Blacker may not have his pair cranked for juvenile turf sprints

ARCADIA, Calif. – Although the first turf sprint of the season for maiden 2-year-olds was a bit of a bust three weeks ago at Santa Anita, the possibilities are deeper Friday.

A pair of maiden turf sprints offer a glimpse at the emerging 2-year-old division while providing bettors attractive options. That did not happen May 20 in the season’s first maiden turf sprint for juveniles – a six-runner field won in a romp by odds-on Helladic.

It’s a different look, a better look, on Friday. Neither juvenile turf sprint includes a lopsided favorite, nor is every entrant cranked first out. The handicapping challenge is determining who is ready and who is not in race 1 for either gender, and race 3 for fillies.

:: Want to start playing with a $510 bankroll and have access to free Formulator? Learn more

All eight colts in the opener can start. Nine fillies entered race 3, eight can start. The temporary rails are at the outermost 30-foot setting, which is hardly significant. It almost always requires speed for a 2-year-old to win first out at five furlongs.

Friday’s card includes a pair of entry-level allowance/optional-claiming races. Race 6 is a California-bred sprint for fillies and mares; Annie Graham is entered for the optional $20,000 claim tag as a likely favorite. Race 8 is a filly-mare dirt mile in which contenders include class-dropper Lisette and Trouville.

Dan Blacker trains principals in both maiden turf races, and while he expects Park City in race 1 and Quarantella in race 3 to both run well, he acknowledged the turf sprint is merely a starting point.

“They are not really drilled to win first time out,” Blacker said.

Race 1 entrant Park City is a Street Sense colt from a Galileo mare.

“He’s probably going to need more distance,” the trainer said. “He’s shown talent, it just depends how good the other horses are. If they’re true five-eighths sprinters, they might be a bit quick for him.”

Among those expected to show speed are San Luis Rey Downs-based Kid Azteca, sired by first-crop stallion Sharp Azteca; locally based Bear Mountain; and President Z. Others entered are Major Nyquist, Mendez Mile, Zookeeper, and Sharp Aza Tack.

:: Win big at Santa Anita: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and Betting Strategies.

Two experienced fillies in race 3 are proven on the course. Cherry Chaos and Court Snort finished three-two, respectively, in the turf sprint won by Helladic. Cherry Chaos ran particularly well after a slow start and getting rank. Trainer Walther Solis adds blinkers to Cherry Chaos. Court Snort finished well for second and galloped out super.

As for Quarantella, Blacker said the More Than Ready filly, is little “but she’s shown ability.” He said she worked in company with Park City on June 4, and “you couldn’t separate them.”

Green Eyed Lady, sired by Oscar Performance and from a mare that won as a juvenile, debuts with decent workouts. As a general rule, maidens trained by Michael McCarthy race into shape rather that fire first out.