field that was his first try around two turns and just the second start of his career. Blinkers on, license to improve.
THIRD RACE
CONVINCINGLY, sibling to 2000 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Kalanisi, ran super finishing third last out in a turf mile for 2-year-old maiden fillies. She steadied into the first turn, was blocked late, finished well and missed by less than a length. Sharp effort by a well-bred filly sitting on a maiden victory. A G INDY finished in front of the top choice last out, while also improving over her debut. A G INDY produced speed stretching out, pressed legit fractions all the way, and finished a head in front of the top choice. Good effort, her early speed gives her a tactical edge. M IS FOR MAGIC is attempting a difficult task. That is, stretch to two turns following just a single sprint prep. But her debut at five furlongs was good, a closing runner-up in a race won by the pace-pressing favorite. ‘MAGIC has plenty room to improve second time out.
FOURTH RACE
It was surprising that THUNDER CODE made the lead last time, dueling through a wicked pace after running so well first out rallying from behind. He ran super anyway, finishing second while more than six clear of a next-out maiden-50 winner. Assuming THUNDER CODE rations his speed more efficiently this time, he will be formidable. He has an experience advantage over his two main rivals and figures to start as a legitimate favorite. THOUSAND WORDS, a million-dollar Pioneerof the Nile yearling produced by multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter Pomeroys Pistol, debuts for a well-stocked stable that typically sends rookies out ready to fire. Outside post, okay-looking works, contender. DIVINE ARMOR appears to have trained well into his debut, although his pedigree leans toward distances longer than a sprint. Sired by Include, his second dam is a stakes-winning sibling to G1 route winners Include Me Out and Check the Label.
FIFTH RACE
COLOSI drops in for a tag for the first time, $35k claiming non-winners of two. He tried first-level allowance company eight times, and is just not quite good enough. Down in class, fastest in the field on numbers. Trust him? Not really. HARTEL is a must-use based on the pace factor/class drop First-time tag, virtually certain to make the lead, he could be gone. BLUE SKYE JADE, another runner by the promising young California stallion Clubhouse Ride, outran his price last time finishing second at 17-1 vs. similar. Looks like the light bulb finally went on, his last two starts are the best of his career.
SIXTH RACE
This messy maiden-20 mile is a split of race 2, and MY JOURNEY should shake loose based on the fractions he set last out finishing third in a maiden-20 sprint. Not sure how far he wants to run, but with blinkers on stretching to two turns, they’ll have to catch him to beat him. TIZ A SLAYER has not raced since August, a creditable runner-up route finish at this class level, while racing for the first time in more than four months. So he runs well fresh. As it turns out, the field he faced in that runner-up effort was decent. The fourth- and sixth-place finishers returned to win, two others returned to finish second next out. BRAZILIAN SUMMER has the highest last-start route Beyer, but that was earned in a slow-pace race in which the odds-on favorite stumbled and was eliminated at the break. Not sure if the 63 Beyer by ‘SUMMER will be replicated in a race with more speed.
SEVENTH RACE
Del Mar Oaks runner-up HIDDEN MESSAGE enters this Grade 3 turf mile as the obvious choice. She ran super in her U.S. debut two months ago, rallying from midpack to finish second against what turned out to be a productive race. The winner Cambier Parc returned to win the G1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland, the fourth- and eighth-place finishers returned to win, the third-place finisher won a G3 two starts later, and two others from the DMR Oaks returned to finish second in stakes. The point is, HIDDEN MESSAGE ran well against top competition. She faces more of that here, this field is deep. But the late-runner returns from a twomonth freshening, shortens from nine furlongs to one mile, and can mow them down late. KEEPER OFTHE STARS might be worth wagering on if there is a significant odds discrepancy between her and the favorite. ‘STARS finished fourth after pressing the pace in the DMR Oaks, returned to defeat older allowance fillies (small field), and figures for a front-running/pressing trip. She will be positioned in front of the top choice turning for home. MUCHO UNUSUAL has a terrific spring-summer campaign, winning three straight before her seventh in the DMR Oaks. She is fresh, two-for-two at SA, and a legit threat cutting back to a distance at which she is three-for-three. Also-eligible front-runner RAYMUNDOS SECRET is the one to catch if she draws into the field. She could get brave.
EIGHTH RACE
SOLDIER BOY ran too good to lose last out. The older maiden sped to the front, dueled through a hot pace, missed by a nose with a good number (81 Beyer) and finished nearly nine lengths clear of third. Two sharp works since raced, should be long gone. LORD ADARE has longshot appeal. He wanted no part of grass last time when he raced wide and merely ran around the course. But both dirt starts in August-September were decent, he now returns to dirt, and adds blinkers. Suspect he is a better maiden than his most recent start suggests. STRETFORD END finished an okay second in his comeback three weeks ago. He moves to an outside post and gets a weight break.
NINTH RACE
Turf is new for D’S LOVELY SOPHIA, and it could be a challenge based on pedigree (201 Tomlinson turf rating). But her third and fourth dams produced graded stakes winners on turf, ‘SOPHIA has speed and is in sharp form with back-to-back seconds on dirt at this Cal-bred N1X level. Despite unfamiliar footing, the lightly raced (four starts) filly gets the call in this 5.5-furlong turf sprint. MARJORIE E tried this level seven times, and is still looking for her first Cal-bred N1X win. She ran well last out however, runner-up racing 5f at Del Mar. Flavien Prat takes over, she will fly late. TAKETHEDIAMONDLANE won her debut with a pressing trip, and has a right to improve second out. She is a sibling to turf stakes winner Take the One O One. SQUARE PEGGY wired $16k claiming 3yos last out on dirt. She won a turf sprint here in April, at this class level. She entered for the optional $16k claim tag.