Brad Free's Santa Anita handicapping notebook for April 20

April 19

SHOW PLUNGE

Someone apparently wagered $20,000 to show on Half Strike, the favorite in a five-horse field of $32,000 claimers at 1 1/16 miles Saturday in race 1. The bettor must not have seen jockey Agapito Delgadillo’s unusually aggressive warm-up on Half Strike.

It is one thing to give a horse a strong warm-up. Delgadillo, however, was super-aggressive. While his rivals walked slowly to the gate, Delgadillo was galloping Half Strike back and forth, back and forth. Something was wrong. Half Strike was eased through the lane, finishing last of five.

The large show bet was the only lopsided wager, and Half Strike ended up with “only” 58 percent of the pool. Show payoffs on the top three were Valley Cat, $3.60; Timeless Indy, $6; Candy for Debbie, $5.

The winner Valley Cat ($5.60) was claimed by Jerry Hollendorfer in a two-way shake, probably a good claim. He has raced four times on dirt and won three.

The final time was a modest 1:43.30 over a track that played slightly slow.

ALLOWANCE RACES

Back to Bako was the pace of race 2, a turf sprint for California-bred non-winners of one. On a downhill course blatantly speed-favoring, he fought off odds-on Boozer and won by a length and a half. Back to Bako returned $22; runner-up Boozer could not get past. Maybe his recent comeback win was phony.

Onna Bugeisha set a slow pace (47.16 seconds and 1:11.44) in race 3, a first-level allowance for fillies and mares. But class-drop favorite Yahilwa wore her down. Yahilwa was fully extended, winning by three-quarters of a length in an ordinary 1:43.70. The runner-up finished more than six clear of third. She won’t get an easier trip than this.

MAIDEN REPORT

Doctor Dempsey was used as a target for graded winner Midnight Hawk in a team work on April 13, so Bob Baffert-trained Doctor Dempsey figured to be “live” first out. The 3-year-old Harlan’s Holiday colt won the special weight by a length over second-time starter Midnight Storm, who is sitting on a win. The time was a solid 1:09.95.

Fourth-place finisher Crux, trained by Ron Ellis, ran well enough, and most Ellis maidens improve second time out. Crux battled between foes, gradually tired, and missed by four lengths. Fifth-place finisher Bellamy Concerto did not have his mind on racing. He was “studdish” in the post parade, slow from the rail, and raced evenly. He might be followed.

SOPHOMORE FIZZLE

It is official – Diamond Bachelor is a dud. Despite setting easy fractions in the $75,000 La Puente Stakes, he folded nearing the furlong pole and finished sixth. The race was won by European import Flamboyant, up by a neck at $15.

Paddy Gallagher trains the winner. Corey Nakatani rode. He was blocked in the lane, switched outside, and finished with a rush. Sharp. Meanwhile, favorite Enterprising finished a dull third without a visible alibi.

Fourth-place finisher Excessive Kid broke slowly, raced greenly, seemed uncertain, but finished well. Once he gets it figured out, watch out. He was coming off a maiden win; the La Puente was only his third start.

Horses to Watch

CRUX
Trainer: Ron Ellis
Last race: April 19, race 7
Finish: Fourth by four lengths
Beyer: 69

Sandwiched between foes pressing the pace, this first-timer ran like a colt that needed the start. He tired in the lane, but maidens from this stable usually improve with experience.

EXCESSIVE KID
Trainer: Carla Gaines
Last race: April 19, race 8
Finish: Fourth by 2 1/4 lengths
Beyer: 84

This lightly raced colt was jumping into a stakes following a maiden win. He raced greenly but finished fast in a good effort. It was only his third start. When he figures out what his job is, he might be a good one. Sired by Lemon Drop Kid, he is a sibling to four stakes winners (Excessive Blend, Holladay Road, Tiz Elemental, Tiz a Blend).

April 20 preview

Sunday is closing day, which also means mandatory payouts as the winter portion of the long Santa Anita meet ends. There will be no carryovers. Every pool, including pick six, pick five, and Super High 5, will be paid out Sunday. Racing resumes Friday.

NEW JOCKEY

A relative newcomer to the jockey colony rides Chasing Hope in race 1 Sunday. Giovanni Franco has ridden previously at Santa Anita, as a young apprentice trying to break into the big leagues.

“I couldn’t make it,” he said. “It was tough for me. I went broke.”

Franco laughs at the memory from spring 2000. Franco was a green 19-year-old, whose career began the previous summer at Hastings Park before he ventured to Santa Anita. Business was slow. He rode 18 races, winning only one. He needed experience.

