Free's preview: Attractive spot plays early on card

Baby race preview

The first race Sunday at Santa Anita originally was scheduled to be run as the first race Thursday, but racing was cancelled due to triple-digit temperatures.

City Ride will try to make amends in the 4 1/2-furlong maiden race for 2-year-olds. It will be the second start for City Ride, whose debut was a debacle. Favored at 4-5, she broke inward, was shuffled back, lost position, and finished fifth. City Ride has worked well since and is expected to improve with a race under her belt.

Also-eligible Lost Bus is the 9-5 program favorite. If she draws in, her pedigree makes her a must-use. Trained by Blake Heap, Lost Bus was sired by Bring the Heat, whose progeny have won at an outstanding 25 percent clip (25 for 101) according to Thoro-Graph.

Listed at 2-1, the shortest price in the body of the race is Desert Thief. Her sire is Desert Code, whose progeny are 1 for 17 first time out.

Perhaps there is a bomber in the field. The debut by Wacky Miss was a sixth-place finish. Trainer Walther Solis believes the race did not set up well for her.

“She wants to make a run,” he said.

Instead, she was forwardly placed and backed up.

With a race under her belt, the Bushwacker filly could improve Sunday. She is listed at 15-1 on the line and worth a stab at that price.

Summer on turf

Kristo briefly was on the Kentucky Derby trail this winter but lost the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes by more than 13 lengths and the Grade 1 Wood Memorial by more than 16 lengths. It was time to regroup.

The John Sadler-trained son of Distorted Humor switches to grass in race 9 Sunday. He is 4-1 in a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at one mile.

“I want to try him on the surface,” said Sadler. “[The circuit] goes a lot to grass in the summer, so we’ll see if he likes it.”

The summer series at Del Mar includes the opening-day Oceanside Stakes, La Jolla Handicap, and Del Mar Derby.

To win the allowance Sunday, Kristo must defeat 5-2 favorite Home Run Kitten, runner-up by a neck last out in the $79,000 La Puente Stakes on turf.

Sadler shooters

Sadler this week said plans for Grade 2 winner Candy Boy would not be confirmed until after the Preakness. Candy Boy had a brutal trip finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby.

Kobe’s Back was fine after a disappointing fourth May 10 in the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes. He ran flat, trying to rally from behind a slow pace. Sadler said this week Kobe’s Back remains a candidate for any upcoming 3-year-old sprints.

Two new shooters will bolster the Sadler stable the second half of the year. Grade 2 winner More Chocolate, a 5-year-old, is up to six furlongs in her works and could run June 14 in the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap.

“We brought her back to try to win a Grade 1,” Sadler said.

Beatrice, a two-time Group 3 winner in Europe, could be ready for her U.S. debut late summer. The 4-year-old won 4 of 12. Ethnic Dance, unraced since winning the Del Mar Derby last summer, is up to six furlongs. You Know I Know, a synthetic specialist who finished third in the Pacific Classic last year, will target a summer campaign.

Spot plays

Race 1
WACKY MISS (#1, 15-1) was too close to the pace in her debut and backed up. The 2-year-old filly makes her second start at a giant price and is a candidate to outrun her odds, rallying from off the pace in the 4 1/2-furlong sprint.

Race 3
SHAKAHARI (#1, 2-1) set a blazing pace and tired to third in his comeback last month. He shortens from six furlongs to 5 1/2 and could be long gone. His main rival is fast-working first-time starter Kings Adventure.