ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 2, ROSSMAN

FIRST RACE

OH PRETTY WOMAN improved this year at age 5, she followed her maiden victory with a closing second last out in a Cal-bred allowance similar to this. Off two months, she fired fresh in the past, and meets modest rivals. Lightly raced CALIFORNIA KOOK has been off since a creditable fourth in a productive Cal-bred stakes race four months ago. That race produced two next-out winners, and three next-out runners-up. ‘KOOK ran her final quarter in 23.64 seconds that race, which makes her one of the best finishers in this field. WARRIOR’S MOON was only prepping in a dirt stakes two weeks ago; long on turf is what she wants to do. The knock is her fourth-place finish as the favorite two back against 3yos was bland. BRAHMS COMMAND has a longshot look as the potential pacesetter. Come catch her?

SECOND RACE

This maiden-claiming sprint is a split of race 4. ROSSMAN can win with a front-running trip. His last two starts at Santa Anita were respectable; he chased or set fast fractions in both including a runner-up finish vs. similar rivals three back. His most-recent start was a decent third at Los Al, behind one-two finishers that returned to win by open lengths. ROSSMAN gets hot rider Abel Cedillo, he is quick enough to establish position from the inside post, this five and one-half furlong trip is perfect. SHANGHAI CURLY drops from maiden-50 for his first start in two months. He is not particularly quick, but his even-paced style probably would play well if the top choice does not stay. SEIZETHEDAY REXY returns to the track on which he finished second in three straight races against better than these. His debacle at Oaklawn Park is a no-count. ITALIAN FIGHTER is a firsttime starter by Clubhouse Ride; SENSUOUS has enough speed to keep the top choice honest.

THIRD RACE

DESTINY’S JOURNEY drops in for a tag, and returns to what might be her preferred footing (dirt). She has enough speed to be forwardly placed behind the stretch-out sprinters in the two outside posts.

PAIGE RUNNER is racing for a tag for the first time; her maiden victory in December at Los Alamitos would be plenty fast enough to win this $25k claiming N2L. MONGOLIAN SUNRISE prepped in a sprint eight days ago; she won her debut by more than eight lengths here in February. MISS BENNET and TICK TOCK are the aforementioned sprinters. The truth is, this race is an absolute scramble.

FOURTH RACE

This maiden-claiming sprint is a split of race 2. BEAUMONT BEAUX might be better than his eighth-place debut indicates. That was six days ago in a maiden40, he was not asked for speed, pulled himself into contention, then flattened out in the lane. He might have more zip than he was allowed to show. He drops from to the new bottom level (maiden-25), and should move up second out. Trainer Keith Desormeaux won with five of his last seven maiden-claiming starters in So Cal that wheeled back in a week or less. PRINCE RICKY, off three months, is reunited with the jockey under which he ran his career-best race.

That was a pace-pressing fifth while returning from a short layoff in January. Similar pattern here, ‘RICKY should be part of the pace scenario. POISE TO STRIKE ran like a horse that needed the start two weeks ago. He pressed and faded. Expect improvement second start back.

FIFTH RACE

STIR THE POT returns to the circumstances of his sharp runner-up finish two starts back. That was a Cal-bred maiden turf sprint just like this; he put away his pace rivals but was collared late by a horse that rallied from last. Super effort by ‘POT, who dueled and cracked two weeks ago in a dirt stakes race. Back on grass, back with maidens, speed of the field, the one to catch. If he falters on the front end, nine-start maiden BRIX could be along in time. BRIX shortens from a mile, will be ridden for the first time by the circuit’s top jockey, and he will be finishing. First-time starter COUNT ALEXEI debuts with a series of fast workouts; first-time starter RAWHIDE RAWLINS is a sibling to five multiple winners, six total.

SIXTH RACE

Although RATHER NOSY has been stuck at this entry-level allowance condition for eight starts, she finished in the money six of those. Yet she gets the call. She ran best recent race returning from a two-month layoff similar to this, and could get a cozy trip either on the lead or setting second behind the filly on the rail. ETERNAL ENDEAVOUR is back doing what she does best, which is sprint on dirt. She has two wins and two seconds from her last four dirt sprints. Her speed figures are consistently “fast” relative to the competition. SHE’S A DIME is a claiming-caliber late-runner who actually fits in this N1X. Look for her late.

SEVENTH RACE

A promising second by STELA STAR in her U.S. debut stamps her the one to beat in this stakes for 3yo turf fillies. A Group 3 winner last year in Ireland, purchased privately since, she could have won her comeback with a better trip. She broke slowly, rallied wide into the lane, uncorked a final quarter in 23.36 and missed by a half-length to a rail-skimming winner. STELA STAR should appreciate the additional furlong of this nine-furlong race. Legit chalk. However, an upset candidate lurks. GUITTY is finally learning how to run. She was her own worst enemy last year as a 2-year-old when repeatedly off slowly and rank. She turned the corner last time, finishing sixth in the same race as the top choice. GUITTY relaxed and settled comfortably for the first time, had to wait longer than planned on the far turn, then finished well and galloped out strongly past the wire. Respect STELA STAR, but GUITTY offers wagering appeal at significantly higher odds. PARKOUR is pure speed, up in class after running them off their feet in an entry-level allowance mile. She sped the fastest half of the meet (turf mile, prior to the stoppage) in :45.20 and was gone. The challenge is carrying her speed an additional furlong, and the presence of front-running LAURA’S LIGHT three stalls to her inside. PARKOUR is fast, and if she can ration her speed has a shot up front.

EIGHTH RACE

Comeback dropper APACHE PASS get the call in a difficult Cal-bred maiden-claiming sprint. She reportedly showed speed in morning works prior to her debut last summer, but did not produce speed either start. Off since October, working regularly for productive connections, dropping slightly in class and switching to dirt, ‘PASS shows up in the right spot, notwithstanding the inside post. TIZ A UNICORN debuts with okay works for stable that is due. The presence of the leading rider suggests positive intent. ‘UNICORN is a 3yo, and therefore gets a six-pound weight break over the 4yo top choice. TRAFFIC STOPPER blew the break, yet finished second in her initial start over this racetrack. She has more speed than she showed in that race. AWESOME ALESSANDRA is a nine-start maiden in top form. She finished in the money her last four starts on this track at this level. RAIN DIVA might be ranked too low by this handicapper. Her turf form vs. special-weight Calbreds puts her in the mix.

NINTH RACE

Another difficult maiden race, turf route at a mile and one eighth. CAPITAL CALL rallied wide and finished fairly well for third in his comeback two weeks ago. Nine furlongs is in his wheelhouse. With a prep under his belt ‘CALL can wear them down. Maybe. His Neil Drysdale-trained stablemate REPROBATE may have more ability than it appears. His sprint debut in February was super, he merely ran in place second time out, then had an eventful trip in a maiden race at Fair Grounds. He is back home, stretching to a distance he is bred for, and switching to grass. The son of Blame figures to relish nine furlongs. WHIRL CANDY is the pace play. He dueled to midstretch last time in a turf sprint, and finished fourth. First time long, he will take the field as far as he can. COSMO is the third Drysdale entrant, along with the top pair. COSMO might be ranked too low by this handicapper; the gray finished second last out at this distance on this course.