Free: Santa Anita horses to watch for week of Feb. 17, 2020
KAKISTOCRACY
Trainer: Carla Gaines
Last race: Feb. 15, 7th
Finish: 4th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 78
Willing to forgive beaten favorite in Cal-bred turf mile. Keen early, lost ground wide into lane, finished okay. Maiden winner last time out, lightly raced, contender vs. similar.
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GENERAL INTEREST
Trainer: Bob Hess Jr.
Last race: Feb. 15, 7th
Finish: 6th by 5 3/4
Beyer: 71
Hard-held and shuffled early, Cal-bred gelding had no shot in turf mile. Re-claimed for $20,000 by Hess, might prefer sprint, follow on turnback. Tough trip previous start also.
WARREN’S EMPRESS
Trainer: Craig Lewis
Last race: Feb. 16, 3rd
Finish: 4th by 3 1/4
Beyer: 47
Second-start maiden compromised in turf mile. Hopped start, keen, unrelaxed, three wide throughout, four wide into lane, loomed, tired. Suspect she is better than this suggests.
CHARLATAN
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Feb. 16, 4th
Finish: 1st by 5 3/4
Beyer: 105
Splashy debut by 3-year-old colt earned highest Beyer of 2017 foal crop. Speightstown colt from Grade 2- and 3-winning mare a potential star. No value, but fun to follow.
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POSTERIZE
Trainer: Ian Kruljac
Last race: Feb. 16, 6th
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 82
Older gelding pressed/set fast pace in Cal-bred allowance/optional claiming race, collared by favorite, held second, solid effort. Re-claimed for $20,000 by Kruljac, long gone next?
SPEAKEROFTHEHOUSE
Trainer: Ian Kruljac
Last race: Feb. 16, 8th
Finish: 4th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 57
This 15-start maiden had bad trip under slumping apprentice Jorge Velez (1 for 44 Jan. 31 through Feb. 17). Off slow, wide throughout $20,000 maiden-claiming route.