ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, RED KING

FIRST RACE

Twilight racing, first post 4 p.m. NOTHINS FREE dueled and faded in her career debut last month. The 2yo filly drops from maiden special-weight to maiden-80 and might be the speed of the field. Expect an improved effort second out, facing easier. STREETWITHNONAME has a running line similar to the top choice. ‘NAME pressed the a strong pace and tired in her MSW debut; the winner (Diamondsandpearls) is a $1.7 million filly expected to be among the favorites Saturday in the G2 Sorrento Stakes. Expect an improved effort also from ‘NAME, second out, facing easier. CUTE KNOWS CUTE exits the most productive 2y of maiden race of the season in Southern California. The June 23 race at Santa Anita produced four next-out winners; winner Spectator is expected to be among the favorites Saturday in the Sorrento. ‘CUTE showed only brief speed inside before she backed out; she can improve with a race under her belt. First-time starter OMERTA appears to have worked well for her debut.

SECOND RACE

Claimed from a fast-pace N1X/optional $40k sprint in which he finished a respectable fourth, SUPREME VENTURE can take advantage of this starter allowance condition and drop in class off the sharp comeback. ‘VENTURE was claimed by Peter Miller, worked fast since raced, and MAY only need a clean start. That is no guarantee. He had trouble at the break all three starts. STREET VISION finished second last out in a highly rated $40k claiming sprint that produced three next out winners (first-, third- and fifth-place finishers returned to win). He has speed to apply pressure from the outside post. SIR SAMSON returns to dirt after a runner-up finish in a turf sprint under similar conditions. QUALITY LINE goes route to sprint and will be rolling late.

THIRD RACE

The pick six begins with the feature race, a $75k turf sprint for fillies and mares in which horse-for-course DESERT STEEL is one to beat. She is 3-for-6 in DMR turf sprints, and returning to her preferred layout after a sharp comeback win in a turf sprint at Santa Anita. The third-place finisher Belvoir Bay was scheduled to start favored Wednesday in race 5; two others in this field finished behind ‘STEEL last out. Those are LONG HOT SUMMER and WATCH THIS CAT. The fourth-place comeback by LONG HOT SUMMER was decent; she was racing for the first time in more than six months. She should improve second start back, and will roll late. WATCH THIS CAT is speed. This is the first time she has sprinted on this course, and the first time she raced a distance shorter than six furlongs. At five furlongs, she has a shot to wire the field. BAD JU JU will roll late; WOODACOULDADID adds speed; ANITA PARTNER will finish. If the favorite does not win, anything goes.

FOURTH RACE

GOODLOOKNBROAD ran well in her debut, although she lost by more than seven lengths as the favorite. But the 2yo filly was carried at least six-wide into the lane, while racing only five furlongs. She was last early, and rallied past every rival except the winner. That was Family Girl, who was scheduled to start as a contender Wednesday in the CTBA Stakes. GOODLOOKNBROAD adds blinkers, “stretches out” to six furlongs, and should improve second time out. ONE FAST BROAD, the only first-time starter in the field, makes her debut for a trainer that pops with an occasional longshot first-time starter. A sibling to three-time stakes winner Awesome Return, ONE FAST BROAD figures as a contender in this maiden race for Calbred 2yo fillies. SMILING TIGRESS ran well in her debut, but then disappointed second time out. She did not break well, got in behind runners and appeared uncomfortable, and misfired. She moves to the outside post, in the clear, takes off blinkers and tries a rider switch.

FIFTH RACE

RED KING makes his California debut for streaking trainer Vladimir Cerin, 4-for-11 the first two weeks of the meet. RED KING faced better at Gulfstream Park and Churchill Downs early this year; he is

eligible to this starter allowance because he ran for a $25k claim tag in March. His form is similar to Feline Forum, a comeback shipper that won a 2012 starter allowance turf route for Cerin, first start in California and first following a layoff. Not much here to beat, really. ELEGANT STREET has been stuck at this starter level since early this year; he faced legit allowance foes his last two starts and fits on the drop. The come-from-behind

FISHEL, who tried this class level seven times, was claimed for $25k and makes his first start since. BEAUMARCHAIS will be among the pacesetters as he drops in class and stretches back to two tursn following an okay dirt-sprint comeback last month.

SIXTH RACE

FIRST RESPONDER returns from a one-year layoff in a maiden-40 sprint, with a string of solid works for a trainer that does well with this type at Del Mar. The past five years, Ron Ellis is 9-for-26 in maiden-claiming races at Del Mar. First start for a tag; all systems are go. UPPERCLASSMAN flashed speed both recent starts, albeit on grass. The gelding might be quicker than the top choice, he is drawn outside that one, and has a hot stable in his corner. INVASION LOOMING drops to the maiden40 level for the first time; his speed figures are higher than top pair, and he does have speed. BUCKY GOLDSTEIN ran the best race of his career the only time he tried this class level, runner-up in his debut in March. He tailed off thereafter, but returns from a short layoff and goes for a new trainer. Expect him to fire first start back.

SEVENTH RACE

KLONDIKE CREEK adds blinkers after four consecutive in-the-money finishes as this N1X turf route level. He lost three in a row as the favorite, and is likely to be favored again. He also could get a good trip positioned second or third behind the speed.

CONQUEST SUPERSTAR was purchased last fall at a dispersal sale for $185k; the lightly raced (two starts) son of Uncle Mo makes his first start since May 2016 with a solid work pattern and a history of firing fresh. He won his career debut early last year; this is only the third start of his career. DONJI is a claiming-caliber four-time winner that will roll late; BUCKYS PICK stretches out as the potential pacesetter. Come and catch him.

EIGHTH RACE

Although first-time starters at the rock-bottom maiden-20 level tend to be low-percent plays, perhaps TEAM ASTROLOGY is the exception. Her rivals are suspect, and her trainer wins with debut runners. NORWEGIAN SPY drops from special-weight to the bottom, while switching to the hot apprentice rider Evin Roman. MOONLITE

MADNESS, produced by the multiple graded stakes winning sprinter Sweet August Moon, finished an okay fourth in her debut but suddenly drops to the basement for only her second start. Not a great pattern. SWEET MISS DERBY has speed, as does STORMY COUNTESS. This is a tough race to end the Friday evening card.