ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, PERFECTLY MAJESTIC

FIRST RACE

PERFECTLY MAJESTIC has faced better much of his career, running well even while winning only four of 33. But he ran well finishing third last time at this N2X/optional $62.5k claiming level, was claimed by a top stable and can mow them down late as most probable winner on an interesting 11-race card. CASHMAN took a shot in a G2 turf marathon in his U.S. debut, but tired. He drops in class for his second stateside chance, adds Lasix and shortens from a mile and three-eighths to one mile. Improvement likely. SAWYER’S HILL was re-claimed in June by his former trainer, for whom he won six races early in his career. His best races in February and last year are plenty good enough. KENCUMIN will roll late.

SECOND RACE

This maiden-20 sprint is the soft spot on the card. BIG BASE ships from Golden Gate and makes his first start on dirt after an okay third-place comeback. He looks best of a weak lot. PEACHY found one mile out of reach; he lost his punch and finished second as the even-money favorite. Back to a sprint, with numbers that put him in the hunt. EURASIA has some speed; VEILED HEAT is a 20-start maiden with 11 in-the-money finishes.

THIRD RACE

Second-time starter PERFECT DUDE is the one to catch. He pressed a fast pace and tired in his debut at Del Mar, but came back to work well and stays at virtually the same maiden-75 class level. That is a show of optimism by the connections of the homebred. If he breaks running from the rail, he might just wire the field. EMTECH has worked well; the homebred son of Concord Point is the first runner produced by graded stakes winner Awesome Baby. EASY SHOT drops from maiden special-weight; HAYDENS HAVOC, stablemate of the top choice, adds blinkers and drops in class second time out.

FOURTH RACE

Two-year-olds sprint five furlongs on turf. MAE NEVER NO, the only stakes winner and only filly, is fast, bred for grass, and from a stable that does well with 2yo turf sprinters. Trainer Wesley Ward is 9-for-27 the past five years in juvenile turf sprint stakes in North America. Stakes-placed HARTEL is a legit contender rallying from off the pace. Much improved since he was gelded and switched to turf, his maiden win two back in a turf sprint was visually impressive; one mile was out of reach last out. Back to a sprint, pace to run at, legit comefrom-behind threat. MIDNIGHT MYSTERY faded as the favorite in his debut, but he trained well sicne then and is bred for turf. Win or lose, he will keep the top choice honest.

FIFTH RACE

Grade 1 winners RANSOM THE MOON and ROY H met four times; each won twice. In a close call between the top male sprinters in California, the choice is RANSOM THE MOON. He has trained super since winning the Bing Crosby at Del Mar a second straight year; he worked a bullet half on this track early this week. He has had fewer races this season, by design, and enters autumn fresh and ready. If the pace comes up slow, that would be fine. ‘MOON has run well in both slow-pace races and fast-pace races. It’s a very close call between ‘MOON and ROY H. The latter may have needed the start last time when runner-up to the top choice at Del Mar; he finished a respectable third in spring in Dubai. Champion sprinter of 2017 when he won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, he appears to have worked well at San Luis Rey Downs, and should fire a top race. If he is as good as last year,

he could win. EDWARDS GOING LEFT did not have the greatest of trips running a mile last out. He shortens to a sprint, is a five-time winner on this track, and has run races that put him within striking distance of the top pair. HORSE GREEDY and DISTINCTIVE B are both in tough, but both have enough speed to keep things interesting.

SIXTH RACE

The downhill course favored speed opening week, and if the profile continues into the second week of autumn racing, the top three choices in this filly-mare allowance might be in trouble. All are closers including RUBILINDA. She won a pair of stakes last fall in New York; her California debut was scheduled for Aug. 26 but she scratched. She worked well before and since the scratch, she runs well fresh, and her best race is faster than the others. The challenge is her come-frombehind style. Same with MISS SOUTHERN MISS, a closer that won a stakes on this course (one mile) and an allowance turf sprint here in winter. FIZZY FRIDAY defeated easier on this course early this year, while front-runners PAINTING CORNERS and SYMPOSIUM have a big look if the course continues to favor speed. DEER VALLEY might be ranked too low; her runner-up finish last out at five furlongs was very good. She drew the inside post, but has enough speed to establish position and conceivably could tuck into a good trip positioned right behind the leading flight.

