Free's preview: Julio's Gold on a roll

Sharp form, rail post

Six months ago, Julio’s Gold entered a $12,500 claiming sprint, non-winners of two races lifetime. That is the bottom of the barrel in Southern California. Boy, did the light bulb go on. Julio’s Gold won that race and went on a roll.

Including the restricted-claiming win, Julio’s Gold has won four of her last six and finished in the money two other times. She is favored Sunday in race 3, an open $32,000 claiming race for fillies and mares. She is quickest in the field, and the choice to race gate to wire.

The knock is her price. She is 5-2, hardly a betting number. Julio’s Gold faces the same challenge as another sharp six-furlong sprinter drawn on the rail later on the card – race 7 favorite Peacenik.

Peacenik began the winter meet in an $8,000 claiming race that he crushed. He has won three of his last four and runs Sunday for a $32,000 claim tag.

Julio’s Gold and Peacenik hope the rail is good. It usually is. Since the start of the winter meet Dec. 26, the inside post is 13 for 112 (win rate, 11.6 percent) in six-furlong sprints. Not bad. The most productive post at six furlongs since Dec. 26 has been post 6. It produced 21 winners from 83 starters, a 25 percent rate. That could be an anomaly.

Wilshire preview

Bettors planning to wager against Theatre Star in the Grade 3 Wilshire probably should watch the video of the filly’s California debut. Theatre Star won the second-level allowance by “only” three-quarters of a length.

The margin was deceptive. Jockey Gary Stevens barely moved, and Theatre Star never looked like a loser. She won with plenty in the tank, making it four in a row. The daughter of War Front is owned by Glen Hill Farm and trained by Tom Proctor.

A second-level allowance victory does not necessarily make Theatre Star the winner of the Wilshire, but it would be difficult to find a more impressive three-quarter length winner at the meet. As for Proctor and assistant Aimee Dollase, their record in Southern California turf races the past three years is 71 for 296 (24 percent). Proctor also entered Premier Steps in the Wilshire.

To win the Wilshire, Theatre Star must defeat Parranda, an 8-for-21 shipper from the East Coast making her California debut for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and listed as the surprising 2-1 program favorite. The Hollendorfer stable is enduring an uncharacteristic drought. Since April 1 at Santa Anita, Hollendorfer is 2 for 38. He has eight seconds and four thirds during the span.

The co-second choice in the Wilshire is Moone’s My Name, whose last-out win in the American Beauty looked less impressive after Saturday. The mare that Moone’s My Name defeated last out, Unusual Hottie, was blown away in the Fran’s Valentine.

Spot plays

Race 6 – AFTERNOON WEDDING (No. 2, 15-1) finished a close fifth in her career debut for trainer Eric Kruljac, whose second-time starters have a long history of improvement. Her main rival is Not too Shiny.

Race 8 – THEATRE STAR (No. 5, 5-2) scored a better-than-it-looked allowance win last out in her California debut and meets a modest field in this Grade 3. She looks like a low-odds overlay.