Impressive maiden winner Batiquitos returns in turf allowance

DEL MAR, Calif. – One of the more impressive debut winners of the Santa Anita winter meeting finally returns to the races on Friday at Del Mar when Batiquitos, idle since her first start back in March, heads the field in the day’s featured seventh race, a five-furlong turf sprint for California-bred females.

Batiquitos overcame a slow start from the rail when handily beating maidens on the dirt at Santa Anita on March 16, but emerged from the race with a small ankle chip that was removed via arthroscopic surgery, trainer Bill Spawr said on Wednesday morning.

A series of works at Santa Anita and then Del Mar has Batiquitos set for her comeback, but she is moving to the turf, and again drew the rail.

“She’s been training very well,” Spawr said. “The rail is always compromising. There was a race on dirt for her the first day of the meet, but she wasn’t quite ready. I didn’t necessarily want to run her on the turf. It’s just timing. It just came up that way. This is the only race in the book. She’s dead fit.”

Batiquitos was named by owner and breeder David Lindo for the lagoon about 10 miles north of Del Mar that divides Carlsbad from Encinitas.

Batiquitos is using her first-level allowance condition in the optional-claiming race. Of the nine entrants, only two – Desert Madam and Irish and Lucky – are eligible to be claimed for $20,000.

The main rival for Batiquitos appears to be Mikenjane, who crushed maidens in her debut at Santa Anita on Oct. 22. As with Batiquitos, she is moving to the turf for the first time.

KEY CONTENDERS

Batiquitos, by Dixie Chatter
Beyer: 74

◗ She was well regarded before her first start, and ran to her 4-5 odds.

Rafael Bejarano picks up the mount. Tyler Baze, who rode her first time out, is on Mikenjane.

Mikenjane, by Big Bad Leroybrown
Beyer: 75

◗ She broke poorly in her debut and was forced to go wide on the turn, then powered clear down the lane under Baze for a stylish 7 1/2-length victory against statebred maidens for trainer Kenny Black.

Beau Square, by Square Eddie
Last 3 Beyers: 81-61-60

◗ She ran the best race of her life when second in open company in a similar five-furlong turf sprint during the summer meeting here. This is her first start since.

Desert Madam, by Desert Code
Last 3 Beyers: 52-62-78

◗ This former Spawr trainee makes her first start since moving to Doug O’Neill’s barn.

◗ She has not raced this cheaply since May 2016, and though her last two starts were disappointing, this hard-trying mare has finished first or second in 17 of her 32 races.