Brad Free's Santa Anita Horses to Watch for week of May 9-11, 2025
CHARLEY PRIDE
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: May 9, 4th
Finish: 2nd by head
Beyer: 48
Cal-bred $12.5k maiden-claiming favorite sandwiched and lost position, middle move, split rivals late, wrong lead, missed. He is likely to defeat similar next out.
KHINJANI
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: May 9, 7th
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 82
Comeback mare best in N2X turf route. Carried four wide first turn, trailed into lane, blocked briefly, 23.03 final quarter. Super comeback, first start in more than a year.
WOODBINE WAY
Trainer: Jose Hernandez, Jr.
Last race: May 9, 8th
Finish: 6th by 7 1/2
Beyer: 41
Veteran $5k claiming mare had bad trip. Chased pace pinned between rivals, heavy traffic into lane, steadied slightly, lost punch. She rarely wins, but fits at this level.
CHEEVER
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: May 10, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 92
Debut 3-year-old by Into Mischief cold in betting (morning line 5-2, off 7-1), settled three wide midpack, raced evenly in fast race. This was a promising start to his career.
MY BUCKET LIST
Trainer: Genaro Vallejo
Last race: May 10, 8th
Finish: 4th by 1 3/4
Beyer: 59
Odds-on in $5k claiming sprint, everything went wrong. Broke through gate, off slow, pulled hard, rallied, flat. Claimed by Vallejo from Antonio Garcia, fits vs. similar.
A FRIEND OF MINE
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: May 10, 9th
Finish: 2nd by nose
Beyer: 67
Debut 4-year-old filly by Mineshaft, half to millionaire graded winner Desert Dawn, ran better than she worked. Tucked inside off pace, rail rally, battled, three clear of third in a good debut.
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