Brad Free's Santa Anita horses to watch from week of Feb. 2-3, 2024

NAUVOO
Trainer: Kristin Mulhall
Last race: Feb. 2, 2nd
Finish: 1st by 11 1/2
Beyer: 94
Claiming front-runner looks like a timely $12,500 claim by Mulhall from Librado Baricio. Sped to lead in mile race, extended margin, and crushed. Can handle class hike, prefers dirt route.

UNCONTROLLABLE
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Feb. 3, 1st
Finish: 2nd by 3 1/4
Beyer: 72
Off 10 months, this stakes-placed filly was only prepping in California-bred turf sprint. Broke well, allowed to settle, rallied wide, and finished willingly. Ideal comeback prep by 4-year-old filly.

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LAUGIER NIGHT
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Feb. 3, 2nd
Finish: 6th by 7 1/4
Beyer: 57
Everything went wrong for well-backed European import in maiden turf sprint. Off slowly, raced greenly, keen and unrelaxed, and sputtered. He trained better than he ran. This was a toss.

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CLOSING REMARKS
Trainer: Carla Gaines
Last race: Feb. 3, 4th
Finish: 6th by 2 1/4
Beyer: 83
Slow pace and turf speed bias compromised graded stakes-winning late-runner. Lagged as usual and raced evenly in race dominated by pacesetter. Closing Remarks is better than this.

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