Brad Free
RACE 1 - The final furlong of this six and a half-furlong starter will be a reach for ~ROCKET HEAT^, the speed of the field. He followed his blowout
maiden win with a better effort last out. He set a wild pace (:21.46 and :44.00), held a three-length lead in midstretch, but got weary and got nailed. That
race was six furlongs, the added distance of this is a challenge. Come catch him. ~SEEKING ASYLUM^ is a come-from-behind threat, first start in
a year. He is likely to be outrun early, which is okay. The top choice might come back to the field anyway. 'ASYLUM returns with a slow and steady
work pattern for a top stable. If he can somehow reproduce his year-old form, he is a threat from off the pace. ~NEXT RIGHT^ shook loose and won a
maiden-20 by more than 14 lengths. He did it setting a relatively easy pace, but he'll chase a quicker tempo here. He seems best when he makes the lead.
That probably won't happen. Turf Paradise shipper SADDLE SOAR is the new-face knockout.
Picks 1st Rocket Heat 2nd Seeking Asylum 3rd Next Right
RACE 2 - With two comeback sprints under her belt, ~WARREN'S JEN FIZZ^ is ready to go long and bang out the first (California-bred) allowance
condition. In the money both starts at this level last summer, she should get a great trip in second position. When the pacesetter falters, 'FIZZ should
be first to attack. Of course, that assumes the pacesetter will falter. Or maybe, ~EASTER FEVER^ will run them off their feet. The stretch-out sprinter
does not have a turf-route pedigree, but she is quick. The speed figures she earned early this meet in sprints would make her tough to catch if reproduced
around two turns. Win or lose, 'FEVER will take this field as far as she can. ~TIZ A CLASSY LASS^ is a legit threat from off the pace. Runner-up
both starts at this class level, she makes her first start since fall 2013. It's a long layoff, but she has run well fresh. THERMODYNAMICS stretched out,
switched to turf, and put it all together with a facile over a soft field. She is figuring out how to run, turf-route was the key.
Picks 1st Warren's Jen Fizz 2nd Easter Fever 3rd Tiz a Classy Lass
RACE 3 - ~IRISH AND LUCKY^ ran the race of her career last out, a sharp win over N2L claiming company while earning pace-speed figures that
gives her a big look moving from restricted claiming to open $8k claiming. 'LUCKY might also benefit from the shorter distance of this five and onehalf
furlong dash. Win or lose, she will be involved early. But she will have company in ~QUEEN OF THE HILL^. The latter returned from a long
layoff three weeks ago and scored a pace-pressing win at this class level. She ran without being risked for the claim price (CHRB rule 1634), and
returns at the same level while offered for sale this time. She actually ran faster races last year, but it remains to be seen if she is still "fast" at age 6.
~ADDENDUM^ will fly late in a race that could easily fall apart up front if the top pair run each other into the ground. This is the third start back for
ADDENDUM. Another front-runner that makes a busy pace scenario is comebacker SUGAR SPICE. This is her first start since last June; her workout
pattern is light.
Picks 1st Irish and Lucky 2nd Queen of the Hill 3rd Addendum
RACE 4 - ~STERLING WAGER^ did not have the greatest of trips last time, but still ran well to finish a close fourth in a similar maiden-20, albeit
at a shorter distance. He "stretches out" to seven furlongs and, and proved in January he can run a longer distance (route runner-up). He is only a tepid
selection. ~SETTHEBIGBOYSFREE^ shortens to one turn after a pair of good runner-up finishes around two turns. The improving gelding earned
good numbers in both races; back-to-back 61 Beyers are the best recently earned numbers in this field. 'FREE is a logical contender. ~TIZTHESPIRIT^
improved a bunch second time out, third by less than two. He finished well in that five-furlong race, and might appreciate the extra quarter-mile of this
seven-furlong affair. RANGER SCHOOL drops in class and shortens to a sprint.
Picks 1st Sterling Wager 2nd Setthebigboysfree 3rd Tizthespirit
RACE 5 - Even with a small field, this seven-furlong N1X is interesting. A case can be made for most. ~HEAD SOUTH^ might be sharpest, up to open
company after toppling Calbred company last out. He's won 2 of his last 3 for Hector Palma, and will be close to the pace. Seven furlongs is no problem.
