ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 10, PRIVATE MISSION

FIRST RACE

HONOS MAN drops to $25k claiming N2L after missing by just two lengths in an open $32k claiming race. The gelding’s speed figures are close to par for this level; his red-hot trainer-jockey combo entered the week having won five straight races and 13-of-26 the past two months. SEEKING REFUGE finished in the money three straight at this N2L claiming level, including a runnerup-by-a-neck finish last out. The winner previouSLY lost 22 straight, however. SLY stretches to his preferred two-turn turf trip; his maiden-40 win on the Santa Anita course in June puts him in the picture. BENCH JUDGE is speed, taking a surprisingly abrupt class drop after misfiring as the favorite in a Cal-bred allowance.

SECOND RACE

Five entered this sprint for maiden fillies, led by Bob Baffert-trained AS TIME GOES BY and HIMIKO. The third-place debut by AS TIMES GO BY was disappointing at odds-on, but her slow start from an inside post provides an alibi. The race turned out productive. The second- and fourth-place finishers returned to win. This is the first start in two months for ‘TIMES, who worked heads-up with her stablemate Oct. 3 and in company with G1 winner Gamine on Oct. 10. Both were under a hold. ‘TIMES was produced by G1 winner Take Charge Lady; she is a sibling to G1 winners Will Take Charge and Take Charge Indy. The one to beat, second time out. HIMIKO worked heads-up with her top-choice stablemate, followed by an easy half five days ago. Runner-up in a pair of fast maiden races in summer, HIMIKO figures as a contender. First-time starter ANGEL OF FREEDOM drew the rail and might be in for a prep.

THIRD RACE

The “long” distance of five and one-half furlongs could be a reach for Northern California speedball BOOMCHICABOOM, but there is little doubt she will set the pace in this starter allowance turf sprint. The fast filly set blazing fractions last out at Golden Gate Fields, and missed by only a halflength to seven-time winner Square Peggy. ‘BOOM might be facing easier in this starter allowance than she met last time. The 1-for-14 front-runner could be long gone. If not, it’s anyone’s race from behind including route-to-sprint LUCIA’S DESIGN. She finished a creditable fourth last out in a highly rated turf mile (one-two finishers Lavender and Quiet Secretary scheduled to run Saturday, races 3 and 9). ‘DESIGN is racing in sharp form and will be running late. KALLINIKI returns to turf for a stable whose turf sprinters have been running wild. Entering the Friday card, trainer Phil D’Amato had won with five of his last 10 turf sprinters. ROSES AND CANDY has run races that put her in the hunt.

FOURTH RACE

Five entered this $16k claiming mile, WILSHIRE DUDE is the one to beat despite a potentially challenging pace scenario. He was hounded into defeat last out when he broke from an inside post, took pressure, and weakened to third. He drops a notch, meets easier, but must deal with other front-runners to his outside. Those include N2L claiming sprint winner INDY JONES, who wired easier last out. He stretches to a mile and will be setting or pressing the pace from the outside post in this small field. PAYNTER’S BOY will clunk along late in a race that could unfold in favor of a closer. OUTLAW stretches out and adds speed; QUALITY LINE also stretches out.

FIFTH RACE

Career maiden MUCH MORE HALO finished second his last four turf sprints including a runner-up finish last time behind next-out allowance winner Tilted Towers. Freshened two months, proven

over the Santa Anita flat turf, ‘HALO will be ridden for the first time by Abel Cedillo, whose most recent win for Bob Baffert was the Pacific Classic with Maximum Security on Aug. 22 at Del Mar.

PROVOST broke slowly and finished nowhere at relatively low odds in his debut in December, then went to the sidelines. He resumed a work pattern early last month. Not sure if he is cranked off just six workouts, but he certainly is bred for turf. He is by 14-pecent turf sprint sire Street Boss, and a sibling to turf stakes-placed 2yo filly Taylor’s Tourist. PORT SAINT JOE finished a length behind the top choice last out and will be running late. In a race without much apparent speed, longshot WITCH’S VOW is worth a look. The fast-working comebacker is likely to set the pace.

