Free's preview: Meet comes to a close

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sunday is closing day at Santa Anita. The Los Alamitos Thoroughbred meet opens Thursday. A few clues to the closing-day card are below.

Race 1: Strategic jackpot

In five consecutive races, Sun Spots raced toward the lead. In five straight races, he finished off the board.

It was time for trainer Barry Abrams to change strategy. He huddled with jockey Alonso Quinonez.

“When the gates open, just stand up on him,” Abrams instructed Quinonez. In other words, drop anchor.

Quinonez rode to strategy and took Sun Spots back. He was nine lengths off the pace. This time, he finished. Sun Spots rallied from seventh to first, winning the maiden-claiming turf sprint at $37. The strategy worked. That was nine days ago.

Sun Spots wheels back Sunday in race 1, a starter allowance on the same downhill course. His new running style is opposite favorite Off the Deep End. The latter is obvious, up in class, and trying turf after a blowout debut. He might be gone at low odds.

But when Abrams runners get good, they often stay good. At 8-1 on the morning line, Sun Spots is a tempting play.

Race 6: Obsession horse

It was January at Santa Anita, and trainer Richard Mandella was excited about a hotshot import from Brazil. She placed twice in Group 1s, had speed, and could run long. Baruta might fill a void in the female turf division.

It is now June. Mandella still trains Baruta, and bettors still like her. Runner-up in her U.S. debut, runner-up in her second U.S. start, and runner-up third time. Favored each losing race, Baruta is still eligible to the first allowance condition.

Does she deserve one final chance? She probably does. On Sunday, for the first time in the U.S., Baruta will run long. She is the 7-2 favorite in a mile turf race. She is the horse to beat.

Baruta had trouble at the break both recent starts. If she breaks cleanly Sunday, race 6 should be all Baruta. For bettors, it has to be her last chance at a short price.

Race 8: San Juan price

Quick Casablanca “should” win the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano at 1 3/4 miles on turf. He is the class of the field. Both starts on the Santa Anita turf were solid – a Grade 3 win and a close third in a Grade 2. He won at 1 1/2 miles in South America.

Bettors looking for an alternative might consider a horse that Quick Casablanca finished in front of last out. Irish Surf, 9-2 on the morning line, is a better horse now than he was finishing fourth last time out.

“We changed up a few things, did a few things different,” trainer Dan Hendricks said. “He worked unbelievable.”

That was a seven-furlong drill by Irish Surf in 1:23.40 June 16.

“He acts like he’s been begging for a mile and three-quarters,” Hendricks said. “He’s got a funny style, where he can show speed, but then he won’t finish. He can lay back, and he’s got a move but not a quick turf move.”

The bottom line is that Irish Surf is training like a horse who will run the best race of his career Sunday. Will it be good enough to turn the tables on his main rival? At Irish Surf’s 9-2 program odds, it might be worth trying to find out.