ARCADIA, Calif. – Mohaven, a stakes winner on Breeders’ Cup weekend at Del Mar last fall, was tried on turf for her first start of the year in early February. She will not be on the surface again soon. Mohaven thrived on dirt last year, and will be a strong favorite to win her second stakes on the surface in Saturday’s $125,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita. Trained by John Sadler for Legacy Ranch, Mohaven is one of three stakes winners in a field of eight in the Evening Jewel, the eighth race on a 12-race program highlighted by the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Mohaven finished fifth by five lengths in the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes on the hillside turf course on Feb. 7, a start made out of necessity. The filly needed a race, Sadler said. “It wasn’t a disappointment,” Sadler said. “We don’t think she likes the turf. It was run there or sit on her forever. I think she’ll run better on dirt.” :: Santa Anita Classic Meet! Get DRF Past Performances, Clocker Reports, and more. Last year, Mohaven won the Golden State Juvenile Fillies for statebreds at seven furlongs by 4 1/4 lengths after racing near the early pace. On Saturday, Mohaven drew post 7, which fits whatever tactics new jockey Emisael Jaramillo employs. He replaces Hector Berrios. Prior to the Golden State Juvenile Fillies, Mohaven finished second by 3 1/4 lengths to Too Sassy in the Generous Portion Stakes for statebred fillies at Del Mar in September. Too Sassy, who is entered in the Evening Jewel Stakes, has finished fifth in her last two starts for trainer Sam Scolamieri – the Golden State Juvenile Fillies and the California Cup Oaks on turf in January behind Cee Drew, also in the Evening Jewel field. Cee Drew, a closer trained by Dan Blacker, was fifth of seven in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 8, finishing behind three fillies entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks. Echo Eddie Thirsty Rebel, fourth in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs in January, and the Sadler-trainer Sammy Davis, a stakes winner at Del Mar last August, lead a field of six in the $125,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs. Thirsty Rebel, trained by Doug O’Neill, is quick enough to race near the lead. A winner of 2 of 7 starts, Thirsty Rebel was third in an allowance race for statebreds at six furlongs on turf on March 1 after leading by more than two lengths in the stretch. “It seems like his preferred surface is dirt,” O’Neill said. Sammy Davis is winless in four starts since the Graduation Stakes at six furlongs last summer. He was second at 3-5 in a four-horse allowance race on the hillside turf course on March 8, his only start on grass. “We wanted to try him on the grass because he’s by Sir Prancealot,” Sadler said. “We think he’s fine on either surface. “The horse that beat him the other day got an easy lead. He sat second and couldn’t catch the winner. “ Sammy Davis and Thirsty Rebel are likely to be chasing Tommy Norris, a gelding who has won his last two starts at six furlongs in a maiden race and an allowance race for statebreds. Tommy Norris was beaten in his first seven races. The key to success, according to trainer Librado Barocio, is for jockey Edwin Maldonado to forsake using his whip. Maldonado learned that in January, when Tommy Norris led in the stretch and faded to finish fourth as the 9-5 favorite in a maiden race. “He does not want to be hit,” Barocio said. Without using the whip, Tommy Norris led throughout his last two starts. Maldonado “didn’t touch him in the stretch and he kept going.” Barocio said. “That’s a big reason for his success now. He’s got that natural speed.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.