ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 11, VIAZAR

FIRST RACE

TWIRLING THE GOLD drops to maiden-50 with speed to make the lead in this turf sprint. She might be better than her first three starts indicate. Her debut was only a prep, she was burned up on a hot pace second time out, third out she simply faded and was not persevered with late. Freshened since, plenty of gas, Tyler Baze aboard, come and catch her. GREGDAR, runner-up last fall in her only start, returns from the layoff with a sharp work pattern. She is entered with the “no-claim” waiver, which typically signals optimism. Turf should be fine for GREGDAR, whose dam won on turf and whose first two runners both won on turf. SPANISH COUNT goes route-to-sprint and adds blinkers. Improvement is possible.

SECOND RACE

Runner-up in her debut behind brilliantly fast next-out G1 winner Princess Noor, FLASH MAGIC is the one to beat. The well-bred filly was sired by Pioneerof the Nile and is a sibling to 2017 BC Juvenile/2018 Haskell winner Good Magic. Blinkers on. This is a sprint; she seems like a filly that eventually will run long. PARK AVENUE raced evenly trying to keep up with a blazing pace in her sixthplace debut. The splits should be softer here. HEELS UP removes blinkers after an okay runnerup debut. The filly she lost to, Varda, entered the G2 Chandelier Stakes on Saturday.

THIRD RACE

WILSHIRE DUDE made a premature move into a fast pace last time, and paid the price in the stretch when was blown away. He held second. ‘DUDE was claimed for $16k by Steve Knapp, who is 3-for-5 this year first start off the claim in dirt routes. With a switch to top rider Abel Cedillo, ‘DUDE can win with a pressing trip. However, back-class veteran EL HUERFANO also figures as a contender. He finished three-quarters of a length behind the top choice in early August, was claimed for $12.5k and double jumps for his new outfit. He has tactical speed for a pressing trip just off the lead. CONQUEST COBRA is an eight-time winner returning to preferred dirt footing; CAMINO DE ESTRELLA will roll from the back of the pack.

FOURTH RACE

It is tough to envision front-runner FIGHTING MAD getting beat, unless she is hounded into submission by the pace rival on her outside. The thing is, FIGHTING MAD can dish out heat and keep running, which she did both graded stakes this year. She wired a G2 here in May, and employed the same style in a G1 at Del Mar in August. Fast works indicate she remains in peak form; they’ll have to catch her to beat her. Lightly raced 3-yearold HARVEST MOON improved each successive start including a sharp G3 vs. her age group last out. She could get a cozy trip positioned just off the speed in her first against older stakes rivals, although she might ship to Pimlico for the G2 Black-Eyed Susan next weekend. PROUD EMMA is the aforementioned pace rival drawn directly outside the favorite. ‘EMMA pressed a fast pace and won a stakes race last out at Del Mar; the filly she dead-heated with (Message) was scheduled to start in a G3 sprint on Friday at Santa Anita. ‘EMMA could be the thorn in the side of FIGHTING MAD. As for HARD NOT TO LOVE, she seems best as a closing sprinter. This is a route. The same applies to allowance-caliber HANG A STAR.

FIFTH RACE

A flashy $25k claiming win last out by THREE AY EM gives him a license to upset the “best horse” FLY TO MARS, who drops in class second start back. THREE AY EM won by more than three lengths last out at Del Mar and was claimed. His

three starts on Santa Anita turf produced two wins and a third. Sharp colt can win right back in this N1X/optional claiming race, unless ON MARS returns to form. ‘MARS was an elite turf miler two years ago, Cal-bred stakes winner and runner-up in a pair of Grade 2’s. But he was injured and sidelined nearly two years, therefore his current ability is uncertain. He could improve second start back; his 2018 form would crush. KNEEDEEPINSNOW, a fast dirt sprinter, ran okay last out finishing third in his first on turf and first around two turns. The winner of the race, Salvator Mundi, was scheduled to start as a contender Saturday in a Grade 2 on turf. NEW YEAR drops in class.

SIXTH RACE

Looks like enough speed in this N1X sprint to up the rally of APPRECIATED, a closer who might offer wagering value against sharp front-running maiden winner CEM SULTAN and second-startback speedster DEVIL MADE ME DOIT. The highly rated (90 Beyer) Cal-bred victory by APPRECIATED two back would be fast enough for this group. He looked good working five furlongs in company last weekend, and gets the call to score an off-the-pace upset. CEM SULTAN improved second out when he switched to dirt and scored a front-running maiden win. He is a threat right back against winners, though he will be hounded by fellow speedster DEVIL MADE ME DOIT. The latter ran like a horse that needed a start in his comeback at Del Mar. That was on turf; his debut win on the Santa Anita main track in December was outstanding. Improvement likely second start back; if he runs to his maiden victory, he would be tough to beat. BRICKYARD RIDE adds even more speed. The last time he ran on dirt at Santa Anita he won by more than nine lengths with a 91 Beyer.

