Maiden 3-year-olds in first leg of intriguing three-race sequence

ARCADIA, Calif. – Occasionally during the long winter racing season, a quiet weekday program jumps up with surprising appeal. It happens on Friday at Santa Anita.

The nine-race card includes a maiden route with potential Derby implications, a turf sprint featuring the meet’s top trainer and leading apprentice, and a California-bred sprint in which a 6-year-old second-time starter actually has a shot. A little something for everyone.

In race 6, the maidens Omaha Beach is first-time dirt, and Nolo Contesto is first-time route. Both were nominated to the Santa Anita Derby. In race 7, trainer Richard Baltas gives apprentice Heriberto Figueroa a leg up on speedster Okinawa. And in race 8, second-start comeback veteran Raul Rosas faces favorite Clyde’s Pride in a statebred allowance. The sequence is worth further scrutiny.

Race 6

Omaha Beach is by grass sire War Front, but his main-track workouts are one reason trainer Richard Mandella will switch surfaces with him for the one-mile maiden race. “He’s training so good on the dirt, I’m going to give it a shot,” Mandella said. “He’s doing really good.”

He also is facing easier. Omaha Beach lost by a neck to next-out stakes winner Bob and Jackie, and lost by a nose to next-out Grade 3 winner Flying Scotsman. Omaha Beach, a sibling to 2014 champion juvenile filly Take Charge Brandi, will be ridden again by Flavien Prat. If he handles dirt, it will take a good colt to beat him.

Nolo Contesto looms the spoiler following a fifth-place sprint debut. “We felt he was a route horse before we ever ran him,” trainer John Sadler said.

He considered scratching Nolo Contesto after he drew the rail first out, but decided to give him a prep.

His fifth-place finish was better than it looks. Nolo Contesto broke slowly, Joel Rosario lost his left iron, the colt uncorked an extended rally on the turn, finished with run, and galloped out in front.

“I was actually pretty happy with the race,” Sadler said. “He’s one we’re excited about.”

Nolo Contesto, by Pioneerof the Nile, should improve running two turns. Other entrants Friday include Harmon, who did not care for the Del Mar surface last out, Railman, and Green Fleet.

Race 7

Baltas acknowledges a tactical error last time with Okinawa, the most likely winner of this second-level allowance turf sprint for fillies and mares. She finished next to last in her most recent start when rating tactics were employed around two turns.

“She’s got a lot of natural speed, and I tried to reserve it,” Baltas said. “Her best asset is her natural speed. She’s not a horse that’s going to rate.”

Apprentice rider Figueroa, 7 for 30 and the meet’s second-leading rider, gains the mount on Okinawa, whose front-running style complements the second Baltas entrant, A Little Bit Me. She also goes route to sprint in her first start since Baltas claimed her from a runner-up finish behind next-out stakes winner Amandine.

“That was a nice claim, I think,” Baltas said. “She’s trained really well since I’ve had her.”

Prat rides A Little Bit Me, who has run well on the hill and is expected to rally from behind.

Baltas, whose meet-high 27 starters produced a meet-high six wins and a meet-high seven seconds, entered runners in five races Friday, including likely race 2 favorite Majestic Design.

Among the chief rivals for Okinawa in race 7 are stakes-race droppers Travieza and Tonahutu and front-runner Suspicious Spouse.

Race 8

Raul Rosas the person is stallion manager at Harris Farms in central California. Raul Rosas the racehorse is a 6-year-old gelding whose only start was a maiden romp in July 2017 for Harris and trainer Dean Pederson. He returns Friday.

“He runs well fresh,” Pederson cracked. The challenge is keeping him sound.

Raul Rosas was a 4-year-old when he made his debut at Del Mar. He won by nearly six lengths with an 87 Beyer Speed Figure, breezed once afterward, then “came back not so good,” according to Pederson. With time off, followed by more time off, Raul Rosas is finally ready for a comeback.

“Even though he’s working good, I don’t know if he’s 100 percent,” Pederson said. “Hopefully, he runs well and comes out of it good. Then you have all winter to see where you’re at. He’s obviously talented.”

He will need to be because if Clyde’s Pride reproduces his maiden victory two starts back, the six-furlong sprint is his for the taking. Clyde’s Pride misfired last time, possibly due to an extreme pace.

Others in the field include late runners Minoso and Leroy.

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