Eight races on a rainy Thursday at Santa Anita. No turf. Preview …

Race 1 – The only turf race was moved to six and a half on the main. Class dropper Aced (6) is a logical favorite, Molaf (5) ran better than it looks last out and merits a shot as second favorite. Workout analyst Andy Harrington gave an interesting push to 12-1 The Daddy Factor (1), suggesting that with a race under his belt and drop in class, he might like another shot at a wet track.

(Santa Anita lists the main track as "sloppy.")

Race 3 – Platinum Equity (5) will try to join Apache Princess as a three-time winner this meet when he seeks his third straight in this $12.5k claiming route. This handicapper will include Twirling Tiger (2) at 6-1. Re-claimed again last out by Chuck Treece, he handles a wet track and has run fast enough for this level. Little Scotty (6) will set the pace, late-runner Midnight Soot (4) will rally. Looks like a “spread.”

(Late change: Little Scotty is scratched.)

Race 4 – Respect top-choice favorite Duranga (8), but She Began Again (6) is 10-1 and likely to improve second start back. Bred-for-mud Midnight Lilly (1), sired by Midnight Lute, is reunited with the last jockey she had any luck with, Tiago Pereira.

Race 6 – Good field of $40k claiming sprinters, interested to see if Adens Dream (4) can carry his speed five and a half furlongs. He is listed at 6-1, which would be a betting number. Suspect he might get bet down.

Race 7 – Miss Fia (8) long gone? If she reproduces her debut victory while facing starter allowance winners, the answer is yes.

Race 8 – Strange to note that Stretford End (6) came within a neck of defeating Improbable in a maiden race in September. Now more than four months later, Stretford End is still a maiden and Improbable is an undefeated Grade 1-winning Kentucky Derby contender. Stretford End is the one to beat in this MSW, but Bowl of Spaghetti (10) has worked like a maiden that is “live” first time out.

First post Thursday, 12:30.