Baltas barn looms large in Friday allowances

ARCADIA, Calif. – Class drops and rainfall are essential handicapping considerations Friday at Santa Anita, where an interesting card would be less challenging if the weather were fair. But forecasters are calling for a wet week in Arcadia. Track condition is uncertain for a Friday card with four entry-level allowance races at one mile – two on dirt, two on turf.

Trainer Richard Baltas is in the middle of it all. He starts class-dropping favorites in both turf allowances for 3-year-olds – the stakes-placed colt Rijeka in race 3 and the stakes-placed filly Lady Prancealot in race 7.

“They’re in one-other-thans, coming out of stakes,” Baltas said. “My concern is it might come off the grass. [Rijeka] is strictly turf. I don’t think he’ll run on the dirt, probably be an automatic scratch.”

Surface changes at Santa Anita typically are not announced until race day, and Friday’s races could stay on turf. The first storm was forecast to begin Thursday morning and end Thursday night. However, another storm is expected to arrive at an inopportune time Saturday, which Santa Anita has declared mandatory-payout day in the Rainbow pick six.

While the Baltas-trained turf favorites face uncertain footing, conditions could benefit a Baltas contender Friday on the main track. Kylemore will try to upset Solomini in race 8. Kylemore, a front-runner, finished second last out in a similar route on a deep, tiring track.

Santa Anita is likely to seal the main track before Thursday. If the surface remains sealed and fast all week, that would work for Kylemore on Friday.

“They’re going to keep [the surface] tight,” Baltas predicted.

To win the first-level route, Kylemore must stave off the class of the field. Solomini has raced in eight successive graded races and finished ninth last out in the Grade 1 Malibu, his first start in six months. His trainer is Bob Baffert.

The knock on Solomini last year was his reluctance to switch leads, and his apparent indifference to competition.

“He was a little bit of a head case,” Baffert acknowledged. “Everybody that rides him says it’s like riding a bicycle with the brakes on. But he looks good. His last few works have been positive.”

In all four allowance races Friday, the likely favorite is dropping from a stakes race, including Queen Bee to You in race 5. Last Saturday, she finished second in a $150,000 sprint stakes. A closer look at the four Friday allowance races is below.

Race 3

Rijeka finished second as the favorite last out in the $78,000 Eddie Logan Stakes, a length behind stablemate Bob and Jackie.

“I thought [Rijeka] was better than my other horse,” Baltas said. “He’s been pretty solid, he just hasn’t gotten there.”

Rijeka placed in three successive stakes.

His main rival is Eagle Song, fourth in his U.S. debut in a turf sprint. Mark Glatt trains Eagle Song, who adds blinkers and will start on either surface.

“I was teetering with running him on dirt anyway, so it won’t affect me,” Glatt said. “I would expect more ground to be beneficial.”

Others include potential pacesetter Neptune’s Storm, Weekly Call, The Creep, and Sayin Grace.

Race 5

Mike Pender trains Queen Bee to You, the runner-up last Saturday in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint. A move to dirt and a distance increase to a mile is not an issue.

“She runs over almost anything,” Pender said. “And she can get a mile, if you look at her race two back [a troubled third at a mile]. All she needs to do is repeat that race.”

Others include likely second choice Dulce Ride, Harmony Victory, and Exuberance.

Race 7

Lady Prancealot is due for some luck. She was compromised by pace while finishing second in her first two U.S. starts, was outclassed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and was a troubled fourth in the $78,000 Blue Norther Stakes last out.

“I thought she had a bad trip,” Baltas said. He is right. Lady Prancealot steadied in heavy traffic into the lane, lost her momentum, then finished with run. She missed by less than three lengths.

To win the allowance, Lady Prancealot must hold off the late rally of impressive maiden winner Truffalino. Others include the imported Cavernndchipmunks and potential pacesetter Sold It.

Race 8

Kylemore has more speed than likely favorite Solomini and continues to improve, despite foot issues. Baltas said Kylemore “has quarter cracks, that’s his only problem. He’s been a really solid horse. He loves to train, and he keeps improving.”

Kylemore will get the jump on Solomini but faces potential pace pressure from Beaumarchais and stretch-out sprinter Candy Cornell.