SANTA ANITA ‘Annie’ steps up on short rest

Based on “what have you done for me lately,” Smiling Annie should be untouchable Friday at Santa Anita. The veteran mare has done a lot lately, as in just six days ago.

Less than a week after she clobbered an easy field in a starter allowance, Smiling Annie wheels back and moves up in class for the Friday feature, a turf sprint for California-bred fillies and mares. The timing is not ideal, but trainer Mark Glatt’s logic is sound.

“If you’re going to try a horse on a quick run-back, which I don’t typically do, the biggest key is evaluating how hard the race was on them,” Glatt said. His description of her frontrunning win Saturday: “As easy as it gets.”

Smiling Annie sped to the lead in the turf sprint, opened up on the turn, got a half-mile in a tepid 45.89 seconds, and cruised by 3 1/2 lengths under Abel Cedillo.

Glatt and owner-breeders Al and Sandee Kirkwood had two options with Smiling Annie afterward – wheel her back in six days, or wait six weeks for the next California-bred turf sprint on July 26 at Del Mar. They chose to be aggressive, pending Smiling Annie’s condition. Early this week she was eating well, on her toes, and considered a “go” for Friday.

“We can always [scratch] if, over the next couple days, we don’t think she’s bounced back in time,” Glatt said midweek. “But as easy of a race as it appeared to be, we decided to put her in there and see how she’s doing.”

In addition to sharp form, Smiling Annie benefits from a versatile upfront style and modest rivals in the race-7 feature. Harper’s Gallop won a fast-pace claiming turf mile last out; lightly raced Noor Khan won an ordinary maiden dirt race and can improve; trouble-prone Donut Girl will rally; also-eligible Loud Loud Music would add speed.

Glatt has been rolling since racing resumed last month – 13 wins and 11 seconds from 40 starters. The totals could increase Friday. Smiling Annie is among Glatt entrants in five of the nine races, including legit contenders in a maiden turf mile split in two divisions.

Eastern Ocean finished a troubled second last out and is among the favorites in race 1; Go Slo Mo finished a better-thanlooked fifth in his career debut and enters with a legitimate upset chance in race 3.

Meanwhile, the most probable winner Friday is in the ninth and final race. On Mars, runner-up last out after breaking in a tangle, figures solidly favored in the turf mile for California-bred maiden fillies and mares. Her most recent start was her first around two turns.

“She came out of the race in really good shape, [two turns] is what she wants to do,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “My other filly [Too Hot for Curlin] was running pretty strongly, too. I’ve got two nice shots.”