ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, RYMSKA

FIRST RACE

PROUD HEROINE went too fast (:21.73 and :43.73) on the lead last out, and faded to third in a specialweight on dirt. The 2yo filly returns from a freshening of more than two months, removes blinkers and switches to turf. Assuming she rations her speed more efficiently in this downhill sprint, she can be gone. Her pedigree is fine for grass. SUMMER’S INDY is the late threat, going route to sprint and also switching to turf for the first time. Runner-up three sprints before splitting the field last out in a route, she will roll late for a productive trainer-jockey combo. Since November 2015, Phil D’Amato and jockey Kent Desormeaux are 6-for17 on turf. First-time starter SEATTLE DROP might have more speed than her pedigree suggests; SUTRO finished a creditable fifth in her debut and can improve; a similar comment applies to second-time starter HOPE WINS.

SECOND RACE

A pair of high-profile 2yo maidens are the top contenders in this special-weight route; they are last-start runners-up PEACE and RESTORING HOPE. The advantage this time goes to PEACE, largely because he has been a route of ground already and targeted this race since his most recent start five weeks ago. He finished more than eight lengths clear of third in that highly rated route. RESTORING HOPE wheels back less than two weeks following a solid debut around one turn. Outrun early, he uncorked an extended rally into the lane, finished with run and missed by a nose. Solid debut by a colt whose Las Vegas future-book odds for the 2018 Kentucky Derby recently took several hits, dropping from 125-1 to 100-1 to 75-1. REGULATE was hammered to oddson in his debut, but lacked speed, raced wide and merely ran around the track. He should improve with a race under his belt.

THIRD RACE

Front-runner PUNDY drops from $50k claiming to rock-bottom $12.5k non-winners of two. The speed of the race, the “best horse” in the field, he could be gone. Tough to grind out profit back- ing low-odds droppers, but there are only a few logical alternatives in this basement-level sprint. DEVILS INFORMER dueled on a strong pace and finished fourth in a creditable comeback last out. That was his first start in more than 16 months; he can improve second start back. DAD’S A GAMBLER ran the best race of his career last out, runner-up in his first try at this level. His could get a good trip in a race that might unfold perfectly for his closing style. INFORMALITY has run races that would be fast enough for this class.

FOURTH RACE

New York-based ELYSEA’S WORLD and PENJADE, both trained by Chad Brown, arrive in sharp form to face a modest field of locals in this G3 turf route. ELYSEA’S WORLD finished fourth, a halflength behind her stablemate last out at Aqueduct, but she was blocked much of the stretch and did not have a fair shot. The trouble was real. With a clean trip, she can turn the tables. PENJADE rallied outside in the clear, and was up late to win that stakes by a nose in course-record time (1:43.60). She won four of her last five starts, including three photo-finishes, and will roll late. RESPONSIBLEFORLOVE is the top local filly. She might want longer than this nine-furlong trip, but her current form is sharp. She finished second last out in a G3 marathon. Strange race due to a murky pace scenario. GLIDING BAY is not a front-runner, but she could fall into the lead in this otherwise paceless race. This is her first start in California for trainer Richard Baltas.

FIFTH RACE

MOON JUICE misfired two weeks ago at Los Alamitos, but his debut two starts back on this track stamps him the one to beat in a modest maiden30 sprint for 2yos. ‘JUICE has more speed than he showed last time, he is reunited with jockey Martin Pedroza, and looks like the one to catch based on his debut two months ago vs. tougher company. JOEJOE’S KINGDOM finished a creditable fourth last time while improving significantly

over his debut. The race ‘KINGDOM exits produced two next-out winners, and a next-out runner-up.

RIDGEFIELD ROCKET also improved second time out, runner-up vs. a similar field. SALSA KING drops to the bottom level (for 2yo maidens) for the first time. The sharp front-runner BEAUMARCHAIS seeks his fifth straight as he climbs the ladder into a firstlevel allowance route. He set a fast pace last out and dominated in front-running style, and should make the lead again here. Come catch him. SHEER FLATTERY, N1X runner-up in photo finishes two straight, is the best threat from off the pace. His five dirt routes produced a win, two seconds and two thirds. Lightly raced CALIFORNIA STREET put it all together his third start, a decisive maiden win by more than four lengths. He might have been flattered by the competition (none have run back), but he did it the right way. KRISTI’S COPILOT should be forwardly placed, and would probably get first run if the top choice falters.

SEVENTH RACE

As often is the case in California graded turf races, shippers hold the advantage in this G1 for 3yo fillies. The mile and one-quarter trip of the American Oaks is a challenging distance for RYMSKA, but she is unbeaten this year at shorter distances including a decisive score last out at Aqueduct. She unleashed a big late kick in that mile and a sixteenth stakes race, and won clear for her third straight victory. The race already produced a nextout winner (the only starter that ran back won her next start). RYMSKA has won 5 of 8, she is in the best form of her career. DADDYS LIL DARLING should relish the distance; she won a mile and fivesixteenth turf stakes in September at Kentucky Oaks followed by in-the-money finishes in G1 and G2 races in Kentucky. NEW MONEY HONEY, who defeated the top choice both times they met last year, will try to turn things around after successive off-the-board finishes. She won a G1 in summer at Belmont at this mile and a quarter trip; she also won the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita last year at age 2. Her current form is questionable, but she would not have shipped to California unless she was doing well.

EIGHTH RACE

The currently sharp AMERICANIZE can upset comeback G1 winner MASOCHISTIC in this G3 sprint. AMERICANIZE is in the career-best form; he won a highly rated stakes race at Del Mar in November, followed by a respectable fourth last out in the G1 Cigar Mile. The distance of that race was perhaps slightly farther than he prefers; he cuts back to six and a half furlongs and should get a good trip pressing the favorite drawn to his inside. That is MASOCHISTIC, who is making his first start since he was transferred to trainer Bob Baffert. The 7yo gelding is a three-time graded winner, runs well fresh, has worked fast and is 4-for-4 at this distance. This is his first start since May. SILENT BIRD was scratched from the Del Mar stakes won by the top choice; this will be the first start in four months for ‘BIRD. He is 4-for-5 at Santa Anita, another that runs well fresh, and he will from behind. If the top pair duel, the race could unfold perfectly for ‘BIRD. TOUGH SUNDAY adds speed to the field; he finished third in this race last year. SOLID WAGER won this race (dead heat) a year ago. He will roll late.

NINTH RACE

LEWIS VALE is the speed of the field in this competitive $25k claiming turf mile. He wired similar two starts back at Aqueduct, misfired last out in an off-turf race run on “sloppy,” nd and now returns to preferred footing as the controlling speed under apprentice rider Evin Roman. East Coast-based trainer David Jacobson has a California division this winter; LEWIS VALE would be Jacobson’s first turf winner at Santa Anita. COMES THE DREAM has been off more than a year, but trainer Mike Puype has a solid record with long-layoff comebackers. RYE PATCH misfired as the favorite last time against similar; his Del Mar win two back gives him a shot. ‘PATCH could get a nice trip positioned second behind the speed. Also-eligible BANZE NO OESTE might be ranked too low by this handicapper. He wins more than his share, and will roll late.