SANTA ANITA

race after being positioned too far back. FRONTIER

MARKET is rounding into form, he closed well for third from behind a slow pace last out. STEPHEN JAMES and VIA EGNATIA are speed. The pace should be realistic.

SIXTH RACE

DIVINE ARMOR, first-time gelding in a claiming race for the first time, gets the call in this N2L starter allowance/optional $50k claiming mile. The 1-for-16 veteran has run well against better, his speed figures are appropriate for this class. Firsttime tag, he can win from off the pace. PAPALE finished a creditable second in his return from a layoff of nearly a year. His pressing style should allow him a cozy trip positioned just off the speed. ALL FOUR WINDS could be gone if he reproduces his sprint form around two turns. He wired Calbred maiden-50 sprinters by eight lengths last out and is likely to set the pace. CONUNDRUM goes long off a maiden-20 win and should be forwardly placed. Difficult to find value in a five-runner field.

SEVENTH RACE

In a wide-open turf-sprint scramble at five furlongs, BONITA LEONA is worth a shot. She returns to the $25k claiming level at which she finished second three back on dirt, she has tactical speed for a pressing trip at this abbreviated distance, and turf influence in her pedigree. Her dam won on turf; two of her four foals who raced on turf won on the surface. TAPIT DOUX meets easier, adds blinkers, goes route to sprint and figures as an off-the-pace contender. GRITTY GIRL is all speed, but so is the filly directly to her outside. That is READY JET GO, who will be dueling early. The truth is, this race is a complete scramble.

EIGHTH RACE

An improved second start by HOTROD RIDE suggests the gelding is sitting on a maiden win in this Cal-bred maiden-50 mile. Last time, he stretched to a mile off a last-place sprint, and ran super. He was off slowly and trailed, uncorked a middle move rallying wide on the far turn and into the lane, then flattened out and finished third in a race won by the pacesetter. Solid effort by HOTROD RIDE, who can win if he can catch potential pacesetter POSEIDON’S KID. The latter stretches out for the first time, he gets a 10-pound weight break under an apprentice rider, and is likely to use his speed. Come and catch him? VANISKY finished second, in front of the top choice last out. He raced twice at this class level, in the money both times. HEAVEN’S MUSIC goes long for the first time and could influence the pace scenario.

NINTH RACE

This N2L starter allowance turf route is a good spot to take a shot at a price with FOR THE GOOD TIMES, who had a brutal trip finishing fifth last out in a similar race. He broke slowly, checked off heels, got into more traffic trouble on the far turn and actually finished fairly well for fifth. Reunited with the jockey who rode him to a maiden victory last spring, ‘TIMES can spring an upset with a clean trip. WITCH MOON, third in back-to-back turf miles, stretches out another furlong to a mile and one-eighth. The stretch-runner is among the field’s best closers. GHOSTEM is speed, with a speed rider, fresh off a front-running maiden win at this mile and one-eighth trip. Come catch him. Speed has done well in nine-furlong turf races with the rails at 30 feet this meet: 8 of 14 won by a horse positioned first or second early (including 4 wire to wire).