Brad Free: Santa Anita horses to watch for week of March 4, 2024

TWO BY FOUR
Trainer: Craig Lewis
Last race: March 1, 1st
Finish: 5th by 1 1/2
Beyer: 67
First route, first turf, first bad trip for this lightly raced 3-year-old gelding. On rail in fifth, blocked into lane, bumped, took up late. Inconclusive performance, can be followed in any Cal-bred race.

EIGHT CLAP
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: March 1, 2nd
Finish: 1st by 7
Beyer: 76
Switch to dirt and drop to maiden-40 produced career-best performance. Made lead, slow first quarter, romped. Benefited from easy pace, but visually impressive nonetheless.

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A CROWN FOR KITTEN
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Last race: March 1, 9th
Finish: 4th by 2 1/2
Beyer: 65
Veteran mare stumbled and shuffled at start of $25k claiming turf mile. Hard-held at back while pace slowed, blocked far turn, heavy traffic in lane, finished okay. This was a really bad trip.

LORETTA LYNN
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Mach 3, race 1
Finish: 6th by 6 1/4
Beyer: 56
Comeback filly too fresh for her own good in turf mile. Keen and pulled while unrelaxed, dueled to near middle of stretch, then caved. She needed the prep, needs to relax next out.

LEEZA
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: March 3, 3rd
Finish: 6 by 5 1/4
Beyer: 58
Maiden 4-year-old filly faced tall order debuting in turf mile. Two and three wide near back, four wide far turn, green in lane, lost kick. She trained better than she ran, and is sure to improve.

TRULY QUALITY
Trainer: Jonathan Thomas
Last race: March 3, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 86
Late-runner compromised by race shape in turf mile. Lagged as norm, finished well, but pacesetter did not stop. Finished well, follow in turf route with pace to run at.

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REINCARNATE
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: March 3, 8th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 96
Overlooked in Santa Anita Handicap hoopla was this promising comeback. Rail trip just off speed, evenly late while making first start in four months. He might be a notch below elite, but good comeback.

INVINCIBLE MOLLY
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: March 4, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 1 3/4
Beyer: 68
European import ran well in allowance turf sprint. Off slow from rail, sped forward to chase contested pace from third, rallied outside, swallowed by closers. This was a solid U.S. debut.

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