SIXTH RACE

ANATOLIAN HEAT can be forgiven for a comeback misfire one month ago; the race was moved from turf to “good” main track. He was never comfortable, and finished next to last. The gelding returns to preferred footing (turf) for this Cal-bred N1X; either of his autumn turf sprints would probably be fast enough. His trainer-jockey combo has been tough to beat this meet. Norberto Arroyo and Peter Miller entered the week 16 for 31. DAVID’S MEMORY “won” the race in which the top choice bombed, but was dq’ed for interference and placed second. His career-best effort was a maiden win on this downhill course two back. A lightly raced gelding (five starts), he should be positioned in front of the top choice at the dirt crossing. SENATOR ROBERT has been earning speed figures vs. low-level claiming company on dirt that suggest he fits in this Cal-bred allowance turf sprint. Claimed last out for $12.5k, he has a longshot look moving up in class. SIDEPOCKET CHAMP is a crazy bomber that could sneak into the trifecta; RECORD HIGHS is a first-time gelding, first start since May.

SEVENTH RACE

First-try-at-the-bottom-level is a useful guideline in $12.5k claiming N2L races such as this sprint. SID THE SQUID drops from starter allowance to race at the bottom for the first time; the two best races of her career were Santa Anita sprints on “fast.” The filly sports a spotty work pattern, but there is not much here to beat. ‘SQUID is the only entrant that has not already lost at this level. YAVRIG finished more than seven lengths clear of third last out at one level higher. It is uncertain if she can reproduce the effort considering she has been off more than two months, but her recent work pattern is good enough and she ran well last summer returning from a similar short break. SHARP HOLIDAY, third in both starts this meet at this level, is back where she fits after an okay fourth in a $25k claiming N2L sprint.

EIGHTH RACE

LINE was a well-backed sixth in her comeback three weeks ago, but she had an excuse. She stumbled badly at the break, she dropped farther off the pace than expected, tried to rally through traffic and missed by only three lengths. Not bad. The War Front filly runs back under similar conditions (MSW turf sprint) and deserves another chance. The post position closest to the inside has produced a fair share of downhill winners this meet, 6-for-34, which is a higher rate than random chance. Average field size turf sprints this meet is 8.6. RED SHELBY is a first-time starter from the productive jockey-trainer combo of Arroyo and Miller. Although debut winners on the hill are not a specialty from this stable, Miller’s current hot streak cannot be ignored. ‘SHELBY, sired by Greatness, is a sibling to G1 winner Egg Drop. SABURAI finished a creditable fourth in the same race the top choice exits; TANDA’S JOY is a second-time starter that was relatively well-backed in her debut, but she broke last from the rail and lost all chance. Improvement is likely.