Brad Free's Santa Anita Horses to Watch for week of Oct. 24-26

PURA VIDA PRINCESA
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: Oct. 24, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 75
Maiden filly off eight months pressed pace in turf mile, made lead in stretch, worn down by favorite. Career-best effort by Pura Vida Princesa, should be tough next out.

PIO NONO
Trainer: Vladimir Cerin
Last race: Oct. 24, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 2 3/4
Beyer: 51
Maiden-claiming gelding seven-wide on first turn of dirt mile, four-wide remainder of race, lost too much ground. He is no champ but fits vs. Cal-bred maiden-claiming rivals.

ACKNOWLEDGEMEPLZ
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: Oct. 25, 3rd
Finish: 1st by 3/4
Beyer: 93
Off four months, second-start 2-year-old maiden sped to lead from rail and wired fast 6 1/2-furlong race. Would fit in Bob Hope Stakes on Nov. 16 at Del Mar.

BLACKSMITH
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Oct. 25, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 91
Debut 2-year-old colt chased three-wide from third, narrowed gap late, galloped out super. Another promising juvenile from bottomless stable. Maiden standout next time.

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TAPALO
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: Oct. 25, 6th
Finish: 4th by 4
Beyer: 69
Rail post compromised second-level allowance sprinter. Pushed along to chase inside and behind rivals, uncomfortable, sputtered. Worth following from an outside post.

A ROUSING BABE
Trainer: Peter Miller
Last race: Oct. 25, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 53
Claiming mare off slow, shuffled back at half-mile pole, lost ground rallying wide, evenly late. Claimed for $6,250 by Miller from Blaine Wright, fits in similar sprint.

BRUNCHANDCRUNCH
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Last race: Oct. 26, 2nd
Finish: 4th by 6
Beyer: 73
Stretch-out maiden broke from post 6 and raced wide from start to finish in Cal-bred maiden route. Wide early, wide far turn, lacked a rally. Horrible trip, this race is a toss-out.

BARTHOLDY
Trainer: Steve Knapp
Last race: Oct. 26, 3rd
Finish: 3rd by 1
Beyer: 88
First start in seven months, second-level allowance sprinter pressed pace, challenged into lane, tired. Solid comeback, can improve second start back, handles both Del Mar and Santa Anita.

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