Free: Santa Anita horses to watch for week of March 1, 2021
WILSON MONK
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Feb. 26, race 2
Finish: 1st by 3
Beyer: 79
Five-year-old first-time starter crushed Cal-bred maidens to become the first at this meet to win a six-furlong race from rail. Full of run behind slow pace, angled out, kicked. Sharp.
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THRIVE
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Feb. 26, race 5
Finish: 3rd by 1 1/2
Beyer: 72
Well-bet debut 3-year-old colt from stable that rarely wins first out broke half-step slowly, lacked speed, lugged in at the top of lane, and finished well in a promising career debut.
JUST DISTORTED
Trainer: Jonathan Wong
Last race: Feb. 26, race 6
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/2
Beyer: 68
Highly regarded 3-year-old filly ran well in career debut. Inside trip third or fourth, took dirt, steady rally through lane, “won” the race for place. Can improve off this solid effort.
MAHAAMEL
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: Feb. 27, race 6
Finish: 6th by 8 1/2
Beyer: 57
Stretch-out maiden employed odd strategy in turf route. Has speed, but was rated while front-runners dominated slow-paced race. Worth following in maiden-claiming turf route.
RESTLESS RAMBLER
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: Feb. 28, race 7
Finish: 4th by 4 3/4
Beyer: 64
Speedball gelding hounded through a blistering pace in $25k claiming turf sprint, hung tough to midstretch and cracked. Six furlongs is a reach, but speed commands respect.
MARGOT’S BOY
Trainer: Craig Lewis
Last race: Feb. 28, race 8
Finish: 4th by 12 1/4
Beyer: 67
Compromised by start-and-stop tactics in Cal-bred route stakes, gelding gunned early, dueled between horses, then rated behind duel, re-rallied, lost punch. Form better than it looks.