SEVENTH RACE

LE TUB “won” a similar maiden turf sprint last out, but was disqualified after a dangerous ride that resulted in a well-deserved careless-riding suspension for jockey Ruben Fuentes. LE TUB switches to Umberto Rispoli and meets a modest field similar to the field she finished in front of last out. ACTING OUT set a fast pace and finished second in a promising debut on dirt. Turf should be fine based on pedigree; she might be the one to catch. VEGAS PALM is a 10-start maiden shortening in distance. She finished third all three previous sprints. SHE’SA PERFECTLADY showed run in a promising fourth-place debut; ROCKING REDHEAD makes her comeback as a longshot contender for a stable whose comebackers typically are ready to roll.

EIGHTH RACE

The two top sprinters in California meet for the first time in this G2, and based on figures, C Z ROCKET is a faster horse than COLLUSION ILLUSION. That does not make ‘ROCKET the automatic winner, but he has regained peak form and won all four starts since trainer Peter Miller claimed him for $40k in spring. ‘ROCKET won a seven-furlong G2 last out at Del Mar; he can cope with this shorter six-furlong trip. His flaw is he occasionally is slow from the gate. Slight nod over impressive 3yo COLLUSION ILLUSION, who is five-for-five sprinting including a victory last out in a race that is the annually toughest sprint in California. That was the G1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar; he won by a nose. On figures, ‘ILLUSION is not as fast as the top choice. But his perfect record in sprint is tough to quarrel with. If the top pair are vulnerable, it is due to the pace scenario. Both favorites are closers; DESERT LAW might be the controlling speed. Runner-up last out pressing a fast pace in a strong allowance, it is entirely possible that DESERT LAW could make the lead. He fits on the class, runnerup in the Bing Crosby a year ago. FLAGSTAFF finished only a half-length behind the top choice last out; GIANT EXPECTATIONS will be rolling late.

NINTH RACE

The improving ALTHEA GIBSON can win this Cal-bred turf sprint following a sharp turf-sprint maiden win one month ago. Although she wired the maiden field, she showed her first two starts she can rally from behind if necessary. This stable has a 23-percent win rate the past five years with last-out maiden graduates facing winners. WIN OFTEN returns from a seven-month layoff with an admirable record of one-two finishes all four starts. Her work pattern has a 10-day gap, possibly due to training being interrupted by smoke from fires, but the consistent miss always shows up and she can press or stalk. SOFI’S GOLD has not raced since last fall, but she runs well fresh. She finished second in her career debut; her gradedstakes placed dam Heat Trap also ran well fresh (debut winner, layoff winner) and improved as she matured. Expect SOFI’S GOLD will be forwardly placed from the inside post. Also-eligible A MELIS would be breaking from the far outside, shortening from a sprint, and trying turf for the first time.

TENTH RACE

This is the opening leg of the Golden Hour Late Pick 4, a $1 wager with a low 15-percent takeout that links the final two races at Santa Anita and the final two at Golden Gate. TIZAMAGICIAN is the controlling speed in this mile and one-half dirt race; he could be long gone. He set strong fractions wiring a N1X mile last out at Del Mar, and should be loose on the lead. Sired by Tiznow, his second dam is by Pleasant Colony, therefore the distance should be fine. Gate to wire. CUPID’S CLAWS is a veteran turf gelding making his first start on dirt. Third last out in a N1X/optional claiming race, he has enough tactical “speed” to keep the top choice in his sights. And he certainly is bred for the trip, sired by Kitten’s Joy and produced by an Affirmed mare. COMBATANT is the “class” of the field, having won the G1 Santa Anita Handicap in March. Trouble is, he seems to have gone off form. He finished near the back of the field three subsequent starts. A return to Santa Anita and a drop in class could wake him up.

ELEVENTH RACE

VIAZAR looks formidable in this maiden turf mile, based on her better-than-looked runner-up last out in a similar race. She broke a step slow, was shuffled slightly into/on the far turn, and rallied from eighth against the slow-pace race shape. Super effort by the improving 4yo, who can be nearer to the front than last out. VIAZAR’s trainer Paddy Gallagher won with 11 of his last 20 favorites in maiden turf routes. VIAZAR finished in front of seven others in this race. Standout. BRISTOL BAYOU is a nine-start maiden with a chance to outrun her odds. She finished a creditable fourth last out in her second start following a layoff; two behind her returned to win next out. Trouble-prone WIND AND HOPE finished an okay fourth last out in the race the top choice exits; MISS MO’ LICIOUS merits bomber consideration returning to turf. She has improved each start. The truth is, top choice VIAZAR stands out.