Free: Santa Anita horses to watch for week of Feb. 7, 2022
WORSE READ SANCHEZ
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: Feb. 4, race 5
Finish: 2nd by nose
Beyer: 79
Improving 3-year-old by Square Eddie produced career-best effort in fourth start, entry-level Cal-bred allowance at mile and one-eighth on turf. Solid fit vs. similar.
EVENING SUN
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: Feb. 4, race 7
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 89
Runner-up in second-level allowance turf route was best. Pulled early, lost ground three and four wide throughout, made lead furlong pole, lost punch. Wins with better trip.
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CANADIAN PRIDE
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Last race: Feb. 4, race 8
Finish: 1st by 2 1/4
Beyer: 101
Second-level allowance sprinter pressed pace, drew off, perfect trip, fast time. Creative Cause gelding from stakes-winning sibling to pair of G1 winners can handle class hike.
TOOK CHARGE
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Last race: Feb. 4, race 8
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 95
Front-runner did the dirty work setting pace for Canadian Pride. Broke from rail, led to deep stretch, finished clear of third. Likely favorite in next second-level allowance sprint.
SUBCONSCIOUS
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Last race: Feb. 5, race 1
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 93
Odds-on runner-up in Grade 3 turf mile, gelded son of Tapit worth following if tries main track. Trains super on dirt, pressing style conducive to dirt racing. Room to improve.
CARMELITA’S MAN
Trainer: Dean Pedersen
Last race: Feb. 5, race 5
Finish: 5th by 1 3/4
Beyer: 84
Off four months after fast win in Cal-bred N1X, this gelding actually ran okay Three-wide most of trip, finished evenly, split field in promising comeback. Fits in open N1X.
SYZSLAK
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Last race: Feb. 6, race 6
Finish: 5th by 10 1/4
Beyer: 45
Cal-bred trained okay for his debut, but sandwiched in early pace duel, shuffled back, chased from third, tired. Should improve with racing, might fit in Cal-bred maiden-50.
MESSIER
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Feb. 6, race 8
Finish: 1st by 15
Beyer: 103
Empire Maker colt stamped himself early favorite for Preakness with Grade 3 blowout. Broke running, took pace pressure, ran away. Currently ineligible for Kentucky Derby.