Brad Free's Santa Anita horses to watch from Oct. 6-9, 2023
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Oct. 6, 3rd
Finish: 5th by 1 3/4
Beyer: 63
Super debut by maiden filly in main-oval turf sprint. Broke last, jumped at dirt crossing, rail rally on turn, angled out, and finished evenly. Sibling to stakes winners Alice Marble and Enola Gray will be tough next out.
DON’T JU FORGET
Trainer: Peter Miller
Last race: Oct. 6, 7th
Finish: 4th by 1 3/4
Beyer: 72
California-bred allowance filly a money burner, but should have won this turf sprint. Rail trip midfield, tried to sneak through on rail, took up sharply in midstretch, switched out, and was too late. She was best.
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PERSIA
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Last race: Oct. 6, 9th
Finish: 6th by 2
Beyer: 55
Another bad trip for maiden 2-year-old filly stretching to turf mile. Steadied early, keen, unrelaxed, and never comfortable. War Front filly from multiple Grade 1-winning dam better than shown.
SCALABLE
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Last race: Oct. 7, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/2
Beyer: 72
New York shipper rallied inside from behind slow pace in Grade 2 route and narrowed margin late in race won by pacesetter. Super effort second out. Highly regarded maiden filly has much promise.
ELEVADO
Trainer: Steve Miyadi
Last race: Oct. 7, 7th
Finish: 4th by 5 1/2
Beyer: 69
Claiming sprinter went after sizzling fractions from second position and cracked from the chase. He runs best from off the pace. Claimed by Miyadi from Mark Glatt, can rebound in similar N3L.
NEXT LEVEL
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Last race: Oct. 7, 9th
Finish: 7th by 23
Beyer: 56
Grade 1-placed in sprint, maiden lost chance in Grade 1 route when stumbling badly, steadying on first turn, and dropping out. This race was a complete toss, back to drawing board for well-regarded colt.
AMERICAN HOPE
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Oct. 8, 1st
Finish: 3rd by 2 3/4
Beyer: 51
Debut 2-year-old colt rated in turf sprint, saved ground, rallied inside on turn and into lane, steadied at furlong pole, and finished well. American Pharoah colt from graded-winning mare may want longer.
UNBRIDLED MARY
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: Oct. 9, 9th
Finish: 3rd by 1 3/4
Beyer: 80
Turf-sprint stakes winner stretched to one mile, ran super. Chased kamikaze pacesetter (1:09.01), got first run, then was swallowed. Though probably best at one turn, she might get mile with softer splits.
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