Brad Free's Santa Anita Horses to Watch for week of Jan. 1-5, 2025

BERLIN WALL
Trainer: Steve Knapp
Last race: Jan. 1, 8th
Finish: 3rd by 1 1/2
Beyer: 70
Debut colt broke slowly from rail in maiden sprint, pushed along, got stuck behind rivals on turn, angled out, finished well. Will be tough next out vs. state-bred maidens.

PETITE TREAT
Trainer: Mike Puype
Last race: Jan. 3, 5th
Finish: 5th by 8 1/4
Beyer: 42
Brutal trip in Cal-bred allowance turf sprint. Steadied dirt crossing, hard-held between rivals, lost position, rallied wide, wrong lead to wire. No champ, but this was a toss.

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BAEZA
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Last race: Jan. 4, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 7
Beyer: 80
Second-start sibling to Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Belmont winner Dornoch improved with blinkers, move to dirt. “Won” race for second, headed right direction.

BUTTERFLY BEACH
Trainer: Neil Drysdale
Last race: Jan. 4, 6th
Finish: 6th by 5 1/4
Beyer: 49
Cal-bred debut filly broke slowly from rail in turf sprint, hard-held, keen while rated, blocked turn and into stretch, split rivals, finished well, galloped out well, super debut.

RICHI
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Jan. 4, 9th
Finish: 1st by 1 1/2
Beyer: 97
Smashing sprint comeback by Group 1 winner from Chile. Third on rail, cut corner, strong to wire. Richi can run long, likely to target G1 Beholder Mile on March 8.

SARWAR
Trainer: Leonard Powell
Last race: Jan. 4, 10th
Finish: 4th by 3 1/2
Beyer: 85
Veteran raced midpack in N2X turf route, waited in traffic far turn, evenly late. Did not have “trouble,” but slow-pace race did not set up for his kick. Follow vs. similar.

TAMINO
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Last race: Jan. 5, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/2
Beyer: 78
Debut 3-year-old set pace in turf sprint, collared late, finished more than three clear of third. Solid debut by Candy Ride colt, first runner produced by stakes-winning dam.

SAREEHA
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: Jan. 5, 8th
Finish: 1st by 4 1/4
Beyer: 84
Veteran mare now 2 for 2 since claimed and rationing her speed with blinkers off. Midpack, rail rally far turn, crushed second-level allowance turf mile. Stakes next.

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