Brad Free's Santa Anita Horses to Watch for week of May 31, 2024

SMILING BEAST
Trainer: Brian Koriner
Last race: May 25, 2nd
Finish: 1st by 2 1/2
Beyer: 76
Debut 4-year-old bet to even-money in Cal-bred sprint, ran accordingly. Broke last, trailed, three-wide rally, switched leads, gone. Sharp win, gelding should fit in Cal-bred allowance.

OLD PAL
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: May 25, 4th
Finish: 3rd by 3 1/4
Beyer: 83
Deep closer compromised by slow pace in Cal-bred turf-mile stakes. Trailed early, final quarter sharp 23.03 seconds. Looms contender in Crystal Water Stakes on Aug. 3 at Del Mar.

LULA BELLA
Trainer: Luis Mendez
Last race: May 26, 2nd
Finish: 6th by 12 3/4
Beyer: 29
Odds-on first out, juvenile broke slowly, steadied backstretch, went through the motions. This was a throw-out debut. Filly sired by Stanford trained better than she ran, follow next out.

THIRSTY IN VEGAS
Trainer: Steve Knapp
Last race: May 26, 5th
Finish: 4th by 2 1/2
Beyer: 54
Debut juvenile filly sent early, forwardly placed, rank and shuffled slightly into turn, raced greenly inside and behind leaders, evenly to wire. Better-than-looked debut by Cal-bred.

STANDING O
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: May 26, 6th
Finish: 5th by 5 3/4
Beyer: 83
Front-runner set fast pace in turf mile, led to deep stretch, swallowed late. Ran well in Del Mar turf sprints last year, eligible to second-level allowance turf sprint Aug. 3 at Del Mar.

FATHER DELAY
Trainer: Bob Hess, Jr.
Last race: May 27, 3rd
Finish: 6th by 3 3/4
Beyer: 79
Blocked, steadied, and shuffled on turn of turf sprint, half-hearted rally, evenly. Improved colt this year handles turf and dirt, come-from-behind upset candidate next N1X, either surface.

CAROL’S COMIC
Trainer: Val Brinkerhoff
Last race: May 27, race 6
Finish: 6th by 6 1/4
Beyer: 52
Veteran pace-presser stumbled to his knees at break, away next-to-last, middle move through turn, split field, better-than-looked try. Fits in non-winners-of-two lifetime claiming sprint.

PIONEER PRINCE
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Last race: May 27, 7th
Finish: 8th by 2 1/2
Beyer: 74
Stretch-out sprinter favored in turf mile tucked just off pace, rail trip, but got blocked from quarter pole to wire. He had no shot. Contender in non-winners-of-two starter, short or long.