Handicapping notes, Saturday at Santa Anita …

Race 1 – The turf rails are down. Big deal? Maybe. The only turf races this meet won by forwardly placed runners were the only two turf miles with the rails down. Every other turf mile (rails 10, 20 or 30 feet) was won from the middle or back of the field. That goes against the false pretext that rails-up promotes speed, and rails-down promotes closers. That assumption is just flat wrong in Southern California.

Who wins this N2X turf mile? The closer Perfectly Majestic (10) “should” win, but he is stuck outside and the rails-down course profile (small sample) does him no favors. ’Majestic offers no value at 3-1 program odds. Two front-running/pace-pressing longshots to consider are Forever Juanito (4) and comebacker Sawyer’s Hill (7).

Race 3 – The main track was downright dead Friday, slower than normal by at least a full second. Weird. Expectations are for a quicker surface Saturday, but wait and see. Perfect Dude (1) is speed, and most likely winner of this maiden-75 for 2yos. First-timer Emtech (2) has worked well. By excellent debut sire Concord Point, he is the first runner produced by graded stakes winner Awesome Baby. The class-drop program favorite Easy Shot (5) has been scratched.

Race 4 – A berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint is up for grabs in this Win-and-You’re-In stakes for 2-year-olds. Hartel (5) improved after being gelded in late July and switching to turf. He must catch speedsters Mae Never No (3) and Midnight Mystery (4). It’s five furlongs on turf. A multi-race wager probably should include all three.

Race 5 – Ransom the Moon (5) is better than ever. He can upset favorite Roy H (2) for a second straight race. The favorites stand out in the five-runner G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship. This handicapper believes Ransom the Moon is a “good thing,” although that is not a unique opinion. Ransom the Moon is 7-5 second choice.

Race 6 – A closer finally won a downhill sprint on Friday, following five straight winners that were positioned one-two. Still hesitant to back a late-runner on the hill, however. That is the challenge facing comeback favorite Rubilinda (8) and longhsot contender Miss Southern Miss (5). Both are deep closers. The best speed is Painting Corners (7), a two-time winner on the hill.

Race 9 – Sharp Samurai (8), Fly to Mars (9) or White Flag (2) in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile?  Take your pick. The West Coast turf division remains vastly inferior to the East and Midwest, therefore shipper White Flag must be considered at 5-1.

Race 11 – Colonial Creed (2) is a legit favorite in this downhill turf sprint for maiden 2-year-old fillies. However, second preference Discreet Diva (4) has more speed than she showed in her off-slow third-place debut. She is worth backing at 6-1 program odds.

First post Saturday, 12:30.