Moon Kitty finally finds the right spot

ARCADIA, Calif. – Finding winners in five-furlong turf sprints at Santa Anita is easy – just follow the money. The public’s handicapping acumen is nearly perfect.

Favorites are 8 for 9 this meet in turf sprints at five furlongs, a statistic that will be tested in the featured seventh race Friday. The second-level allowance for fillies and mares attracted six entrants. Question is, who will be the favorite anyway?

It might be front-runner Moon Kitty, returning to a suitable level after finishing ninth in the Grade 3 Las Flores. It might be second-level allowance winner Gliding By, entered for the optional $62,500 tag. It might be Ficanas, shortening in distance after two come-from-behind wins at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Santa Anita linemaker Jon White opened Moon Kitty as the 9-5 favorite; Gliding By and Ficanas both are 2-1. Littlefirefighter, Smiling Tigress, and Starlite Style also entered the feature, which received a $10,000 purse increase to $69,000 along with a distance decrease from its originally scheduled 6 1/2 furlongs on the hill. Downhill racing remains suspended.

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The shorter trip benefits Moon Kitty, whose distance limitations explain why she did not start between Nov. 29 and April 9. Moon Kitty repeatedly entered second-level allowance races at six furlongs or less, but none of the races were used.

“There were two-other-thans at six and a half, or seven,” trainer Jack Carava said, “But she’s a filly that [is ineffective] a step over three-quarters. She is really pigeonholed because of that.”

In four months between starts, Moon Kitty remained in training while Carava and owner Chris Curtis shopped for a spot. Out of desperation, she entered the Grade 3 Los Flores and finished ninth at 61-1.

“It was basically a frustration move, just a shot in the dark,” Carava said.

Friday, Moon Kitty finds an ideal spot. She is the speed of the field and proven at the level. She finished first in a two-other-than last year, but was disqualified for interference.

Gliding By won at the level two starts ago, though it was at 6 1/2 furlongs. Five furlongs “could be too short,” trainer Richard Baltas said, repeating “could be” for emphasis. In other words, it might not be too short. Gliding By finished fourth 12 days ago at one mile.

The comebacker Littlefirefighter could pressure Moon Kitty; late-runner Ficanas will rally from behind. Since the start of the meet on Dec. 26, the course has been fair to all styles at five furlongs – two winners led throughout, three pressed the pace, four rallied from the back.