EIGHTH RACE

Speedster BRICKYARD RIDE can be long gone in this Cal-bred allowance if he transfers his dirt form to turf. His 43.80-second opening half last out was the fastest for a six-furlong race the past five years at Santa Anita. Sired by Clubhouse Ride, the switch to turf should be okay. Come catch him. If the pacesetter falters, then late-runner JETOVATOR

could be along in time. He rallied from nextto-last and missed by only a neck in his most recent start under similar conditions. A MAN’S

spit the field in a creditable comeback, he probably will be positioned second behind the top choice and therefore would get first run.

NINTH RACE

COLLUSION ILLUSION ranked among the top 2-yearolds in California last summer; his outstanding recent comeback suggests he can reemerge as a top 3yo. Making his first start since September, ‘ILLUSION crushed older N2X sprinters including next-out stakes winner Tiger Dad. ‘ILLUSION trained well since, and benefits by the additional half-furlong of this race. Favorites won this race seven of the last nine years (including 2013, run as Came Home Stakes). The chalk should be tough to beat, rail and all. RAGTIME BLUES is speed, seeking his third straight after maiden and allowance wins. If he can avoid a duel with the speedster directly to his outside, ‘BLUES has a shot to steal it. ALCOOLS runs well fresh, his comeback works at San Luis Rey Downs suggest he is cranked and ready for his first start of the year. PHANTOM BOSS is the aforementioned front-runner that flashed improved speed last out when he added blinkers.

TENTH RACE

t is tough to beat a front-runner that also can finish, and that is the modus operandi of MARGOT’S BOY. He won three straight mile races on the front end, including a N1X allowance last month when he smoked his final quarter-mile in 23.26 seconds. He stretches to a mile and one-eighth for the first time, the manner he finished last out suggests the distance is fine. The challenge is to avoid a duel with the sprinter in post 6. SACRED RIDER returns from Northern California in peak form, one-two finishes his last three starts, speed figures among the highest in the field, and proven class vs. California-bred stakes company. CALIFORNIA KOOK is a filly facing males. She scored a convincing N1X win last out with a final quarter in less than 24 seconds. She is not as “fast” as the top choice on figures, but might

ELEVENTH RACE

WORLD AFFAIRS drops from maiden specialweight to rock-bottom maiden-20. Obvious choice. ULTIMATE MYSTERY ran a winning race last out when he set solid fractions (slow surface), opened up in the lane, but got collared by a horse that rallied from seventh. ‘MYSTERY will not be a maiden for long. HAPI HAPI stretches out for the first time and drops in class. Upset chance?

TWELFTH RACE

MYSTERY MESSENGER was claimed off a troubled fourth last out by Vladimir Cerin, who is 6-for-14 first-off-claim on turf since fall 2017. ‘MESSENGER can stay two turns. SHADOW SPHINX returns from a layoff of nearly a year and a half. He runs well fresh and his realistically spotted for a $32k claim tag. BOOGALUTE is fast on dirt, this is his first start on turf.