ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, CUT

FIRST RACE

KRISTI’S COPILOT, the only multiple winner in this Cal-bred allowance, finished more than five lengths clear of third last out while earning a career-high 90 Beyer first off the claim by Ian Kruljac. ‘COPILOT stretches from seven furlongs to a mile; he has won going two turns. MY ITALIAN BABBO misfired last time without a visible alibi, but his maiden win two back makes him a contender. The lightly raced gelding adds blinkers and tries a rider change to Corey Nakatani. Last-out maiden winner Q. T.’S TRIBUTE will be forwardly placed; that is a favorable running style this meet at a mile on dirt. SIX POINT RACK was in tough in the Cal Cup, back with allowance runners here while facing older. AT EASE has not started since last February, more than a year ago.

SECOND RACE

STREET TO INDY improved a ton second start back, runner-up vs. special-weight maidens while finishing more than seven clear of third. He drops to maiden-75, and switches to turf. Street Sense progeny are fine on grass. Third start back, third since being gelded, STREET TO INDY is the one to beat. CONQUEROR, $50k purchase from a dispersal sale last summer, makes his first California start and first since being gelded. He showed promise finishing second in June at Woodbine; the switch to turf adds uncertainty. He scrtached from an offturf race Feb. 26, so this is the surface his new connections prefer. SMUGGLER UNION pressed blazing fractions and weakened in his comeback. Second start back, outside post, versatile running style, should get a good trip.

THIRD RACE

LOB CITY, vet scratch Feb. 12, returns from two months off and drops from a tougher $16k claiming starter allowance sprint into a $12.5k claiming starter route. Her autumn form, including a runaway N2L claiming win in October, stamps her the one to beat from just off the pace. IPRAY disappointed last out, but her runaway win two back for an $8k claim tag makes her a legitimate contender from the back. Perhaps she was too close to the pace last time; her best races have been rallying from behind. That is the likely trip this time, first off the claim by Jerry Hollendorfer. MIZ GRAYCEE dusted $12.5k claiming fillies and mares last time out, and was claimed by owner-trainer Mick Ruis. The gray is 3-for-6 at Santa Anita. BACK BEAUTY is the speed of the field, stretching out after a fast-pace front-running sprint win. This is the first route of her career; she will take them as far as she can.

FOURTH RACE

First-time starter BATIQUITOS posted a series of fast works for an outfit that does not normally work them fast. But trainer Bill Spawr has won with two of his last three special-weight firsttimers (Boy Howdy, Matriculate); this filly’s works suggest she is quick enough to overcome the rail. Although progeny of sire Dixie Chatter have won just 7 percent first out, this Cal-bred maiden field looks like the right spot to fire first out. BATIQUITOS is the first foal produced by Warren’s Got Game, a debut winner at 80-1 on June 9, 2010 at Hollywood Park. First-time starter CANDY RULER, by Twirling Candy, is the first foal from stakes winner Miles Rules, a 15-1 debut winner on July 17, 2010 at Hollywood. CANDY RULER has apparently decent works, although Mark Glatt trainees generally race their way into shape rather than fire first out. RIGHT TO THE POINT finished third in her debut, and is likely to improve. RADISH, an eight-start maiden, returns to her what seems her preferred surface, dirt. She finished in the money 5 of 6 on dirt.

FIFTH RACE

CUT enters this maiden-75 turf sprint as the most probable winner on the card. This is his first time for a claim tag; his fifth-place finish last out on the downhill course vs. special-weight maidens was possibly better than it looks. The “race shape” was against CUT, who pressed the pace to deep stretch before being swallowed in a race dominated by closers. He only missed by two lengths; the two-three finishers returned to win. Freshened, slight drop, proven form on the hill, logical choice. SAHARA STORM ran twice last summer at Saratoga, tiring both routes. He ran like a colt that

might prefer to sprint, and he gets that chance first start since August, first in California, and dropping in for a tag. SOUTHERN KEYS set a fast pace and finished midfield last out in possibly the best effort of his career. First-time turf not necessarily a plus, but a pace factor nonetheless.

SIXTH RACE

Dubious class dropper I’MALREADYTHERE and up-in-class FIGHT THRU are the principals in this $16k claiming N3L route. I’MALREADYTHERE rolled past $25k claiming N2L foes here three starts back (albeit on “good”), then was unplaced in a couple tough spots afterward. Down in class, perhaps the biggest challenge is a shortage of pace to flatter his closing rally. FIGHT THRU won by “only” a half-length last out vs. $12.5k claiming N2L foes. However, the win was better than it looks on paper. The gelding was three- and fourwide start to finish, lost considerable ground at every stage of the race, yet still won. Sharp win by a sharp horse who is threat right back moving up in class. GUNSLINGER finished last in his comeback, but he lost by only five+ lengths in the highly rated race. He has enough speed to be forwardly placed, perhaps on the lead, in a race otherwise short on pace.

SEVENTH RACE

The respectable third-place U.S. debut by LITTLE VOICE, racing five furlongs in November at Del Mar, was sufficiently promising to make her the choice in this N1X turf sprint at six and a half. LITTLE VOICE raced behind and between runners, finished evenly and was closing ground late. Off nearly four months, she benefits from the longer distance. Her form in Europe was decent enough to consider her a contender in this first-level allowance. PLASTERED, claimed four months ago from her fifth win in 10 starts, returns from the layoff while shortening to a sprint distance at which she is mostly unproven. She won a $15k maidenclaiming sprint early in her career, she handles turf and makes her first start since being claimed for $40k. The trouble-prone LONGSTOCKING has run well in similar spots on the hill; she will be rolling late. BETTY DRAPER hit the board all four starts in Europe. She gets Lasix for her U.S. debut.

EIGHTH RACE

Runner-up vs. special-weight foes last out on synthetic, MOONMAN returns to Southern California as the choice to win this maiden-30 route. The challenge is footing; his two previous starts on dirt were the slowest of his five-start career. One more chance. DOWNSIDE UP, a 10-start maiden with six in-the-money finishes, stretches back to a mile after an okay third at six furlongs. MENACE

THE DENNIS drops from special-weight, first time entered for a tag. THIS’S HOW WE ROLL goes long off a decent third-place sprint. His pedigree okays the extra distance.