ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 9, AMUSE

FIRST RACE

FLIP THE COIN JAN returns to the downhill course on which he is 2-for-3 including an allowance win against older. Now he shows up first off the claim in a $50k claiming race restricted to 3yos. The front-runner gets the call to wire the field. If he falters, then stretch-running horse-for-course MOVE OVER could be along in time. His three starts on the hill produced one win, two seconds. From the back of the pack, he will fly late. RAVEN CREEK returns from a two-month freshening. He also has run well on the hill and has enough speed to keep the top choice on his sights. KRIS’ WILD CAT, maiden-50 winner on this layout in fall, has speed and could get a cozy trip positioned right behind the top choice.

SECOND RACE

Six entered this $20k claiming sprint for 2yo fillies; SECRET MANEUVER drops from allowance to run for a tag. She can sit, wait and rally late for the win. PORTAL CREEK returns from a short freshening; she dusted maiden-claiming foes by five lengths her only start on this track. TIME FOR SUZZIE has faced better; AT THE MARGIN figures off her maiden win two back.

THIRD RACE

CONQUEST FLATTERME has not had the best of trips lately, wide or pinned inside in a duel. Her recent races were against allowance company, she drops back to the claiming ranks for this and gets a cozy post (6 of 7). Her last three claiming races on this track were wins. STURDY ONE misfired twice in Arizona; her springtime form on this racetrack makes her a contender. The last time she ran here for this $25k claim tag, she won by more than four. RED SHELBY is a dropper with speed, and a lightweight apprentice. Come and catch her.

FOURTH RACE

Since moving from dirt to turf, COURTEOUS posted two big efforts. She wired maiden sprinters on the hill two back, then set strong fractions before finishing second last out in a G3. The juvenile filly is gradually learning how to run, and if she can ration her speed while avoiding a duel with the stretch-out sprinter in post 3, she can win this turf mile. She must hold off the rally of LADY PRANCEALOT. The latter ran super her first two U.S. starts. She rallied from far back to finish second; both races were won by the pacesetter. Freshened since finishing last in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf run over a yielding bog, ‘PRANCEALOT switches to Joel Rosario and will fly late. GIZA GODDESS also enters with an improving pattern that coincides with a switch to turf. She was strong to the wire last out winning a maiden race by more than five lengths. Class test forthcoming. DATA STORM KITTY is the aforementioned post-3 sprinter, stretching out for the first time and likely to set the pace. She will take them as far as she can. COLONIAL CREED might be ranked too low by this handicapper; her maiden races including a last-out win compare well to these.

FIFTH RACE

Looks like enough pace to set up the closing rally of GAIN GROUND as he drops from N1X to $16k claiming N3L. SUPER DUPER COOPER stretches back to two turns, drops in class and could get a good trip positioned right behind the speed. IMPRESSION is a front-runner facing easier, but he will have company up front from ELWOOD J and PSYCHEDELICAT.

SIXTH RACE

A promising field of 2yo maiden fillies sprint six furlongs; first-time starter ANUKET looks

ready to fire for trainer Bob Baffert. A daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, she capped her work pattern last week by working in company with G3 winner/G1 runner-up colt Mucho Gusto. All systems go for the filly. First-time starter MISS

AVA’S UNION might be quick. She worked a bullet five furlongs from the gate early this month; in both subsequent works Dec. 9 and 15, she was under a hold by her exercise rider (works viewed on XTBV.com). The daughter of Union Rags should come out running. CHERISHED was well-regarded into her Aug. 18 debut at Del Mar, but misfired and finished last. Have to believe the Congrats filly is better than she showed in that race. Now four months later, she returns to action and should start at a hint of a price. BLUE MOONRISE is a stablemate of the top choice; FREE BELIEVE debuts with a solid work pattern; EMRATA showed speed and tired in her debut. She adds heat. Looks like a good field. The bottom class level for maidens was lowered to $16k claiming. This is the first such Santa Anita maiden-16. SERVE ME A DOUBLE ran the best race of his eight-start career his only previous sprint on this track. Third last out after a troubled takeoff, he may only need to clean break to handle this mishmash cast. EMOTIONAL RIDE was overmatched last out in a Cal-bred maiden-50; his fifth-place debut two back in a similar field puts him in the hunt. He did produce more speed last out. ON THE RIGHT returns from a layoff of more than a year for a trainer that has won with 9 of his last 21 maiden-claiming comebackers off six months or more. BARLETT HALL will pick them up late; CAPTAIN N. BARRON missed by a head last out, albeit at Los Alamitos.

EIGHTH RACE

California-bred stakes winner CORDIALITY, a 9-for-24 pro that has surpassed this N2X allowance condition, returns from a brief layoff while entered for the optional $62.5k claim tag. The “class” of the field, with tactical speed for a pressing trip, her best race is simply better than the others. Since she was claimed for $32k in summer 2016, she has won five races and more than $343k. The class drop is acceptable for the “best horse” in this turf mile. ENGLISH DANCER ran well in her California debut, finishing third after making an early move and opening up in midstretch. It was a good effort by the 5-for-17 filly, who gets a rider rider switch to Flavien Prat and figures for a pressing trip similar to the top choice. PULPIT RIDER will fly late. She missed by a half-length last time vs. similar. ONE FAST BROAD is better than her most recent starts suggests, while CHEEKABOO will launch her rally from the back of the pack.

NINTH RACE

AMUSE is likely to start at a short price based on a highly rated maiden win two back and laststart allowance runner-up in which she was undoubtedly best. She broke poorly, took up and found herself dead last, unleashed an extended rally through the turn, and missed by only three lengths. Super effort by the lightly raced filly. She worked well since raced, won her only start at Santa Anita by more than five, and only needs a clean takeoff. The knock is price; her odds are likely to be low. DULCE RIDE finished second both recent dirt sprints including a runner-up try at Keeneland in which she lost by a head to a next-out winner. Freshened two months, new rider and new trainer, with speed to set or press from the outside, nd she is a legit contender. OOZLE did not break well and basically just ran around the track in her comeback. That was her first start in more than five months; she should move forward second start back. SPEND SPEND SPEND faces winners after a dominating maiden win. UPPERCUT returns from a layoff with a history of firing fresh. She might be ranked too low by this handicapper.

TENTH RACE

The only Cal-bred in this maiden special-weight turf sprint, APACHE PRINCESS shortens back to a sprint after a sharp runner-up route in which she finished more than four lengths clear of third. She has more speed than she showed last time, and might win this downhill dash with a pressing trip. UNICORN makes her debut for a trainer that usually races his maidens into shape rather than firing first time out. On the other hand, Richard Baltas’ two most-recent first-time starters on the hill ran well (Bob and Jackie finished second Oct. 20; Velvet Queen won Oct. 19). Recent workouts by UNICORN are okay, and this field might does not appear particularly strong. It might be a good spot for a new face. GALLANTLY STREAMING finished a respectable fourth both sprints, running evenly through the lane. Seems like she might want a longer trip. The early “trouble” she encountered last time was not severe. Still respect her from off the pace. HARMLESS should be forwardly placed, second time out. POSTI has speed, firsttime turf.