SEVENTH RACE

Lots of questions in this $10k claiming sprint that is filled with droppers. But no question regarding MONTEREY SHALE. He is merely returning to the level of his most recent win, while stretching out to the specialty distance of seven furlongs at which he is 2-for-2. EIGHTY THREE takes a severe drop, just two starts after a creditable runner-up finish vs. better. His spring-summer form includes two wins for $20k, which makes this drop curious. But no doubt he is good enough if he fires. BRADDOCK drops in class. He was a recent vet scratch at Los Alamitos. KETOS is quick enough to set the pace if he chooses. He is another dubious dropper, claimed for $20k and entered back for half that price. PAPA TURF has run races that put him in the hunt, while FREDDIES DREAM returns from a layoff while employing the no-claim wavier via CHRB rule 1634. That usually signals optimism. FREDDIES DREAM has a shot at a price.

EIGHTH RACE

In a deep field of N1X/optional claiming sprinters, the call is last-out $40k claiming winner BEST TWO MINUTES. He rallied to a highly rated (95 Beyer) victory, was claimed, and returns vs. a similar field. AWESOME ANYWHERE also was claimed last out, from a convincing $32k claiming win at Golden Gate Fields. A sharp horse with more speed than the top choice, ‘ANYWHERE made three starts at Santa Anita, two wins and a second. Comebacker MICRORITHMS makes his first start in 15 months, with a series of fast workouts while returning as a first-time gelding. He might be the speed of the field. SOLID WAGER ran well two weeks ago at Los Alamitos, but a mile around two turns was a little too far. He cuts back to his preferred one-turn trip, and figures as a legit contender assuming his gets pace to flatter his closing rally.

NINTH RACE

Close call between SHARP SAMURAI and FLY TO MARS in this G2 turf mile. They finished third and second last out before ‘MARS was disqualified and placed third for interference. SHARP SAMURAI steadied and lost momentum when his rival drifted out, then he tried nd to re-rally. It was actually a good effort. That race was at Del Mar; ‘SAMURAI has won 4 of 5 on the Santa Anita turf. Back home, training well, he gets the call. But multi-race wagers must also include FLY TO MARS, whose game has improved since he stretched to two turns. He may have outfinished the top choice last out no matter what. ‘MARS is reunited with Flavien Prat, who rode him to a pair of decisive wins in June and July. The top pair are drawn outside, both have enough tactical speed to overcome the draw. WHITE FLAG ships from the East Coast to take on a relatively modest bunch of California locals. Not sure about two turns for WHITE FLAG, but his recent form is sharp. He qualifies on the “new face” angle. OHIO smoked home in :22.75 to win first off the claim by new connections. Up from $28-32k claiming to G2 seems ambitious, but sharp horses moving up in class are always dangerous at a price.

TENTH RACE

This N2L claiming sprint is tricky; many candidates. The horse to beat is PSYCHEDELICAT, dropping to the lowest level (winners) for the first time, first start since being gelded. His January maiden victory on this track was highly rated, his August comeback was not good. But he has worked well since returning to Santa Anita; he has speed for a pressing/stalking trip. PACIFIC SONG was overmatched vs. starter allowance route types in his first start against winners, following a relatively fast maiden-claiming sprint win. ‘SONG cuts back to a sprint, drops to the bottom, and fits based on his maiden win. He could slip through the cracks and start at a price, as could DOWNSIDE UP. The latter has earned consis- tent speed figures (high-60s, low-70s Beyers) good enough for this level. He breaks from the rail, and if he stays inside and saves ground without getting stopped, he could hit the board at a price. ROYAL SEEKER is the ultimate “lightbulb play.” It took him 26 starts to finally win a maiden race last out, these types occasionally come right back and win again at the N2L level. ZAPANA’S GAME finished second at this level last out, and is fast enough on numbers. STREET ZOMBIE is another last-out maiden winner realistically spotted. This low-level race is actually interesting. Lots of value.

ELEVENTH RACE

Runner-up twice in fast turf miles, COLONIAL CREED figures as a deserving favorite in this turf sprint for maiden 2yo fillies. She chased fast fractions and finished well both starts at Del Mar; the cutback to six and a half on the hill should be perfect. She has enough speed to be forwardly placed. DISCREET DIVA looms an upset candidate, second time out. She was flashing speed in morning works prior to her debut, but she hopped when the gates opened, was last away, and lost all chance. She actually ran well. She parlayed a ground-saving trip to rally to finish third. And, she galloped out with run past the wire. Assuming she breaks well second time out and produces speed, ‘DIVA should be forwardly placed and in position to possibly upset. Also-eligible TRUE VALIDITY misfired last out, but was freshened thereafter and figures as a contender based on third-place finishes in fast dirt races her first two starts. COURTEOUS also has been freshened two months, and is training as if she will improve on her summer form.