Free: Santa Anita preview for Friday, April 26, 2019

Race 1 – Martine Bellocq has been through a lot. She suffered burns over 60 percent of her body in the December 2017 fire that swept through San Luis Rey Downs. Brite Rivers (3) could give Bellocq her first win as a trainer since Jackson Sundown on Sept. 8, 2016 at Los Alamitos. Brite Rivers finished second last out at Golden Gate Fields; her Friday rivals include Shanghai Barbie (2), Thanks (5) and Zillinda (6). Regarding dropper Shanghai Barbie, workout analyst Toby Turrell offers positive comments in the Daily Racing Form Santa Anita Clocker Report.

Race 2 – Small field, six fillies and mares $25k claiming N2L, mile on turf. The dropper Promnesia (1) is the choice, but 6-1 program odds for stretch-out Sheza Factor (4) is tempting. This is her first route; she could get loose pending strategy of Promnesia. As for the rider of Promnesia, Kent Desormeaux won three races last weekend. Is he emerging from an extended funk? When Desormeaux is “on,” no one is better. Stay tuned.

Race 3 – Five-horse field, hurray! High Five (4) is the one to beat as 5-2 second favorite in the program.

Race 4 – Not that 2-1 is a generous price, but lone-speed Factorial (2) should wire this maiden turf mile. Rails-at-30-feet is fair to all styles. Since racing resumed in late March, 10 rails-at-30 turf miles: 4 winners set pace, 2 pressed, 5 rallied from the back. Factorial should be gone, although first-time starter Springs Eternal (6) is problematic. He has been working like a colt that is well-meant first time out.

Race 5 – This Cal-bred maiden-50 sprint is the anchor leg of the Stronach 5. Took a shot with Tak’in the Red Eye (5), a 4-1 shot whose fourth-place comeback was a little better than it might look on paper. Suspect that 8-1 first-time starter Etterbay Ucklay (6) is better than his slow works suggest. Trainer Ron Ellis has won with 5 of his last 9 maiden-claiming first-time starters.

Race 7 – Moon Kitty (5) on the lead, Gliding By (2) from second, or Ficanas (3) from last? It’s a five-furlong turf-sprint coin flip.

Race 8 – A half-furlong might not seem like much, but it makes all the difference for Fast Cotton (5). He shortens from six and a half, to six, as one of the more probable winners on the card. From a risk-reward perspective, not thrilled with his 5-2 program odds.

First post: Friday, 1 p.m. PT.