Brainspin finally gets her chance in Thursday allowance sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – While the filly Brainspin has waited a long time to run, Seaside Glory waited only 12 days. Brainspin and Seaside Glory are the principals Thursday in a second-level allowance sprint at Santa Anita, the first dirt sprint for Southern California females at that level since July 27 at Del Mar.

“I’m just happy the race went,” said Brainspin’s trainer, John Sadler. “You’ve been sitting since the end of Del Mar, waiting for this race to go.”

Brainspin won twice at Del Mar and targeted a Sept. 23 allowance at Los Alamitos. That second-level allowance was canceled due to insufficient entries. Brainspin had to wait.

“The other choices were to run in the L.A. Woman or go down and run for claiming,” Sadler said.

Brainspin kept training and waiting, while Seaside Glory wheels back on short rest. She won a first-level allowance Oct. 8.

Jerry Hollendorfer and assistant Dan Ward train Seaside Glory, who would be the fall meet’s first two-time winner. Her Oct. 8 win was her first race in blinkers.

“We put blinkers on her for her last race because she’s better on the lead or right up there,” Ward said.

From post 5 in the field of six Thursday, Seaside Glory should get a pressing trip in the clear.

Other starters in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, race 5, include the Richard Baltas trainees Ponder Lea, a fast allowance winner last out, and Ultimate Holiday, a stretch runner. Skradin is an import from Argentina making her U.S. debut, while My Fiona is a back-class stakes winner who will roll late.

KEY CONTENDERS

Seaside Glory, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 84-60-71

◗ She worked a half-mile Sunday, eight days after her allowance win. Following the work, the exercise rider told Ward that Seaside Glory is “better than she was before the race.”

◗ Seaside Glory has won both of her starts at Santa Anita with mid-80s Beyer Speed Figures, which should be good enough to win Thursday.

◗ Norberto Arroyo rides.

Brainspin, by Flatter

Last 3 Beyers: 82-79-70

◗ She set an extreme pace in her Aug. 13 first-level allowance, wiring the field after fractions of 21.69 and 44.46 seconds. By comparison, the fractions for the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo for fillies and mares four days later were 21.87 and 44.79.

◗ Santiago Gonzalez rides.

Ponder Lea, by More Than Ready

Last 3 Beyers: 87-77-71

◗ Her Beyer in her last race is the highest earned by any horse in the field, but she is compromised by her inside post. The rail is 2 for 42 in dirt sprints at this meet.