Brad Free's Santa Anita horses to watch from week of April 28-30, 2023
GRAND TIGER
Trainer: Brian Koriner
Last race: April 28, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 2
Beyer: 65
Debut 4-year-old set pace in California-bred maiden turf sprint, led to deep stretch, and was worn down by one-two finishers who had already started. Grand Tiger can be gone second out versus similar, turf or dirt.
HEELS UP
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: April 28, 8th
Finish: 6th by 18 3/4
Beyer: 45
Comeback mare eligible to entry-level allowance raced above eligibility in open allowance won by stablemate. Lagged, ran around track, not serious, merely prepping. Follow on drop to N1X.
CONQUEST CELSIUS
Trainer: Luis Mendez
Last race: April 29, 2nd
Finish: 4th by 6 1/4
Beyer: 16
Fast-working debut juvenile bet to odds-on stumbled badly at break and lost all chance. Raced wide, nothing late. This was a toss. She trained like an early-season winner, worth another shot.
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ANCIENT PEACE
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: April 29, 3rd
Finish: 4th by 5
Beyer: 75
Promising War Front filly disliked rating tactics in Grade 3 turf route. Dueled, pulled chasing pace, backed up. Need-the-lead filly must use her speed. Long gone next out, pending pace scenario.
ENJOY IT STRAIT
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: April 29, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 3
Beyer: 80
Seven-time winner compromised in California-bred allowance dirt mile. Between foes early, wide, lost ground, never in a good spot, and finished fairly close. Can make amends in California-bred N1X dirt route.
MEGA MOON
Trainer: Peter Miller
Lats race: April 29, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 65
Second-start maiden switched to turf sprint, broke slowly, blocked while racing greenly on turn, took hold late, actually finished with interest in an improved effort over his last-place debut.
CLOSING REMARKS
Trainer: Carla Gaines
Last race: April 30, 8th
Finish: 4th by 3
Beyer: 92
Honest mare rallied wide and missed versus a good field in Grade 3 turf mile. Graded winner fits best in California-bred stakes, should be tough against statebreds in $100K Fran’s Valentine on May 28.
MOOSE MITCHELL
Trainer: George Papaprodomou
Last race: April 30, 9th
Finish: 1st by 9
Beyer: 88
Veteran gelding returned to dirt and crushed California-bred sprint with career-best figure. Claimed for $40K, claim voided, can return in similar statebred N1X/optional-claiming sprint, prefers dirt.
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