Mendez has the goods in pair of juvenile maiden races

ARCADIA, Calif. – The first 2-year-old maiden races of the Santa Anita spring meet will be run Friday, and trainer Luis Mendez will try to sweep the 4 1/2-furlong California-bred sprints.

R Heisman drew the rail in race 1, an open race. Cali Cream breaks from the middle of the field in race 5, restricted to fillies. Mendez expects both first-time starters will run well.

He would know. Mendez works and gallops many of his horses in the morning, though he recognizes neither R Heisman nor Cali Dream is a cinch.

“Sometimes I think I have a fast horse, and [the rivals] make me look slow,” Mendez said with a laugh. “I’m just glad they used the races. After all the hard work with the team, breaking and getting them ready, I’m glad we’re at this point.”

He may have been downplaying his ability to successfully launch the careers of future stakes horses. Mendez was the first trainer for Dr. Schivel, Ceiling Crusher, Big City Lights, and Positivity. All made their debut for Mendez at age 2, all later won stakes. The trainer also has an outstanding record in 4 1/2-furlong maiden races at Santa Anita – 9 for 36.

Mendez trains 20 horses, 14 are 2-year-olds, and most will start in the coming weeks.

“We’re shooting for this meet with pretty much everything,” Mendez said. The 2-year-olds who are not ready may debut at Del Mar.

R Heisman is the first Mendez runner in race 1. Sired by the late stallion Far From Over, R Heisman debuts with successive bullet works at three furlongs. His most recent work was April 21.

“It’s been almost two weeks. It was a last-minute decision [to run], but I think he’s fit,” the trainer said. Mendez popped R Heisman from the gate Monday as a reminder.

“He seems to be ready. We like him,” Mendez said.

Edwin Maldonado rides R Heisman, whose rivals include Doug O’Neill-trained filly How About Pavel and Jorge Periban-trained Bodacious. Others in the field are Mr. Machupicchu, Keep Dancin Nick, A Votre Sante, and Sir Nano.

How About Pavel could have entered race 5 for fillies, but O’Neill already has two in that race. How About Pavel, by Pavel, was produced by stakes winner How About Zero, whose first two foals won first out. Based on works and pedigree, How About Pavel looks like the most likely winner of race 1.

Mendez might have the right filly in race 5; Cali Cream has touted herself in workouts.

“If she shows what she’s been showing in the morning, she will be very good,” Mendez said.

Maldonado rides Cali Cream, a Curlin to Mischief filly whose solo gate work April 22 was solid.

O’Neill entered Odies Memory Lane and Knightwithlouis. Odies Memory Lane, by I’ll Have Another, worked better than her stablemate. Ryan Hanson starts Broadway Venus, a Dads Cap filly whose dam has produced four runners – two debut winners and a debut runner-up. Others in the field include Gobernadora Ely, Lil’ Bit Bossy, and Swift Harmony.