Lots to consider for horseplayers on eight-race card

ARCADIA, Calif. – Handicapping uncertainties abound Friday on an unpretentious eight-race card at Santa Anita.

The ambiguities include a front-runner on an anti-speed course, a likely favorite in a maiden race who lost his first 21 starts, allowance sprint fillies experimenting at two turns, and a deep closer trying to get up at five furlongs in the shortest race of the day.

It’s a tough card on which to make a stand. Barring an allowance-route breakout by In Theory or Jane Austen in race 5, the card has little relevance beyond gambling. Of course, the game is based on gambling. That, and contrasting opinions. The aforementioned Friday races offer both.

Race 2: A $40,000 claiming turf sprint for fillies and mares, the race came up conspicuously short on speed. The scenario seemingly benefits Miss Ives, who breaks from the inside post and could make the lead setting easy fractions in the six-furlong race. But there is a problem.

With the rails at the outermost 30-foot setting such as the Friday configuration, none of the last 13 turf races at six furlongs (10 this meet) was won by the pacesetter. Speed kills, but an anti-speed profile kills speed. If Miss Ives weakens, Yolo Calls should be in the right spot to pounce.

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Race 3: A $50,000 California-bred maiden-claiming dirt mile is the right spot for Dark Marcus. After all, he is the fastest in the field on speed figures and proven around two turns. But in order to support Dark Marcus, a bettor must forgive his 21-race drought that began when he made his debut in December 2021.

Dark Marcus, who finished in the money in his four tries in maiden-claiming races, has never led any field at any point of call. Dark Marcus will have to reel in likely pacesetter Spot D’ Oro.

Race 5: An entry-level allowance/optional $150,000 claiming dirt mile for 3-year-old fillies, the race centers on In Theory and Jane Austen. Both are running long for the first time. In principle, distance is not an issue. Both are bred to stay. But pedigree theory is one thing, reality another.

In Theory, by Mendelssohn, won her debut gate to wire, then second out broke slowly, rushed, and tired to third. Her experience gives her the edge over Jane Austen, a Tapit filly who won her seven-furlong debut. If the high-figure fillies misfire, Arizona Oaks two-one finishers Pink Whitney or Sakura Blossom could win. Both entered for the $150,000 optional claiming tag.

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Race 6: A $50,000 claiming turf sprint at five furlongs, the field includes five ding-dong front-runners and two late-runners. The closers are top preferences Doncic and Mackinnon. Doncic has won at the class level and could get a great trip saving ground from the rail, behind the speed.

Mackinnon, a stakes winner as a juvenile, is a 5-year-old veteran dropping to his lowest level. Doncic and Mackinnon will be rolling from behind a likely hot pace; closers do win Santa Anita turf sprints at the infrequently used five-furlong distance, regardless of rail setting.

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