ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, BOWIE

FIRST RACE

PARTICLEACELERATOR should be loose on the lead in this turf sprint; if he rations his speed more efficiently he can wire the field. Last out, racing for the first time in nearly six months, he opened up on a kamikaze pace, led to the eighth pole, and faded to fifth. That was an open $25k claiming race; he might be facing easier in this $40k claiming race, non-winners of two. Long gone? If he fades, closers SWINGING STAR and AWESOME HEIGHTS have a shot. It’s a close call between them. Both won maiden races on this downhill course, both earned speed figures appropriate for this level, and both will roll late. ROYAL OPERA HOUSE has been something of an underachiever since arriving from England, but this is his first start on the hill. Late rally at high odds.

SECOND RACE

ALTERNATE RHYTHM is among the most probable winners on the Sunday card, based on his third-place finish last out in a similar maiden-50 sprint. He showed improved speed with blinkers on, dueled all the way to deep stretch, and missed by only a length and a half. That race already produced at least two next-out winners. With a front-running or pace-pressing trip, ‘RHYTHM looks tough to beat at a short price. EL ASESINO showed signs of returning to form last out when he dueled and tired in a special-weight restricted to home-breds and horses purchased at auction for $100k or less. Based on speed figures, his two best efforts were on dirt. Back on dirt this time, dropping in class, EL ASESINO is a secondary contender. IMAGINEIAMFASTEST was claimed for $30k from an okay debut. Blinkers on, he has speed, and will keep the pace honest.

THIRD RACE

Wheeled back in 15 days, dropping from Grade 2 to Cal-bred stakes and going route to sprint, MAJESTIC HEAT gets the call. The pattern produced a stakes win last summer at Del Mar when she wheeled back in eight days with a similar class/ distance switch. That was arguably the best race of her career. The class of the field can sit, wait and rally late for the win. However, she will have to catch MISS SUNSET. The latter is a G2-winning speedster whose most recent start was creditable. She set the pace and finished third in a Cal-bred turf sprint stakes. Back on dirt (5-for-8 on “fast”), MISS SUNSET is the one they all have to catch. BAD JU JU ran poorly last out, but was claimed and returns in a small-field stakes race. Her races last summer and fall put her squarely in the hunt. Her recent works since the claim suggest she might return to form.

FOURTH RACE

The N1X win last out by BOWIE, a five-length fastpace romp in her first try on this downhill course, establishes her as the one to catch moving up in class to N2X. She set a fast pace last time, and widened through the lane. The front-runner is quick enough to make the lead again, and if she runs two alike can be gone. She has found her niche as a turf sprinter. INSTANT REFLEX, a habitual slow starter, drops from a fifth-place finish in a G3. She has broken slowly three of her six starts, yet somehow managed to win twice. Her figures are decent; her pressing style should lead to a good trip within striking range of the top choice. SPIN ME A KISS finished fifth as the favorite last time in a similar N2X, but maybe her effort was okay considering the “race shape.” She dueled and tired; the one-two finishers rallied from the back. If ‘KISS can ration her speed this time, she could get the two-hole trip behind the top choice. BLAME IT ON ALPHIE will roll late.

FIFTH RACE

First-time starter UPO debuts with a string of solid workouts, while facing an apparently modest field. The gelding’s sire Archarcharch gets 10 percent debut winners (slightly below average); his dam is a sibling to G1 winner Weemissfrankie. Peter Miller trains the top choice; trainer Jerry Hollendorfer entered two including first-time gelding

GRAYCASTER, whose last-out 73 Beyer tops the field. This is his first start in more than three months. His stablemate FACTS MATTER finished fourth of 10 in his debut last summer. He has a pair of sharp recent five-furlong works and could come back firing. Only five entered this five and a half-furlong dash.

SIXTH RACE

HERUNBRIDLEDPOWER faces a challenging pace scenario due to the front-runner three stalls to her inside. Nonetheless, the veteran mare is the one to beat in this $8k claiming sprint that is her first start in more than four months. She runs well fresh, her figures are appropriate for the level, and if she can avoid going head and head with her pace rival, she can win with a front-running/pacepressing trip. Six furlongs is a reach, however. She seems to prefer five and a half. Steep dropper FRUITY nosedives from $20k for her third start back from a one-year layoff. Trainer Mark Glatt has a good record with horses dropping in claim price by 50 percent or more. He won with 3 of his last 5 such droppers; and 7 of his last 17. SWEETWATER GAL ships in from Golden Gate, where she defeated a next-out winner in her last start. POMP AND PARTY is the aforementioned front-runner that will keep the top choice honest on the front end.

SEVENTH RACE

This N1X turf sprint for 3yos is a good spot to take a shot with route-to-sprint MAGIC MUSKETIER. He has been losing his punch in the stretch around two turns, which suggests he might be more effective in a sprint. He has earned decent figures facing better, and might be able to sit, wait and rally late for the upset. MASKED pressed a soft pace and kicked away to defeat maidens two weeks ago. Although unlikely the lightly raced (two starts) colt would get another soft trip, the truth is this race is not exactly loaded with speed. MASKED will be forwardly placed; he could start favored off his solid last-out figure (80 Beyer). CONO drops from a stakes race in which he finished fifth of 12. Four of his last five starts were stakes; he finished a creditable third the last time he faced allowance company in a a five-furlong turf sprint at Del Mar. Six and a half benefits his closing style. CANNONBALL COMIN showed high speed last time. If he reproduces that gas, he will keep MASKED honest.

EIGHTH RACE

Lots of ways to go in this $40k claiming route six-pack. IKE WALKER is a 10-win veteran dropping from a pair of graded stakes. His N2X win in November at Del Mar would be fast enough. JUST

KIDDING moves up a notch after finishing third for $32k. His previous starts were faster than his latest. David Jacobson is 1-for-13 first off the claim this winter at Santa Anita. CLEAR THE MINE stretches out as a potential pacesetter; STORMIN MONARCHO drops from N2X.

NINTH RACE

STRADELLA ROAD ran super last out, third after setting a blazing pace to deep stretch. That was just the second start of her career, she might be facing less speed in this maiden turf sprint, and she could be gone out front. ROCKIN READY flew late to miss by a nose in a promising debut while finishing three lengths in front of the top choice. ‘READY is the best late threat. Also-eligible SENSIBLE MYTH missed by a nose in a Dec. 26 maiden race that turned out to be one of the most productive of the meet. The race produced four next-out winners. Obvious contender if she draws in. TRAVIEZA finished second last out in her first try on the hill.