Franco hopped around to Golden Gate and Hastings Park. Things began to click after he left the West Coast.

“I started riding more horses when I went to Phoenix,” Franco said. Turf Paradise was good for Franco. He led the standings at the 2012-13 winter meet, and the past three years at Turf Paradise, he won 245 races from only 957 mounts – a 25 percent win rate.

With the winter meet at Turf Paradise winding down, Franco set sights on a return to Santa Anita. “I always wanted to come back here,” he said. “I couldn’t make it here once. This time, I’m coming back for revenge … with myself.”

Franco is 23, from Mexico City, and is making an impression. He won two races from just five mounts last week. On Sunday, he is scheduled to ride Chasing Hope and A Toast to You in race 7.

SPECIAL WEIGHT FILLIES

Race 4 starts the pick six, a sprint for 3-year-old maiden fillies.

The choice is the Peter Miller-trained comebacker Spy Girl, who showed speed and tired in both starts as a 2-year-old. The daughter of Discreet Cat returns with a work pattern that suggests she is well meant first start back.

First-time starter Suzy Malibu, by Malibu Moon, posted fast recent gate works for trainer Doug O’Neill. However, according to National Turf clocker Andy Harrington, the works are not as good as they look on paper.

Enchanted Fortune is an Indian Charlie first-timer out of graded stakes winner House of Fortune. She also has worked fast for Bob Baffert, including two team works with the colt Doctor Dempsey, debut winner Saturday.

Alexis Tangier is a Tiznow filly making her debut for trainer Richard Mandella. Alexis Tangier was produced by Cambiocorsa, whose foals include Grade 2 winner Schiaparelli, Grade 1-placed Vionnet and allowance-caliber Moulin de Mougin.

TURF SPRINT SPEED

If the recent speed-friendly profile continues on the downhill turf course, then Rangi could win his second straight. He wired first-level allowance foes last time and moves up with an apparent pace advantage.

Rangi is the speed of the field, racing over a downhill course on which six of the last 10 races were won by the pacesetter. The unknown is Zenji, a recent addition to the John Sadler stable who showed speed in Europe and was unplaced in his only start in the U.S. Zenji could be sitting second behind Rangi and get first run if that one falters.

ODDS-ON BEWARE

The queen of California returns Sunday. Beholder is likely to be odds-on in the $75,000 Santa Lucia Stakes. She is the class of the field, speed of the field, and working well.

One thing should bug horseplayers. That is, Beholder has never fired an “A” race first time out/first start back. As a 2-year-old first-time starter, Beholder finished fourth with a 54 Beyer, followed next out by a maiden win with a 75.

In her 3-year-old debut after a 2 1/2-month break, Beholder finished second in a stakes with a 73 Beyer, followed second start back by a Grade 1 with a 95. And in her summer comeback following a four-month layoff, Beholder earned a 78 Beyer winning a stakes, followed next out by a Grade 1 win with a 106.

The point is, Beholder has never run “fast” while fresh. She should win anyway Sunday. It does not take a genius to recognize she is the best horse.

Unfortunately, there is bad news for bettors trying to knock off the chalk with Magic Union. That 4-year-old filly is expected to scratch.

Still, the “not-cranked-up” principle applies with Beholder. But finding someone to beat her in the Santa Lucia field? Good luck with that.

EXPECT BETTER

Safety Belt, Group 1-placed in South America, makes his second U.S. start Sunday for trainer Ron McAnally. He finished last Jan. 1 in his U.S. debut.

“Everything that could happen happened,” McAnally said. “First of all, he has never used a tongue tie and entrapped. He stumbled leaving the gate, grabbed both quarters, and lost a shoe. And he bled. He’ll be a lot better in his next race.”

Safety Belt probably is not quick enough to win the N2X turf sprint he entered Sunday. But yes, he should be better.

LIKELY SCRATCHES

Askingfortrouble in race 2, and Magic Union in race 8, are “dot horses.” That means their connections submitted a scratch, which is likely to be made official Sunday morning.

SPOT PLAYS

Race 4: SPY GIRL (No. 5, 3-1) returns as the speed of the field in this 5 1/2-furlong maiden sprint for 3-year-old fillies. Most of her rivals are training like they need a start.

Race 7: ZENJI (#3, 6-1) makes his California debut for trainer John Sadler with enough speed to keep 5-2 favorite Rangi in his sights. At the price discrepancy, Zenji is worth backing to upset the chalk.