Santa Anita first post is moved to 11:30 a.m. on Sundays, beginning today. All four turf races are moved to a main track likely to be wet. Preview …
(Late announcement: main track "sloppy" per Santa Anita publicity.)
Race 1 – California-bred maidens go one mile in this off-turf opener. Inland Empire (9) stretches out following two sprints; he is bred to route, and love mud. Eight-start maiden Super Patriot (6) and 14-start maiden Radish (5) are fast enough on figures.
Race 2 – The runner-up debut by favorite Magnificent Q T (2) is worth viewing (SA, Feb. 8, race 8). She might have been best. Based on her pedigree, mud would be fine.
Race 3 – Fast as Cass (3) wheels back eight days after a maiden romp on “wet fast.” Can he win back to back? Sure, Why not? Lots of scratches in this off-turf Cal-bred N1X route.
Race 4 – Second-start maiden We All Have Dreams (8) ran super in her runner-up debut; she should be tough to beat second time out.
Race – Justify (8) is odds-on in this N1X route, based on his smashing debut. He won by more than nine, with a 104 Beyer. Chances are, Justify will regress second time out (http://bit.ly/2p1jtUe). Chances are, he will win as lone speed. Looking for a price? Deep closer Pepe Tono (3) is bred for mud.
Race 8 – This Calbred stakes is moved from the hill to six and a half on the main. Richard’s Boy (5) is a legit favorite, assuming he transfers his turf form to wet dirt. Masochistic (4) is a mystery. The G1 winner misfired last spring before being sidelined; he misfired in his January comeback.
First post, 11:30 a.m.