Free: Santa Anita horses to watch for week of Feb. 8, 2021
SWORD ZORRO
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: Feb. 5, race 7
Finish: 5th by 7 1/2
Beyer: 62
Irish import forced into sprint stakes when allowance route did not fill, and was only prepping at six and a half. Trailed field, even finish in okay U.S. debut. Follow at two turns.
:: Get Brad Free’s Betting Strategies for Saturday’s card at Santa Anita
MY GIRL PEARL
Trainer: Steve Knapp
Last race: Feb. 5, race 8
Finish: 6th by 15
Beyer: 38
Maiden-claiming filly stretched to two turns, veered out at break, caught seven wide first turn, dueled into far turn and chucked it. Worth following at a price in maiden-20 sprint.
BOLD ENDEAVOR
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: Feb. 6, race 1
Finish: 1st by 5 1/2
Beyer: 94
Second start following $50k claim, older gelding wide most of trip, crushed nine-furlong N2X allowance on dirt. Career-best effort. Follow at the same level or higher.
CIDER APPLE
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: Feb. 6, race 2
Finish: 3rd by 1 1/2
Beyer: 70
Maiden import from Europe trailed at mile and one-eighth on turf, and finished willingly against the grain of the race shape. Solid U.S. debut. Should be tough next time out.
PAWNEE
Trainer: Ray Bell
Last race: Feb. 6, race 5
Finish: 1st by 4
Beyer: 68
Excellent comeback by 3-year-old filly in maiden-50 sprint. Pressed pace, ran away over strung-out field. Likely favorite right back in starter allowance, eligible to Cal-bred N1X.
:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report
HONORING MAJOR
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: Feb. 7, race 3
Finish: 1st by head
Beyer: 81
Wide from start to finish in $12.5k claiming mile, veteran held on and was claimed from Ryan Hanson. New trainer Glatt super with recent claims. Tab on the class hike.
MISS BIGLY
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Feb. 7, race 7
Finish: 3rd by 7 3/4
Beyer: 77
Mare making her first start since May 2020 was only prepping at six furlongs. Trailed field, one-paced through lane, wants to run two turns. Follow on the stretch-out.