Trends and tips, Friday at Santa Anita …

Race 1 – This handicapper is not usually a fan of backing second-start maidens moving from a sprint to a route, but Ultimate Bango (5) ran well first out and meets a weak field in this turf mile for Cal-bred maidens. Third in his main-track sprint debut, the likely pacesetter worked well since and is listed at an appealing 6-1. Speed is okay at a mile on turf, with the rails at 20 feet. Pacesetters won three of seven this meet.

Race 3 – The pick six begins with a conventional carryover of $49,338 and a potential single in the opening leg. Touching Rainbows (2) is fastest on figures, but has not started since September. No prob. His comeback works are fast, over a slow Santa Anita surface comparable to the slow Del Mar surface on which he scored two big wins last year. If he runs as well as he works, Touching Rainbows will be tough to beat as the favorite.

Race 4 – Jeweled (7) will be a short price, and is the one to beat in this starter allowance based on her maiden-30 blowout. However, she is not a cinch. Palace Paynter (3) won a maiden-30 setting the pace; two behind her won next out. Mischievous Song (4) won a maiden-30 route last time; her best races are sprints. Bottom line: spread race even with the the key scratch of Lucky Val.

Race 5 – Interesting first-level allowance for 3yo fillies on the hill. Contenders include Special Purpose (1), Group-placed in Europe with sharp works for hot trainer Simon Callaghan, and dropper Lexington Grace (7), shortening up after three routes. Turf sprints are playing fair to all styles. Two of the last three were won by front-runners/pressers; the winner of the most recent turf sprint on Thursday rallied from last.

Race 6 – Trainer David Jacobson is a tough read in California. He works horses slowly, often every three to four days. Curious pattern. A pattern that is not curious – Jacobson won with 4 of his last 10 at Santa Anita, and 6 of his last 16. He starts comebacker Eighty Three (11) in this $20k claiming sprint. Best horse in the race, but first-time claiming and five-month layoff makes this a spread race.

Race 8 – This Calbred maiden turf route is a split of race 1. Huddle (2) improved last out, fourth after setting a strong pace in his first turf route. He could be long gone as the favorite.

First post Friday, 12 noon.