Free: Horses to watch for week of Jan. 17, 2022
BASKET CASE
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Jan. 14, race 3
Finish: 5th by 7 1/2
Beyer: 51
Debut filly showed some ability in maiden-claiming sprint. Void of speed, green, finished okay. Progeny of first-crop sire Mastery modest so far, but filly can improve on the drop.
VITTORIO
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Last race: Jan. 14, race 7
Finish: 4th by 6 1/2
Beyer: 78
Lightly raced 4-year-old got double-teamed in second-level allowance. Hounded through fast pace by a “rabbit” who set it up for winning stablemate. Race was a toss for Vittorio.
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ADMIRABLY
Trainer: George Papaprodomou
Last race: Jan. 15, race 7
Finish: 4th by 3 1/4
Beyer: 79
Inside post, front-running tactics and hot pace compromised Cal-bred sprinter. Dueled from rail, hung tough to deep stretch, tired. Worth following with outside post vs. similar.
LETSGETLUCKY
Trainer: Brian Koriner
Last race: Jan. 15, race 9
Finish: 3rd by 3 1/2
Beyer: 92
Allowance sprinter tried to run with blazingly fast Brickyard Ride in Cal-bred sprint stakes, chased into lane, tired. Sharp gelding remains eligible to first allowance condition.
LAURA MARS
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Last race: Jan. 16, race 3
Finish: 4th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 64
Older maiden stumbled badly in turf sprint, away last, gradually picked up steam through turn and into lane, somehow made it close. She might have been best, contender next out.
LITTLE RACHEL
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: Jan. 16, race 6
Finish: 2nd by 2 3/4
Beyer: 73
Off 11 months, starter-allowance sprint mare dueled inside over an outside-favoring surface, hung tough through lane. Solid comeback effort, could be long gone next out.
GRACELUND GRAY
Trainer: Howard Zucker
Last race: Jan.16, race 7
Finish: 2nd by 1
Beyer: 61
Following two romps on a Canadian bullring, this filly ran super in allowance turf sprint. Steadied early, bumped repeatedly, green, finished well. May prefer dirt, stakes potential.
GOLD PHOENIX
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Jan. 17, race 1
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 86
European import unraced in nearly a year, void of speed in turf sprint, trailed, rallied wide, finished well in promising comeback. Excellent comeback by lightly raced gelding.