SIXTH RACE

Taking a shot in this starter allowance dirt sprint with potential overlay CALL YOU TOMORROW. He faced tougher both recent comeback starts, last in an entry-level allowance and third in an unrestricted $32k claiming race. Although he has run okay on turf, his dirt record is outstanding: two wins and two seconds from four starts. Back to his preferred footing, he wheels back two weeks after a misfire on turf. If he runs back to this 2019 form, he can reel in likely pacesetter GATE SPEED. The latter scratched from a turf sprint on Saturday to run instead in this dirt sprint. Runner-up twice on this track at this level in winter, he appears to have trained well and is likely to show the way. Come and catch him. QUICK FINISH wheels back nine days after a fifth-place finish in which he got bogged inside and did not rally. He previously finished in the money five straight, and figures to be positioned within striking range of front-runner GATE SPEED.

SEVENTH RACE

MISS FRAULEIN figures as the heavy favorite in this claiming turf sprint. She is the fastest on numbers, dropping in class from N1X to $32k claiming, drawn outside her main pace rivals, and proven over this course. Her trainer-jockey combo has been on a roll (race-1 stats). Low-odds standout, it appears. She is trained by Peter Miller, who also starts NORMA’S LOVE. The latter is a former Jorge Navarro trainee dropping in class and adding blinkers. She has tactical speed, and could get a cozy trip tucked just off the pace. VEGAN is not fast on numbers, but she returns from a layoff with a steady work pattern over the past month. Rail-drawn DIM LIGHTS and MAJESTIC GIGI in post 3 are the aforementioned pace rivals for the favorite.

EIGHTH RACE

Five entered this sprint stake for 2yo fillies. The highly rated debut win by QUEENGOL stamps her the one to beat in a race that was postponed nearly a week due to insufficient entries. QUEENGOL pressed a hot pace first out and inched clear late. Solid. She drew an advantageous outside post again, where she can either press the pace in the clear or go on with it. Her maien rival is the filly she defeated last out. This is KALYPSO, who set the fast pace and proved tough to collar. The effort was a big leap forward off her modest debut. KALYPSO might be the speed of the speed, and from the inside post she has to “go.” She was defeated two back by FOREST CARAWAY, who won rallying from behind, then finished second in the G1 Del Mar Debutante. ‘CARAWAY drops in class; her versatile style could play well in a race likely to unfold at a quick tempo. NEEDLESS TO SAY is prepping for the $150k Golden State Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 6 at Del Mar; ILLUMINATION goes route to sprint, Grade 1 to ungraded.

NINTH RACE

The runner-up finish last out by EXPRESS TRAIN was a lot better than it looks on paper. He lost ground start to finish while chasing a fast pace, missed by less than a length, and finished nearly three clear of third. Super effort second start back, and his first route since last fall. He bounced out of the race in peak shape, worked well, and should be able to transfer his dirt form to the fast Santa Anita turf. His versatile style gives him options. As for SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT, did he have a fair chance last out? Check yes or no. He engaged in a three-wide pace battle, lost ground battling for the lead, and gave way in a race dominated by closers. His pace rivals finished last and next-to-last. Back to California for ‘STRAIT, a three-time stakes winner who will press the pace. FARMINGTON ROAD defeated older in a N1X last out that was his first start on turf. The figures he earned this spring on dirt, and his closing style in a race likely to unfold at a contested pace, suggests he belongs on the short list of contenders. He will rally late, as will fellow shipper FIELD PASS.

TENTH RACE

First-time starter PRIVATE MISSION looks tough to beat based on fast works, a win-early pedigree, and trainer. She popped the gate and worked well in a six-furlong gate drill Oct. 5 (viewed on XBTV. com). She was sired by Into Mischief, whose juvenile progeny have won 16 percent first time out.

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.

Ready to fire for Bob Baffert, whose 2yo debut fillies that start favored are 15-for-31 the past five years. Baffert also starts first-timer FROSTERIA, by 10-pecent debut sire Frosted. She was produced by multiple graded winner Hystericalady. SHVERE ARBETER showed brief speed then backed up and finished last in her debut at Del Mar. But she has worked fast since returning to Santa Anita and is likely to improve second time out. Upset candidate?