Free's review: Holiday Camp as good as expected

Baby race review

Holiday Camp was bet like he could not lose race 2 Saturday at Santa Anita, a five-furlong sprint for maiden 2-year-olds. Bob Baffert trains Holiday Camp, a son of Street Boss making his debut with a series of sharp workouts. He ran to expectations.

Holiday Camp ($3.80) pressed the pace two wide, cruised to the lead into the lane and scored a comfortable 2 1/2-length victory in a sharp 57.47 seconds. He earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure that stamps him as a contender when Baffert runs him back in a stakes. Good, solid debut.

The disappointment was Sky Preacher, who was cold in the betting. In his May 9 debut, Sky Preacher ran well, finishing second. Expectations for an improved effort second time out proved incorrect.

Sky Preacher, 3-1 in the program, opened up at 5-1. He eventually closed at an unenthusiastic 5-2 and ran poorly. Sky Preacher saved ground but did not kick. Apparently, he is not the colt he was expected to be.

The runner-up can be followed. Rowdy Dylan is a good-sized son of Sky Mesa. He lacked speed, finished with run, and galloped out alongside the winner. You’d have to like Rowdy Dylan next out, particularly at a distance beyond five furlongs.

Poor takeoff

Got Even would have set the pace in race 3, a first-level allowance at one mile. Instead, he went to his nose when the gates opened and trailed most of the way. The poor break for the expected pacesetter left Chicsdigtheshark ($15.20) on the lead and long gone.

Chicsdigtheshark was pressed through a solid pace (46.70 and 1:10.97), held his rival at bay, and won by a half-length in a fast 1:36.66. He earned a 90 Beyer. Chicsdigtheshark was the only starter in the optional claiming race that entered for the $40,000 claim tag. No claims, so trainer Bill Spawr can run him back at the same condition.

The racing surface Saturday was kind to speed, so the win by Chicsdigtheshark might require an asterisk. Good win, regardless.

The Man Can

Can the Man returned from a layoff of nearly eight months in race 8, the Grade 3 Affirmed for 3-year-olds. Given the quality of this year’s Affirmed, the race might be in danger of losing its graded status.

A subpar field of 3-year-olds ran 1 1/16 miles, and comeback sprinter Can the Man wired the field after setting slow fractions. The opening half was 48.83. Six furlongs was timed in 1:12.56. The final time of 1:44.27 earned an 87 Beyer.

Trainer Bob Baffert mentioned the $500,000 Los Alamitos Derby on July 5 as a possible next start. Give credit to Can the Man for winning the Affirmed, but recognize what it was – a glorified allowance, setting slow fractions over a track kind to speed.

Pick six

All pick six tickets were eliminated even before the final race on the card, won by second choice Southern Sunrise ($7). The carryover into Sunday was $109,125.

Horses to watch

ROWDY DYLAN
Trainer: Peter Miller
Last race: June 7, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 69

A first-time starter, this 2-year-old colt by Sky Mesa was void of speed but finished well and galloped out with run past the wire in a promising debut. He can win next out, preferably at a longer trip.

R S WATSON
Trainer: Adam Kitchingman
Last race: June 7, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 89

Returning from a nine-month layoff as a first-time gelding, this 4-year-old ran well in a comeback he had to need. He will be tough next time in a similar first-level allowance.

LINDANTE
Trainer: Jerry Fanning
Last race: June 7, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 3 1/2
Beyer: 75

A first-time starter in a turf sprint, this California-bred 3-year-old lacked speed, angled outside, and finished with run in a promising debut. He won’t be a maiden for long.