Free's preview: Tones brings back class to Race 1

Saturday, May 31, preview

RACE 1: BACK CLASS

It would be cool if Tones wins race 1 Saturday at Santa Anita. He has been up and down the class ladder. A stakes winner at Santa Anita in 2012, he sank all the way to $8,000 claiming a year ago. After being claimed by Molly Pearson and sent to Arizona, Tones rapidly improved.

The best recent race at Turf Paradise by Tones was a close finish to Fire With Fire in the Fitzsimmons Handicap. Fire With Fire subsequently won a pair of Grade 2s in Southern California.

Tones won the $81,000 Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita in 2012 and finished second that summer in the $109,000 Oceanside Stakes on opening day of the Del Mar meet. A six-time winner from 25 starts, his speed figures suggest he has a big look in the opener, a one-mile turf race, $40,000 claiming. Tones is a generous 4-1.

RACE 7: THE SPEED

It is tempting to back Storm Fighter in the Grade 2 Californian. The improving gelding is likely to set the pace, and if odds-on Fury Kapcori allows Storm Fighter to make the lead, then maybe the front-running longshot could win the Californian wire to wire. Storm Fighter is listed at 4-1.

Storm Fighter won the Tiznow Stakes last out against California-breds, earning improved pace and speed figures from his previous win in a statebred allowance. He could shake loose in the Californian and be gone.

RACE 8: SHIRREFFS OAKS

The Grade 1 American Oaks was won twice by trainer John Shirreffs – Harmonious in 2010 and Nereid in 2011. Those good fillies were making only their fourth start when they knocked out a Grade 1.

Shirreffs returns this year with a filly who has similar form lines and the same improving pattern of his previous American Oaks winners. Sweet Bliss is a daughter of Street Cry from an outstanding female family and is getting better with each race.

In the Grade 2 Honeymoon last out, Sweet Bliss was returning from a two-month layoff. She finished second to Nashoba’s Gold, not at all disgraced while missing by only a length. If she takes a step forward in her second start back, in the fifth start of her career, then Sweet Bliss might upset the American Oaks at 4-1 and give Shirreffs his third win in the race.

The dam of Sweet Bliss was Sweet Way, an allowance filly. Sweet Way is a sibling to Breeders’ Cup winners Life Is Sweet and Sweet Catomine.

SPOT PLAYS

Race 8

SWEET BLISS (#4, 4-1) finished second in a fine comeback at 1 1/8 miles. She galloped out in front of the field and should relish this 1 1/4-mile Grade 1. She might turn the tables on the very good Honeymoon winner Nashoba’s Gold.

Race 9

TRAWEEK (#3, 8-1) had trouble in recent starts and is likely to be overlooked in this $8,000 claiming sprint. He is 3 for 12 at Santa Anita.