FIFTH RACE

TOWN BOY should win this juvenile maiden-32 at a short price. Claimed from a runner-up finish two back, runner-up last out in a maiden-45, he returns to the level at which he was claimed and looks like the speed of the field. Come and catch him. For what it’s worth, only 5 of 22 dirt sprints this meet were won by the pacesetter (2 of 6 pacesetter winners at six furlongs). STATE OF THE UNION did not have the greatest of trips last out finishing nowhere in a turf route, but his maiden-40 third two back on dirt puts him in the picture. First-time starter BESAME MUCHO is by a sire whose debut juvenile progeny have won at an above-average 16 percent clip. Furthermore, ‘MUCHO is a sibling to Mulligan, a 25-1 debut winner (turf) for trainer Richard Baltas and owner-breeder Bruce Chandler in September 2020. Same connections. RIVIERA CHAMP has improved each successive start, although all three were on turf. This is dirt, and he also drops to $32k after being claimed for $50k. PINEDALE might be ranked too low by this handicapper. He appears to be working well, although maidens from this stable generally improve with racing rather than fire first out (6 percent debut winners, 8 percent second-start maiden winners, 12 percent third-start maiden winners past five years).

SIXTH RACE

Front-runner VIA EGNATIA faces a challenging pace scenario due to the front-runner on the rail, but ‘EGNATIA has been effective pressing the pace from second. If he gets that trip while returning to the $25k claiming level of his win two back, he can win this turf mile. FLY TO MARS, beaten favorite four straight vs. similar, nonetheless figures as a contender once again. An eight-time winner, his pressing/stalking style could lead to a cozy trip right behind the first flight. Regular rider Flavien Prat, who leads the meet, is off this week due to a suspension. Tyler Baze takes over on ‘MARS. Late-runner FRENCH GETAWAY will be rolling from behind; DR. TROUTMAN is the aforementioned pace rival for the top choice. Expect ‘TROUTMAN to make the lead.

SEVENTH RACE

Despite an off-the-board finish as the odds-on favorite at Santa Anita, with no visible alibi, DELTA WIND gets the call returning to the DMR dirt on which she scored a runaway maiden win two back. Maybe she was short last time, she missed a start following her late-August maiden win. If she runs back to her 86-Beyer maiden romp on this track, she would be tough to beat even if six and a half furlongs is a reach. If she misfires, then laterunner KRISTI’S TIGER has a shot from off the pace. One-two in 10 of 16 starts, ‘TIGER will be outrun early and fly late in a race that could unfold perfectly for her style. RAIN DIVA is speed; she finished more than two lengths in front of the top choice last out. ‘DIVA probably is the one to catch. CASSIE BELLE has run races that put her in the hunt, although she seems to prefer turf.

EIGHTH RACE

BONNIE BRAE ran better than looked in her fourthplace debut; she should improve second out stretching to a mile. She broke slowly in her sprint debut, uncorked a middle move while wide on turn, and flattened out late. Sired by Grazen and a full sibling to route stakes winner Desmond Doss, ‘BRAE can move up second out. Grass is fine, considering her sire. LA DEUXIEME ETOILE should vie for favoritism dropping from open 2yo filly stakes to face Cal-bred maidens while also adding blinkers. Her only turf route against maidens was a runner-up finish on this course in summer. Obvious contender. WARREN’S nd QUEEN BEE stretches out for the first time, after four successive in-themoney sprints. Her pedigree is fine for two turns. CANDY ON TOP lost two straight as the favorite vs. similar Cal-bred turf route maidens, in the money in both.