~MY JEALOUS^ is a recent refugee from the low claiming ranks that actually fits as a contender in this allowance. The figures he earned in Feb-March
are as fast as any here. He was possibly compromised by bias last time; the inside lanes seemed not the place to be. And that's where he was. While it's
odd to cut back to a sprint, this seven-furlong race might be one of those middle-distance races that a two-turner with speed will like. ~GOT EVEN^
also is a route-to-sprint cutback. He has an all-or-nothing style. The race did not set up for him last time out, and this might not either. But he has run an
occasional race that is fast enough. CHASEINTHEACES has run one good race, four others not good. One more chance? SPUD SPIVENS will finish;
BROTHER SOLDIER is gradually improving; I EARNED IT BABY is first-time Tyler Baze.
Picks 1st Head South 2nd My Jealous 3rd Got Even
RACE 6 - A pair of Jerry Hollendorfer-trained maiden fillies is preferred. They are first-time starter ~SWEET AND FUZZY^ and comebacker ~DR.
FAGER'S GAL^. Good works for 'FUZZY, who is the first foal produced by a stakes-winning mare (Fuzzy Britches) that won her career debut.
Hollendorfer has won 25 special-weight maiden races with this crop of fillies. DR. FAGER'S GAL ran well her only start, last summer at Del Mar.
She chased a sizzling pace, stayed in the hunt into the lane and finished a respectable fourth. Unraced since, looks like a very good work tab for her
comeback. ~CONQUEST CURLGIRL^ probably wants more than six furlongs, but also has a solid work pattern including suggests she is very well
meant first time out. Her dam has produced stakes winners. EXPOSURE is likely to improve off her fourth-place debut. She is another that might want
farther. THIS IS WAR is back on dirt after a third on turf. Her debut two back was okay.
Picks 1st Sweet and Fuzzy 2nd Dr. Fager's Gal 3rd Conquest Curlgirl
RACE 7 - The logical ~HOLY LUTE^ can take the G3 San Simeon as the most probable winner on the Sunday card. He ran super in the G1 Kilroe
Mile last out, battling on a blistering pace before tiring. Back in a sprint and dropping in class, he returns to the downhill on which he "won" twice
previously. He'll be forwardly placed, but also is versatile. ~SWEET SWAP^ won this race a year ago, and returned to winning form last out in a stakescaliber
allowance. He previously lost a bunch of races at short prices however, suggesting maybe he lost a step. But he is still a good veteran with a
career of top efforts on the hill. And he'll be in the hunt early. ~PURE TACTICS^ is a stakes winner on this course, and also shortening up after a good
third in a minor stakes at a mile. HOME RUN KITTEN will come from the clouds. He is probably the fastest finisher, but from a long way back.
Picks 1st Holy Lute 2nd Sweet Swap 3rd Pure Tactics
Santa Anita Sunday, April 19, 2015
RACE 8 - This is an interesting race, a $12.5k claiming starter for two-turn fillies and mares. ~MARLA HOOCH^ gets the call over streaking Golden
Gate shipper ~FRENCH ALPS^ and runaway last-out winner LIGHT STREAKER. The tough-call selection is MARLA HOOCH, claimed early last
month for $10k by Jeff Mullins, a race she won impressively. Over the years, Mullins has done well with this type. 'HOOCH has won 4 of 7 at Santa
Anita, and gets T. Baze. FRENCH ALPS won four in a row at Golden Gate; she was claimed for $20k last out by Hollendorfer. She's been beating up
small fields on synthetic; her 11-for-19 career record mandates respect. ~LIGHT STRIKER^ trounced N2L claiming company last out, an effort that
was a career-best. The problem is that she's wheeling back in only 16 days.
Picks 1st Marla Hooch 2nd French Alps 3rd Light Striker
RACE 9 - Another good betting race, this one a turf sprint for Calbred maiden fillies and mares. It's a good spot to take a shot with first-timer
~DESIRESOFTHEHEART^. The daughter of Unusual Heat is trained by Don Warren, who has an 18-percent win rate the past five years with specialweight
first-timers (huge flat-bet profit). The dam of 'HEART won on this course, and hails from a good Old English Rancho family. Works capped by a
sharp 46.80 gate. The first-timer is qualified to upset. ~WARREN'S HONEY BEE^ merits a similar comment. She is a first-time starter with good works
and connections that have won with this type. It was a year ago, on June 14, trainer Jorge Gutierrez, owner-breeder Ben Warren and jockey Joe Talamo
posted a $32.20 upset with downhill first-time starter Warrenscrystalized. ~REDO IT^ finished a creditable fifth in her comeback in a fast-pace sprint.
She is likely to improve second start back, and the pace probably won't be quite as fast. Also-eligible LIRICA HEAT finished second in a route, and
goes short again as a contender.
Picks 1st Desiresoftheheart 2nd Warren's Honey Bee 3rd Redo It
