FIFTH RACE SANTA ANITA

and fly late. Trainer Ron Ellis is 10-for-44 with debut maidens the past five years; five of those debut winners paid $15 or higher. Close call in this maiden turf mile between sprint runner-up LINCOLN HAWK and route runner-up SUBCONSCIOUS. The coin-flip call is LINCOLN HAWK, a European import who rallied to finish second in his U.S. debut in a turf sprint. The horse that beat him by a neck (Harbored Memories) returned to win an allowance last week. ‘HAWK acts like a mile is in range, and if he reproduces his sprint form on the stretch-out he can win this. However, SUBCONSCIOUS has something the top choice lacks. That is, two-turn experience. He improved a ton second out when he set the pace going a mile and one-eighth, and only got worn down in deep stretch. Solid runner-up finish. The Tapit colt is dead fit, and shortening to a mile. LIAM’S LOVE trained well into his debut in a dirt sprint, but broke slowly, lugged out and finished last. He has continued to train fast since, no reason he will not handle turf and two turns.

SIXTH RACE

SYNTHESIS and BOLD ENDVAVOR have the current-condition edge in this N2X dirt route. SYNTHESIS has taken his game to a new level since being claimed by Jeff Mullins; he won both starts for Mullins in starter allowance races while earning 90+ figures that are appropriate for this N2X level. BOLD ENDEAVOR has a win at this level four back (ran for $62.5k optional claim tag), followed by three seconds also at this level. He has tactical speed for a pressing trip. ROUTE SIX SIX and AZUL COAST are both racing for the first time this year. Both are working well, ‘SIX SIX is a better horse, but comebackers from this stable typically race into shape rather than fire first start back. AZUL COAST comes from a stable that does well with comebackers. The uncertainty is ability. His career-high figure is short of par. But he could be a better horse this year at age 4.

SEVENTH RACE

ADARE stretches out to what might be his preferred two-turn trip, following a creditable third in a turf sprint that was his first start on grass. A lightly raced 5yo (only nine starts), he gets a rider switch to accomplished veteran Joe Bravo, a new arrival to the SoCal jockey colony. BEDROCK also stretches out, in peak form. Exiting sprints, he could get a forwardly placed trip in a N1X turf mile that is somewhat short on true pace. CONSTITUTION AFFAIR will use his speed form the outside post (11 of 12). He used his speed to win two straight turf miles here vs. easier company; the horse he beat last out returned to win. READY SOUL is a shipper making his first start for Phil D’Amato. Improvement likely.

EIGHTH RACE

KA’NAH appeared to be merely prepping in his comeback, fifth in a turf sprint while racing for the first time in nearly a year. His career-best performance last year was going turf to dirt; the 92 Beyer he earned in that maiden win would defeat this N1X field. If he improves similarly this year, the lightly raced 5yo gelding can score as “best bet” on the Saturday card. PALACE COUP ran super last out. He dueled on a blazing pace at one mile, and tired late to finish third. He ran like a horse that will appreciate the cutback to a sprint. LITTLEBITAMEDAL, third against similar last out, will be rolling from behind. ESTABLISHED also goes route to sprint, first start in California and first for trainer Richard Baltas.

NINTH RACE

Multi-surface specialist NONE ABOVE THE LAW, a multiple stakes winner, has emerged as one of this season’s top 3yo Cal-breds. The SoCal-based gelding won back-to-back stakes at Golden Gate (turf and synthetic), he won and placed this season in dirt routes at Santa Anita. The extra distance of this mile and one-eighth turf stakes for statebreds is not likely to be an issue based on running style and pedigree. Obvious choice, albeit low odds. FERRARIANO was a maiden facing winners last out when he went long for the first time and popped at 25-1. The win was not a fluke. He had been crying for a distance of ground, finally got it in his fourth career start, and he beat a decent N1X field. No reason he will not fire right back. BIG TALKER finished third last out in a turf mile designed as a prep for this Cal-bred stakes race. He had some trouble, blinkers are on.

TENTH RACE

Last-out maiden route winner FI FI PHAROAH gets the call in a Cal-bred stakes race for 3yo fillies that came soft. ‘PHAROAH enters on an improving pattern; her only misfire was when she stumbled at the break two back. Now that she is proven long, and has learned how to cross the wire first, expect her upward pattern to continue. A Cal-bred sire by American Pharoah, she is the first foal produced by multiple stakes winner My Fiona. I’M SO ANNA is the most accomplished in the field, a two-time stakes winner in NoCal who wired a Cal-bred stakes mile last out on synthetic. She figures for a forwardly placed trip just off the speed. EDDIE’S NEW DREAM goes long for the first time, as a potential pacesetter. She has worked fast since her promising runner-up comeback in a sprint. Come and catch her?

ELEVENTH RACE

The marathon card ends with a marathon stakes, the G3 San Juan Capistrano at a mile and threequarters on turf. It is race WARD ‘N JERRY has targeted all spring. He lost as the San Juan favorite last year, but that was after he got keen and tried to run off. He settled down in recent races, he will run all day, and gets the call to defeat 2020 and 2019 San Juan winners RED KING and ACCLIMATE. The third-place finish by RED KING last out was okay. He defeated the horse he “had to” defeat (odds-on United), but was left with too much to do in the lane and only rallied to third. It was a good try in a G2, now he drops in class. Six horses have won the San Juan back to back, seven won it twice. RED KING will try to follow suit. ACCLIMATE, 2019 San Juan winner who finished in front of RED KING last out, is a front-runner who can stay. ACCLIMATE will try to wire the field. If he gets loose and gets comfortable, it could get interesting.