Free’s review: Maiden blazes to downhill course record

Course record

Eddie’s First deserved to be favored Sunday in a maiden turf race, the fifth start of his career. Whether he is a deserving record-holder is a different debate.

Maidens are not expected to smash the downhill record by .37 of a second. Eddie’s First did that. He romped by more than nine lengths and lowered the 6 1/2-furlong course record from 1:11.10 to 1:10.73. Is the turf course fast? You better believe it.

The calendar contributed to the record. Santa Anita historically has been closed in May. But with Hollywood Park shuttered, Santa Anita runs turf races into May and beyond. The weather is warm and dry. The turf is hard, fast, and firm – favorable conditions for a front-runner.

Eddie’s First pressed the pace. The opening quarter was 21.48, a reasonable first fraction. A day earlier, with the turf rails at 24 feet, three turf sprints posted a faster first fraction. The turf rails Sunday were 15 feet.

The second quarter is where it got weird. Eddie’s First blazed the middle quarter-mile in 21.10. That is unheard of for California-bred maidens.

The middle quarter of Santa Anita turf sprints typically are about 21.80. Maidens tend to be slightly slower than that. The 21.10-second middle quarter by Eddie’s First blows that average out of the water. It was the fastest middle quarter of any downhill sprint since the start of the winter meet on Dec. 26.

When a maiden sets a record, something could be out of whack. Maybe the clock went awry or a timer got tripped at the wrong point. It is hard to explain.

Prior to the maiden win, many higher-class horses did not flirt with the track record. Since Dec. 26, there were two graded stakes, seven non-graded stakes, and six allowance races for N2X or higher. But none of those higher-class turf sprinters ran during May.

The margin of victory supports the clock. Eddie’s First won the race by more than nine lengths. The runner-up Smart Journey finished more than four lengths clear of third. The field was strung out.

Still, it is surprising that a maiden would have run the fastest middle quarter of the year, and second-fastest half-mile of the year (a N2X on Feb. 14 had a half in 42.23).

Eddie’s First goes into the record books as the course record-holder, having broken the previous record set by multiple stakes winner/subsequent Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag. He set the record in the Grade 3 Morvich in 2008.

Eddie’s First cannot be compared to California Flag, not until he goes out and runs another fast race on the downhill course. Perhaps he will. Stay tuned.

Preakness ramifications

Bettors that consider Bayern a live longshot in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday have an extra reason to like him. Or is it a reason to be skeptical? Bayern was first across the wire in the Derby Trial last month at Churchill Downs, disqualified to second.

Friendswith K Mill finished fifth in the Derby Trial, just two lengths behind Bayern. In race 3 Sunday at Santa Anita, Friendswith K Mill was the first starter from the Derby Trail to run back. He delivered in a N1X route for 3-year-olds. Friendswith K Mill raced at the back, rallied outside in the lane, and surged to a 2 1/4-length victory.

Friendswith K Mill flatters Bayern, right? Not according to the figures. Friendswith K Mill earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in the Derby Trial; his number dropped to 85 winning the allowance. So maybe the Derby Trial was not a good race after all?

Leading trainer

Doug O’Neill trains course record-setter Eddie’s First and Friendswith K Mill. O’Neill has had a big meet. The new meet began April 25, and after 11 racing days, O’Neill has more than doubled the win total of his nearest pursuer. O’Neill is 12 for 45 at the meet (he was 23 for 212 during the four-month winter meet).

O’Neill’s winners include two track records (Eddie’s First, 2-year-old Wake Up Nick) and a stakes-race upset by Dancingtothestars.

Horse to watch

ICE CREAM TRUCK
Trainer: A.C. Avila
Last race: May 11, 1st
Finish: 2nd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 63
Favored at 7-10, this maiden-20 ran fast enough to win most races at the level while finishing more than 11 lengths clear of third. He was claimed by Avila from Mike Puype and can make short work of similar, preferably a sprint.