Rail draw, speedy rival complicate Eda's return
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ARCADIA, Calif. – A Grade 1 winner returning in a filly-mare allowance sprint creates a fitting dilemma for bettors Friday at Santa Anita. The nine-race card is filled with uncertainty.
Eda enters the eighth race as the most accomplished runner, but she has not started in more than a year and is stuck on the rail. Conditions are not ideal for Eda, a five-time winner whose four stakes wins include the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos in 2021 and Grade 3 Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita in her most recent start, March 6, 2022.
Eda might win the open allowance anyway under Juan Hernandez, but she is no cinch at 6 1/2 furlongs first start back. Her rivals include comebacker Heels Up, who is eligible to an entry-level allowance but training as if she will fire. Bob Baffert trains Eda and Heels Up.
The field also includes Teddy’s Barino, a six-time winner whose 89 Beyer Speed Figure in an allowance win last out is higher than any other entrant’s. Mark Glatt trains Teddy’s Barino, a front-runner who complicates rail-drawn Eda. Kristi’s Tiger, Half Past Twelve, and Violent Runner also entered.
By the time Eda meets Teddy’s Barino in the eighth race, horseplayers will have navigated a string of ambiguous races. They include a surface-switch maiden in race 2, a well-meant older first-time starter in race 5, and a tough-trip turf filly in race 7.
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Race 2 is a restricted maiden dirt sprint that Lulu Lemon Drop can win if she handles the surface switch. She finished off the board twice on turf, but an improved second start hints the Peter Miller trainee is ready for a maiden win under Hernandez.
Lulu Lemon Drop flashed speed and tired first out; she employed opposite tactics in her second start. Purposely rated, she unleashed a little move on the turn, then went evenly to finish sixth. She moves to dirt Friday for what should be her best effort. Rivals include seven-start maiden Side by Side and second-start comebacker Chrome Dessert.
Race 5 is a California-bred maiden turf sprint in which Grand Tiger makes his career debut at age 4. Based on video and bullet workouts, the gelding is quick.
“If he breaks good, I think he’s going to open up,” trainer Brain Koriner said. “Smiling Tigers have been running good on the grass.”
Furthermore, speed is good at six furlongs on turf, with the rails at 20 feet. The last five were won by horses positioned first or second after the opening quarter-mile. Grand Tiger’s rivals include Barely Funtional and Moon Ice.
Race 7 is a California-bred filly-mare allowance turf mile in which Sunshine Babe can upset Eleuthera and True Patriot. Sunshine Babe finished first in the California-bred turf condition last summer at Del Mar, but was disqualified for interference.
Sunshine Babe had a tough trip finishing fifth in her recent comeback, she stumbled at the break and was blocked much of the final quarter-mile. With better luck under Kent Desormeaux, Sunshine Babe can upset as the best bet on the Friday card.
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