ANALYSIS

FIRST RACE

DIAMOND OF VALUE nosedives from starter allowance to the bottom class level ($16k claiming, nonwinners of two lifetime). Her runner-up finish on the Del Mar track during summer would be fast enough.

DARPA scored last out as the odds-on favorite over a drab cast of maiden-20 fillies and mares. Perhaps the light bulb finally got turned on in her fifth start. She is realistically spotted for her initial try against winners, she ran well on this surface in summer, and her speed figures put her close. The consistent Northern California based mare ZONING finished an okay third in her comeback from a long layoff, this marks just her second start of 2019. She ran okay her only start on dirt in summer 2018. BELLAZANO drops in class, with speed to set or press the pace.

SECOND RACE

This turf sprint for maiden 2yo fillies is a good spot to take a shot with comebacker SHE’S SO SPECIAL.

She made the Daily Racing Form “horses to watch” list during summer when she got slammed from both sides, squeezed to last, and basically eliminated. She still finished third. Now she returns from a four-month layoff for a hot stable, the switch to turf should be fine (sired by Hard Spun, produced by a Pulpit mare). With a clean break she could find herself in a cozy position just off two speeds. Those are likely favorite NU

PI LAMBDA and LIGHTHOUSE. Back-to-back runnerup finishes probably will make NU PI LAMBDA the favorite. She ran well in both, setting legit fractions before getting worn down late. She probably benefits by the cutback from 5.5 furlongs to 5f, but she could have company up front in the form of LIGHTHOUSE. The latter chased a blazing pace and finished an okay third in her debut against open company. She drops into a maiden race restricted to fillies, and is likely to produce speed from the rail.

THIRD RACE

First-time starter EDDIE’S SISTER is bred to be an above-average filly, with a family that wins first out. Sired by Square Eddie, ‘SISTER is a sibling to multiple graded winner Sircat Sally (debut winner) and lightly raced Accomplishedsister (debut winner). Flavien

Prat is aboard Phil D’Amato-trained ‘SISTER, who appears to have worked like a 2-year-old filly that will fire first out. ELGOFRANCO was compromised by curious strategy in her debut. She was gunned inside the pacesetter, into a tight spot, steadied and shuffled, then re-rallied to finish second. All in all, a creditable debut. The surface switch from turf to dirt adds uncertainty, but she definitely has ability. Progeny of her sire run over any surface. MEASUREOFDEVOTION worked well into her debut, pressed a legitimate pace in that turf mile, and tired late. Creditable effort, and her dirt works going into her debut suggest the surface switch is fine.

FOURTH RACE

MURAD KHAN wheels back in one week after a highly N1X/optional claiming win. The seven-time winner was claimed for $40k by Peter Miller, who is 5-for-15 the past three years wheeling back in seven days or less. The best, fastest in the field, a winner both starts on the DMR turf course, obvious choice. FORAY is the one to catch. A mile and one-eighth was slightly out of reach for him last out, he opened up by three lengths in the stretch but was collared on the money. Good try in defeat, he wired N1X foes two back at one mile. Come and catch him. THE HUNTED also benefits by the cutback to one mile. Although he is a closer, he seems to lose his punch at distances beyond a mile. All three career wins were at this distance, he will motor late.

FIFTH RACE

TIME FOR SUZZIE and PORTAL CREEK finished onetwo last out in a similar claiming sprint for 3yo fillies. They are the unimaginative one-two picks running back at the same class level. The pace scenario should be quick enough to flatter the closing rally of ‘SUZZIE, a six-time winner proven on the DMR track. She will rally late, but will have to catch PORTAL CREEK, a presser comfortably drawn near the outside with a versatile running style. She is a four-time winner, she will be positioned in front of the top choice turning for home, and will certainly get first run. Tough call between two honest sprinters. SQUARE PEGGY is pure speed, in peak form. She seeks her third straight. The challenge is distance. Her four wins were 5.5f or less, this 6f trip is a reach. But she is fast.

SIXTH RACE

Florida shipper MADAME BOURBON makes her California debut while dropping into a starter allowance following a sharp runner-up finish in a $75k stakes. ‘BOURBON finished eight lengths clear of third in that race, while chasing a filly that was winning her third straight. ‘BOURBON was purchased privately since, she has been in California with new trainer Mark Glatt for at least three weeks, and should be tough if she reproduces her East Coast form. FREEDOM RIDE looms the upset candidate, stretching and switching to turf with a pedigree that endorses both moves. An improving filly sired by Clubhouse Ride and produced by an In Excess mare, ‘RIDE is quick enough to make the lead if she wants it. Last time out, she finished more than nine lengths clear of third. ACAI drops in class from N1X/optional claiming, into a starter allowance, while wheeling back in eight days. This is probably her best chance yet. This nine-starter field includes runners from six different tracks.

SEVENTH RACE

Considering she split the field two weeks ago in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, MO SEE CAL enters this Calbred sprint stakes with a major class advantage. Her five wins were all around two turns, but she has speed for a forwardly placed trip in this seven-furlong race, and she is vastly improved this fall. She can win with a pressing trip. STARR OF QUALITY is another uncertain in a sprint; her six victories all were routes. But she won a state-bred stakes race two back and therefore fits on class, and with a recent route prep under her belt she is likely to improve second start back. She probably needs the speed to come back, because she is not particularly quick. Win or lose, look for her to rally late. LOVE A HONEYBADGER is the one to catch. She set/pressed a blazing pace in her recent comeback, and will be making her second start back from the long layoff. She will not have a pace rival, because her trainer is expected to scratch either her, or her front-running stablemate CREATIVE INSTINCT. The one that remains will dictate the tempo.

EIGHTH RACE

Northern California shipper TIZZY should be tough in this turf mile for Cal-bred maiden fillies and mares. She drops from open company into a race restricted to state-breds, she finished eight lengths clear of third last out, her speed figures are among the tops in this field, and she has a pressing style that should translate to a good trip. Her main rival is locally based OUR

ROMANCE, runner-up last out behind Doc Yco Cheeks, the program favorite Friday in a N1X turf mile (race 7). OUR ROMANCE actually ran a winning race last out at SA, and she also ran well two back at DMR. HOT MAGISTRATE stretches to a mile following a solid runner-up sprint comeback. Not sure how far she wants to run, but the lead is hers if she wants it. Come and catch her. GOLDEN NECKLACE will be running late.