Battleground State a logical pick in downhill turf feature

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ten days after he scored the biggest upset ($56.80) of the new meet, trainer Neil Drysdale returns to the Santa Anita downhill turf course Friday with a logical contender that is easier for handicappers to find.

Battleground State looks like the one to beat in the featured seventh race, an allowance turf sprint for California-bred fillies and mares. Her odds will be lower than the Drysdale first-time starter Californiagoldrush, who popped at 27-1 opening day on the hill.

Ten of the 13 entered in the Friday feature can run. The principals include presser Candy Ruler, closer Speakers, horse-for-course Winemenow, and first-time turf Laynee.

Battleground State, a maiden winner two starts back and third last out in a statebred allowance, is shortening from one mile.

“She’ll be fine sprinting,” Drysdale said. “She’s training very well and I expect her to run well.”

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In her only previous try on the hill, in July, Battleground State finished sixth. That was her debut, designed as a prep race. “She had an easy run first time,” Drysdale said.

Battleground State may benefit from the distance cutback. In her most recent start, on a closer-friendly turf course at Del Mar, she pressed a solid pace and tired to third. “At Del Mar, in the fall, they weren’t winning on the lead,” Drysdale noted.

Flavien Prat rides Battleground State, who should get a forwardly placed trip in a field relatively short on speed.

The pace scenario benefits front-runners Candy Ruler and Laynee. Candy Ruler, trained by Mark Glatt and ridden by Evin Roman, is likely to race near the lead in her second turf try. She finished fifth last out in a five-furlong turf sprint at Del Mar.

Laynee also has tactical speed, and merits consideration first time on turf. Andy Mathis trains and Rafael Bejarano rides the 4-year-old daughter of Popular. Progeny of Popular have won 16 percent of their starts on turf.

Speakers will sprint for the first time; she is a late threat. Winemenow, who has a win and a second on the Santa Anita hill, also will rally late. With the rails at 30 feet and a tepid pace scenario likely, Speakers and Winemenow are potentially compromised.

The feature race on Friday could produce starters for the $70,000 Wishing Well Stakes, a restricted stakes Feb. 24 on the hill. The $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred female turf sprinters is March 17.