Check out our race-by-race verdicts and nap selection for Sunday's meeting at Santa Anita.
20.30 (All times BST live on Sky Sports Racing): Mike McCarthy boasts an impressive strike rate here so far this year to which the progressive LOFTY has already contributed having won all three outings over track and trip in 2020. She overcame a wide draw when landing the hat-trick and may not have finished winning yet. Querelle went close again last time and should have the measure of Thriving and Queen Of The Track once again while Shines Her Light, an import from Ireland, made a winning start for John Sadler here and could be in the mix. Mo Me Mo My and stablemate A Thousand Dreams are other maiden winners though both return from lay-offs.
21.02: The betting may offer some clues regarding the chances of these two-year-old newcomers with a speculative vote going to JUDY WITH GRACE. Purchased at Keeneland for $90,000, the Bernardini filly may have enough speed to get involved. Love Wins, Miss Glorious and Self Isolation should all be noted for any strong support in the market.
21.33: AFTERNOON HEAT was placed at this level before winning a starters race here in March. He looks worth sticking with for Steve Knapp’s in-form yard and can confirm earlier running with I Belong To Becky. Quick Finish is reunited with winning partner Drayden Van Dyke and is preferred to both Mr Paytience and Whooping Jay while Flavien Prat was on board Shuster when the latter won his maiden and Len Powell’s charge has been recently gelded.
22.04: Noor Khan is partnered by Flavien Prat on her return to action and preferred to stablemate and newcomer Ole Silver but the likes of Sweet Regards, Liberalism and Va Va Voom have been done no favours by the draw. Elgofranco may do better back on the main track today judged on previous attempts but LOVELY FINISH posted her best effort so far when runner-up here on her first outing since 2018 and gets the vote with that run under her belt and further progress likely.
22.35: This looks wide-open though Bud Knight has a tougher task drawn on the outside and Fravel may reverse latest running with the former. Brix has something to find with the latter pair while Tropical Terror has placed in all three outings so far this year and will likely be thereabouts once again. I AM INNOCENT debuted over 6f here in February when making up late ground in the homestretch to finish second. This extra distance should suit Ben Cecil’s colt on that evidence and he gets a speculative vote with Unusually Handsome not certain to line-up.
23.06: This looks tricky with doubts surrounding the three horses with the strongest form. St. Joe Bay won a Grade 2 in 2019 but hasn’t raced up to the same level so far this year while Rowayton was beaten only a neck in Grade 1 company at Saratoga in August but hasn’t raced since. Collusion Illusion is another Grade 2 winner but had to be walked off the track when last in action in September and TIGER DAD looks a safer proposition. The latter was beaten only a nose by Hot Sean here in January but re-opposes on better terms today and has improved subsequently winning easily over track and trip before placing in a stakes race.
23.37: Classy Ruler disappointed when finding little in the homestretch here last time though still finished in front of Regal Beauty and beat Last First Kiss when runner-up before that. Sweet Devil was beaten less than a length when third on her latest outing under Flavien Prat but the leading jockey sticks with MADISON PARC today having rode the latter when a promising fourth over track and trip on her debut and the Curlin filly gets the nod. Crystal Ball is a $750,000 purchase representing powerful connections and a newcomer to keep a close eye on.
00.08: Bob Baffert tops the trainers table here by some distance this year and has a strong hand in this Grade 3 sprint represented by both Fighting Mad and Mother Mother. The former ended last year with a facile success over a longer trip at this level while the latter was placed in a Grade 2 contest over 7f here in February but had earlier finished behind BELLAFINA (NAP). Simon Callaghan’s filly looks the one to beat if forgiven a poor comeback effort at Oaklawn as she went close in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mares Sprint and should have the measure of these if running up to that level. First Star has a bit to find with a couple of the above though still looks best of the rest.
00.38: This looks something of a lottery with several dropping down in class though INVINCIBELLA finished runner-up dropped into this grade last time when finishing clear of Harper's Gallop and she gets another chance. Sutro has claims on form though a wide draw is no help to her cause while Lucky Ms Jones is preferred to the returning Smiling Rose as the former faces an easier task at this lower level. Establish Justice is another expected to improve in this grade and Zucchera is one of the least exposed.
01.08: WINNING ELEMENT and Flavien Prat bid to land a hat-trick and given a five-length victory over course and distance last time, that looks a distinct possibility. Lambea was beaten only a nose in this grade on his latest start and is preferred to recent maiden winners Kiss Today Goodbye and Striking A Pose but Sash has been recent gelded and is not out of this. Soldier Boy is upped in distance while the reserve Tizamagician has a shout if making the line-up.
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