Promnesia in good form, but far from a cinch in turf sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – It seems like Promnesia has been here before – in position to win a turf sprint for California-bred allowance fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

In both her recent starts on the hill, Promnesia challenged for the lead in the stretch but did not finish the job, finishing runner-up by a head and third by a length. Friday, she will try again in the eighth and final race. Will it be déjà vu all over again for Promnesia?

Ten statebred fillies and mares were entered in the turf sprint as Santa Anita resumes for the second half of a long season that runs through June 24. While the conventional selection in the Friday feature is Promnesia, others offer more value at higher odds.

Li’l Grazen and Silverspun Pickup are among the challengers to Promnesia, whose trainer is Marty Jones. Factors against Promnesia include squandered chances and a curious trend in turf sprints for winners. Excluding maiden races, favorites have won just two of the last 22 turf sprints.

Bettors who are fine with higher-risk and higher potential reward will find reasons to like Li’l Grazen and Silverspun Pickup.

Trainer Eddie Truman was initially disappointed with the sixth-place finish by Li’l Grazen last out. Upon review, it was not so bad.

“It was a mile, and she didn’t come out of there running,” Truman said. “That’s not her style; she can’t be seven, eight lengths out. She needs to be close.”

Li’l Grazen has more speed than she showed last time. If she breaks running from the rail, she could get a forwardly placed trip under Drayden Van Dyke. The race Friday is her second start after being claimed for $32,000 from a second-place finish on dirt.

Silverspun Pickup moves up sharply in class, from a five-length win in an age-restricted $25,000 claiming dirt race to a turf allowance against older fillies and mares. Trainer Mike Machowsky expects continued improvement.

“We couldn’t get a race to go for this filly,” he said. “We just took a chance when we ran her there. Nobody took her, thank God.”

Machowsky said Silverspun Pickup’s last few works “have been really good.” From a betting perspective, class and footing change is okay. Machowsky said that with more uncertainty “there is more value.”

Silverspun Pickup’s rider is Martin Pedroza; Kent Desormeaux rides Promnesia. The others in the field are Easydoes It Please, Ashley’s Charms, Wonderful Lie, All of a Sudden, Halo Darlin, Queen Bee to You, and Lady Espionage.