Leading rider Hernandez looks set to add to tally

ARCADIA, Calif. – An unusually wet California winter yielded to sunshine this week, but 13 inches of rain the past three weeks at Santa Anita left a mark. When racing resumes Friday, handicappers and horsemen must cope with an array of wet-weather leftovers.

The subtleties include a prominent stakes winner whose comeback was postponed once by rain; turf sprints shortened in distance due to a portion of the course that takes longer to dry; and a maiden whose rain-interrupted work pattern since his promising debut tempers enthusiasm.

The good news following Santa Anita cancellations Jan. 14 and 16 is the extended forecast calls for dry weather. That means a resumption of turf racing Friday, with five grass races and dominating jockey Juan Hernandez positioned to extend his lead.

The circuit’s top year-round rider, Hernandez faced an influx of top riders this winter, including Frankie Dettori, Kazushi Kimura, Flavien Prat, and John Velazquez. Three weeks into the meet, it’s a one-horse race. Hernandez has won 17 races, nearly triple Edwin Maldonado, who has six wins.

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Hernandez could sweep the early double. He rides Ready Soul in race 1, a $50,000 claiming turf mile; his best mount is Big Switch in race 2, an entry-level allowance route for fillies and mares.

A multiple California-bred stakes winner whose Jan. 14 comeback was postponed when racing was canceled by rain, Big Switch makes her first start in eight months. John Sadler trains the filly, whose speed figures, upfront style, and solid comeback works suggest she is among the most probable winners on the card. Rivals include Trouville and Micro Share.

Two turf sprints Friday, races 3 and 5, would have started in the backstretch turf chute. However, that portion of the course requires a longer drying-out period. Santa Anita shortened the races from six furlongs to 5 1/2 furlongs. Will the shorter distance benefit speed? Maybe not.

Race 3, for claiming fillies and mares, includes at least three with speed. La V., Unwritten Code, and Trickle In could duel early and set it up for dropper Soaring Sky. Race 5, a maiden-claiming sprint for fillies, includes two key droppers. Itzel flashed speed and finished fourth in her debut at 6 1/2 furlongs; Rylan Jayne ran better than her recent fifth-place finish looks. Hernandez rides her back.

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Race-4 contender Tom’s X S ran well in his December debut, missing by a neck after a slow start and wide trip. But his work pattern since then has gaps. Instead, the California-bred maiden sprint might finally be graduation day for Magnificent Ride, whose 11 starts include five in-the-money finishes. He is due, as is rider Flavien Prat, who is 5 for 63, with 14 seconds and 9 thirds.

Race 7 is the Friday feature in which favorite The Grey Wizard drops from a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar to an entry-level allowance at 1 1/4 miles on turf. To win, he must catch likely pacesetter Dominant Soul, who will try to steal it at a price.

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