English imports stand out as turf sprints return

ARCADIA, Calif. – Turf sprints are back at Santa Anita.

Rain forced races on the hillside turf course to be transferred to the main track Saturday and Sunday, so now there are three turf sprints at about 6 1/2 furlongs scheduled for Thursday’s eight-race program. The weather forecast for Thursday is clear.

The first and last races are optional claimers, divisions of a first-condition allowance race or $40,000 claimers that drew fields of seven and eight. The program has a carryover of $64,964 in the single-ticket jackpot provision of the pick six, which covers the third through eighth races.

RACE 1

The English imports Pellucid and Kylla Instinct were fourth and sixth in their first starts in this country last month and could improve with the experience.

Pellucid was beaten three lengths in an optional claimer on the hillside turf course April 2, encountering trouble in the stretch.

Trained by Simon Callaghan, the 3-year-old Pellucid will have her sixth start Thursday. In England last year, she was third in a Group 3 race for 2-year-old fillies at Salisbury.

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Kylla Instinct was sixth in an optional claimer at a mile on turf April 15, racing as close as third in early stretch before fading to lose by 4 3/4 lengths. Trained by Ed Freeman, Kylla Instinct won three minor races in England in 2016 at distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile.

Freeman said the shorter distance of Thursday’s race could help Kylla Instinct’s chances, particularly if runners such as Lindeza or Generous Pour show speed.

“I think she’ll be easier to rate,” Freeman said.

Lindeza cost $500,000 at a sale of 2-year-olds in training in 2015 and won her debut in October 2015. She has not raced since finishing fifth in an optional claimer on dirt in February 2016. Thursday’s race will be Lindeza’s turf debut.

RACE 8

Sturdy One, the 5-1 winner of a $40,000 claimer on the hillside turf course April 14, is the only runner in the race to have won her last start.

The 5-year-old mare was claimed that day by trainer Ian Kruljac, who is familiar with her abilities. Sturdy One was trained by Ian’s father, Eric, until she was claimed for $25,000 on April 1 when second in a race on the hillside turf course. Ian assists his father and has a small stable of his own, including the 2016 champion female sprinter, Finest City.

Sturdy One led throughout her win April 14 and has also been effective from off the pace.

Jeremy’s Legacy, second in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf in January, is a threat from off the pace. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Jeremy’s Legacy was third in an optional claimer at a mile on turf April 16. This will be Jeremy’s Legacy’s first turf sprint since February 2016. She will be fitted with blinkers in an attempt to end a 12-race losing streak.