Reputation can become reality on good betting card

Some maidens need more distance, others more time. Examples of both show up Friday in separate sprints at Del Mar, where early maiden races are as appealing as allowance races later on the card.

Promising debut 2-year-old fillies sprint in race 1, with a catch. Wudi was a vet scratch recently; Sweet Trouble wants two turns.

As for time, race-4 firster Antonsen has had plenty. The 3-year-old makes his often-delayed debut in the turf sprint, preceded by a reputation. Long touted as the real deal, Antonsen has been in and out of training since spring 2021.

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The first allowance race Friday includes fewer uncertainties. Anacapa will be well bet in race 5 following a runner-up finish in a similar entry-level dirt mile, but race 8 is a wide-open California-bred turf-sprint scramble. Given her trainer’s meet-leading 14-for-38 record, recent runner-up In Vronsky Style might be the choice.

The maiden and allowance races Friday provide enjoyable betting challenges into closing weekend of the Del Mar meet. The three turf stakes Saturday include the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. The two stakes Sunday, closing day, include the Grade 1 Matriarch.

As for Friday’s nine-race card, two maiden races and two allowances warrant a closer look.

Race 1

Notwithstanding her fast works, the $600,000 Into Mischief filly Sweet Trouble “does not necessarily have to win first time out,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “Flavien [Prat] breezed her a couple times and thinks she’s a filly that has a lot of ability, but he’s pretty certain she wants to go long.”

D’Amato has won with four of his last 11 juvenile filly firsters on dirt. Wudi’s trainer, Bob Baffert, has won with nine of his last 27.

The 6 1/2-furlong race Friday is the second time Baffert entered the $725,000 Uncle Mo filly Wudi, who scratched Nov. 12. She sustained a superficial injury, a leg scratch. Wudi, believed to be quick, could be gone under leading rider Juan Hernandez.

Itzel has worked fast for her debut, while a top effort by last-out runner-up Lily Poo would validate the form of Faiza, early favorite for the Grade 1 Starlet on Dec. 17 at Los Alamitos. Lily Poo finished 3 1/2 lengths behind Faiza, whose 1:09.28 debut scorcher earned a surprisingly low 74 Beyer Speed Figure. Lily Poo earned a 66.

Race 4

Carla Gaines trains Antonsen, a 3-year-old Smiling Tiger colt whom Hernandez will finally ride in a race.

“Juan has worked him three or four times and loved him,” Gaines said. “He’s a very talented horse, but he’s had a few problems.”

Those include an ankle issue as a juvenile and breathing problems later. Both issues have been resolved.

Antonsen has worked very well in company with graded stakes-placed Closing Remarks and is ready to roll, though he has been a handful while schooling at the gate. On pure ability, Antonsen is believed to be the best horse in the California-bred turf sprint. