Juveniles getting first shot on turf

ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita begins the week with a fresh twist to the spring program – the first race Friday marks the earliest on the calendar the track has carded a turf sprint for 2-year-old maidens.

Beyond historical significance, the five-furlong race also includes one of the most probable winners on the card. Helladic, a bred-for-turf gelding working super for his career debut, will be tough to beat if he runs like he trains.

While the total number of turf races exceeds dirt races this season at Santa Anita (272 turf, 268 dirt), the Friday opener expands the turf program to the early-season juvenile ranks. It was not done on a whim.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a little while to kickstart our 2-year-old program,” racing secretary Chris Merz said. “Just to kind of change our thinking.”

Last year, the first turf sprint for 2-year-olds was run June 11. Runner-up Mackinnon subsequently won multiple turf stakes.

The early start to the 2022 juvenile turf program benefits Helladic, a gelding trained by Ryan Hanson, whose team gate workouts look impressive on video. Sired by above-average debut stallion Kantharos and produced by stakes-placed turf sprinter Gal About Town, Helladic will be ridden by Tyler Baze.

Helladic has produced speed in morning works on dirt. If he shows similar speed Friday on turf he could be gone. His main rivals are Ruben Alvarado-trained first-time starter Acquired Class and Walther Solis-trained firster T N T Nova, a bullet-working filly who is among three Californiabred fillies entered in the open maiden race.

Five of the eight races Friday are on turf, including a pair of entry-level allowance races – race 3 for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile, and race 5 at five furlongs for either gender.

The 3-year-old Madiha faces older fillies and mares for the first time in race 3, therefore gets an eight-pound weight break (126-118) from her older rivals. Those include potential pacesetter Queen of Pompeii, a pace-pressing maiden sprint winner last out, and late-runner Big Clare.

Madiha ran the best race of her career last out, runner-up by a neck in a California-bred turf mile for 3-year-old fillies. If she runs as fast as her 1:35.30 clocking last out, the Solis-trained daughter of Shaman Ghost should score her second career victory.

Ikigai may be the speed of the speed in race 5, at five furlongs. As the field’s only 3-year-old, he also gets the eight-pound break and should make the lead based on his recent maiden win. Trained by Alvarado, Ikigai led gate to wire on synthetic at Golden Gate. He is sired by Bayern, whose top progeny include turf stakes winners Leggs Galore and Bella Vita.

Other contenders in the turf sprint include surface-switcher Brutto, fourth last out in a highly rated dirt race; fivefurlong turf specialist Coalinga Road; and last-out maiden winners Houndstooth and Trainer Please.