FIFTH RACE

The recent effort by FOREVER JUANITO in a similar claiming turf route was probably better than it looks. The speed did not back up, ‘JUANITO could only finish third despite a fast quarter-mile in 23.18 seconds. The veteran gelding is not exactly a win machine (4 for 34), but he is in sharp form and likes the DMR course. He won here in summer. MOONLIGHT DRIVE scored a sharp comeback win at this $25k claiming level last out at Santa Anita. He is all racehorse, 6-for-21 in his career. FRENCH GETAWAY misfired both recent starts, albeit on dirt. He benefits from a class drop and return to turf. His restricted claiming win here in July puts him in the hunt with the top pair. START A RUNNIN is speed, Come and catch him.

SIXTH RACE

First-time starter NIGHT ON THE TOWN is bred to win early; the Street Sense filly is working like she means business. She worked a bullet 5f from the gate last month at Santa Anita, followed by two easier works including a 6f move over the DMR track. Her dam won her debut as a 2yo, her first foal also won her debut. The second dam of NIGHT ON THE TOWN is Half A.P., a maiden sibling to Richard Mandella-trained champion 2yo filly Halfbridled. Bottom line: fast works, big pedigree, ready to fire. PARKOUR also is trained by Mandella, and has something her stablemate lacks. That is, racing experience. PARKOUR finished an okay second behind runaway winner Auberge in her debut. Improvement likely second out. PAIGE ANNE goes route to sprint and is drawn outside where she can settle and finish. This is her fourth start. MUNDAYE CALL might be ranked too low by this handicapper. Her runner-up debut three months ago at Saratoga was solid, she was in too tough next out in the G1 Spinaway. Freshened since, class drop, likely to show speed from the rail.

SEVENTH RACE

Freshened two months and returning to the turf course on which she scored both career wins, SEDAMAR gets the nod in this entry-level allowance for 3yo fillies. She jammed three starts into the DMR summer meet, and ran well all three including a third-place finish last out in a similar age-restricted N1X. That raced produced two nextout winners, a next-out second and two next-out thirds. It was a live race. SEDAMAR can fire first start since Sept. 2. KITTY BOOM BOOM returns from a layoff of more than six months for a trainer whose turf-route comebackers off six months have been firing. Richard Baltas won with four of his last seven turf-route layoff starters. ‘BOOM BOOM was last seen winning a Cal-bred stakes by four lengths at Golden Gate. The lightly raced (2-for-4) filly fits perfect in this spot. OUT OF BALANCE is reunited with Flavien Prat, who rode her the two best efforts of her career. ‘BALANCE will fly late, while DEVILS DANCE has a longshot chance on the front end. The lead is hers if she wants it.

EIGHTH RACE

THOUSAND WORDS, who won his debut like a 2yo colt with class, gets the call to win this Grade 3 over stakes-placed STRONGCONSTITUTION. It’s a close call between two talented juveniles. THOUSAND WORDS defeated the good maiden Thunder Code first out, racing 6.5 furlongs in a quick 1:16.77. That was the second-fastest time of the Santa Anita fall meet; only Donna Veloce (1:16.22) was faster. Not only was the win by THOUSAND WORDS highly rated, but he also did it the right way. He rationed his speed and produced a strong late kick. He might take a little dirt this time moving from the outside to post 3 of 6, but he sure looks like the real deal. Perhaps the same applies to STRONGCONSTITUTION, who followed his debut win on turf with a promising runner-up finish in a minor stakes on dirt. He saved ground just off the pace, cut the corner, tried rally inside in a tight spot the length of the lane, and missed by a neck. Good try. He moves to the outside post, and has something the top choice lacks. That is, a big workout over the Del Mar track. He popped a bullet :47.80 one week ago. This should be an interesting showdown between two promising colts. HIGH VELOCITY, stablemate of the top choice, won his debut a month ago at 5.5f, and posted four solid works since. He needs to improve, he probably will. RAGER will rally late; HOWBEIT is a stablemate of STRONGCONSTITUTION; ZIMBA WARRIOR also should be finishing.

NINTH RACE

BUD KNIGHT improved since being gelded and adding Lasix two starts back. He finished nowhere as a “first-time-G.” then ran the best race of his career last out. That was a runner-up finish in a Cal-bred maiden turf mile identical to this. If he reproduces his SA form over the DMR turf, BUD KNIGHT can rally for the win. PLAY MONEY improved in summer when he switched to turf. He finished in the money all three starts over this course, vs. Cal-bred maidens such as these. Obvious contender first start off the two and onehalf month freshening. FRAVEL seems to merely run around the course in one position, although he sports a pair of sub- 24 final quarters (Aug. 7, and Oct. 11). Off the pace upset? COOL YOUR JETS completely misfired last out, but the 11-start maiden has run races that put him in the hunt. Kind of a messy race if the top choice misfires. 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014 (858) 755-1141

Main track: One Mile, oval.

Turf course: Seven eighths mile.

Distance from last turn to finish line: 919 feet.

TAKEOUT INFORMATION

■ WPS - 15.43%

■ Double - 20%

■ Exacta, Quinella - 22.68%

■ Trifecta, Superfecta, Super Hi 5, Pick 3, Pick 4, Late Pick 5, Pick 6 - 23.68%

■ Early Pick 5 - 14%

NOTE: A horse which wins a non-winners of $3,000 other than maiden or claiming, or two races, for Calbreds, shall remain eligible for that comparable open allowance race, provided that horse did not win a race other than claiming following that Cal-Bred win. Once a horse has won the two first condition allowance races (Cal-Bred and open), then the Cal Bred win will be disregarded in future allowance races for eligibility purposes only.