Juvenile fillies in spotlight on Thursday

ARCADIA, Calif. – It’s full speed ahead for the 2-year-old program Thursday at Santa Anita, where two maiden races for California-bred juvenile fillies upstage the allowance feature for fillies and mares.

Nineteen fillies entered the maiden race, which was split into two divisions. Race 1 pits debut runner-up Lippy against fast-working first-timer Nardini. Race 3 is led by Naughty Tiger, who set the pace and finished third in her debut. She faces a muddled cast.

The maiden races Thursday share the spotlight with the race-6 feature, an entry-level allowance for filly-mare sprinters on the downhill course. Front-runner Lori’s Attitude and late-runner Goseecal battle six others in the 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint.

Juvenile maidens are running to form this spring. Six of the 12 races have been won by favorites, and nine winners paid $6 or less. In the first race Thursday, bettors are likely to focus on Lippy and Nardini.

Lippy is trained by Doug O’Neill, who already has five wins from 18 2-year-old starters. But the debut by Lippy was less than satisfying. The favorite, she chased the pace, was no match late, and lost by 2 1/4 lengths. Perhaps she will improve. She probably needs to improve, because her main rival looks ready to fire.

Nardini is trained by David Hofmans, who is 4 for 8 with debut 2-year-olds the past three years. In addition to two sharp recent works, Nardini is bred to win early. Sired by the second-crop stallion Acclamation, Nardini gets speed from her female side.

Nardini was produced by Ismene, a precocious 2-year-old in 2011. She won her summer debut, followed by two stakes for 2-year-olds. Her first foal was Ismelucky, 2-year-old maiden winner second out and winner of a restricted stakes for 2-year-olds in her third start. Nardini, with works, pedigree and a win-early trainer, is live in the opener.

Race 3, however, is difficult. Naughty Tiger set the pace and tired to third, nearly two lengths behind race-1 contender Lippy. Naughty Tiger could improve, though she faded readily first out. Second-time starter Takahiro’s Dream raced wide and was green in the lane in her debut. She is another that could improve.

Naturalborn Singer finished with run in her fourth-place debut. O’Neill-trained Settle It was favored in both her starts, a runner-up finish followed by a dull fifth. Race 3 is wide open.

The feature race is easy. Lori’s Attitude seeks her third straight on the hill, moving up in class after battling on a hot pace and winning a $32,000 claiming sprint.

To win, she must hold off late-runner Goseecal, a claiming winner on the hill two back followed by a creditable third at the same class level she runs in Thursday. Tizanillusion, Go Mary, Robin’s Love, and Battleground State are borderline contenders.