SANTA ANITA ANALYSIS

BY BRAD FREE
BEST BET: RACE 2, MOE CANDY
FIRST RACE
Though tempted by the second-time starters in posts 1-2, the call is eight-start maiden NATIVE RIDE. His comeback last month in a similar turf mile was the best of his career, third by a length. He has three easy works since, and
enough speed to be forwardly placed in a turf route void of pace. WICKED FINANCE, a 15-start maiden, finished
only a nose behind the top choice last out. The fields fastest finisher, he will roll late. Richard Mandella-trained
ARCHITOP and MR. CARTAGENA are the aforementioned second-timers on the inside; they were separated by a
half-length 15 days ago when they made their respective debut in the same race. ARCHITOP figures to be forwardly
placed on the stretch-out. His stable mate MR. CARTAGENA closed a ton of ground late for second. Both secondtimers are likely to improve.
SECOND RACE
MOE CANDY is sitting on a win, based on his sharp runner-up finish one month ago in his first try around two turns.
He chased a fast pace, challenged for the lead at the eighth pole, and finished nearly four lengths clear of third. The
effort was good enough to win most maiden routes. He might be a slam dunk second time long. D CHURCH also
improved in his initial try around two turns. He missed by neck while finishing nearly three clear. He earned a good
figure (89 Beyer); the challenge is running two alike wheeling back in 14 days. First-time starter COZMIC ONE is the
first foal produced by the mighty Zenyatta. The son of Bernardini debuts for owner-breeders Jerry and Ann Moss,
and trainer John Shirreffs, whose trainees usually run better second and third time out. One cannot ignore this
colts pedigree, however. He is bred to be special.
THIRD RACE
Two in a row for THE MAD HUNGARIAN? Why not? He won for the fourth time in seven Santa Anita starts a
month ago at a higher level, and returns to the level at which he was claimed two back by trainer Peter Miller and
Rockingham Ranch. The gelding strings together his good races and will be forwardly placed at a distance that
puts a premium on speed. The horse he beat last time (Big Kick) won the G2 San Juan Capistrano last year. SENOR
RAIN stretches to a mile after a good third behind win type Nextdoorneighbor (5 of last 7) and Memphis, a favorite
Thursday in race 7. The challenge for RAIN is distance. Since winning a route race in 2011, he is winless in 13
routes since then (three seconds, three thirds). Nonetheless, RAIN is a legit contender in sharp form with speed for
an up-front trip. Front-runner BROADWAY NIKA will be involved early; his runaway win two back fits with these.
FOURTH RACE
Overmatched in a sprint stakes last out, MISS MANDATE stretches to a mile and returns to the N1X ranks for
3yo fillies. Her third-place finish two back might be good enough; she has more tactical speed than likely favorite
MAJESTIC PRESENCE. The latter has the highest figures, and has faced better company. But she tends to lose
her punch when she runs long. Except for distance, she enters as a logical contender. She is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who also entered ALL STAR BUB. The latter returns from a short freshening; GUILD is a new face making
her first start since December. It is tough to trust any of the contenders in this field.
FIFTH RACE
Two good efforts on the comeback trail stamp SINFULLY as the horse to beat in this $25k claiming turf mile. He
missed by a half-length in his comeback, then ran well again to finish third a sprint. He stretches back to two turns,
and figures to be forwardly placed in a field without much pace. FRIENDSWITH K MILL figures as an obvious
contender based on his good third-place finish two starts back for a $50k claim tag. He drops from a fourth-place
finish on synthetic at Golden Gate and picks up the leading rider. EMPTY HEADED shortens up after an okay effort
racing a mile and one-eighth. These one-run types often prefer the shorter distance of one mile. JOMELO is an 80for-40 pro that will roll late. CIRCASGOLDENGEAR and TRELAWNY should be forwardly placed for at least partway.
SIXTH RACE
The maiden-30 filly EASTER LILLIAN deserves another chance after a better-than-looked fourth last out. She broke
slowly to lose all chance, but finished with run and galloped out big past the wire. She stretches out from five and
a half furlongs to six, and can win with a clean takeoff. First-time starter MINSTERSADVENTURE makes her debut
for top connections, with a long and slow workout pattern that suggests she is fit. First-time starter SIDEPOCKET
BET also has an acceptable work pattern. She is a sibling to a host of Sidepocket winners. Those include Champ,
Run, Kid, Lou, Cat, Win and Player. BERTS BABY finished well clear of third both recent starts against similar.
CLAUDITA debuts with a series of bullet workouts at Los Alamitos.
SEVENTH RACE
FOREST CHATTER was nominated to the G3 San Simeon Stakes (turf sprint) on Sunday, but will take the path of
least resistance in this N2X. After three successive wins on this downhill course, the gelding looks tough to beat. His
figures continue to improve as he marches up the ladder; he has tactical speed and a finishing kick, and drew a cozy
outside post. BOBBY Z MAN wheels back one week after a N1X win, He is 4-for-8 on the hill, and will be rolling in the
lane. HOME SCHOOL shortens to a sprint after fading late in a N2X won by next-out stakes winner Talco. RANULF is
back from Sunland with a new trainer in Ricky Agarie, who has won with 3 of his last 7 starters. Also-eligible AINT
NO OTHER is up in class after winning his comeback vs. $40k claiming sprinters. ROSENGOLD drops in class for
his comeback. He runs well fresh, and likes the hill. He is a factor on the front end.
EIGHTH RACE
Seven-start maiden GOLD JOURNEY made a big move into the lane, hit the front, and then flattened out to third
last out. It was actually a good effort by the maiden-30 filly that adds blinkers for this. SPARKLING PEG improved
second time out, runner-up while more than three clear of third. IPRAY (produced by Church Time) is a first-timer
from a winning outfit. CLASS DIVINE adds blinkers and drops from maiden-75 for the second start of her career.
Improvement expected.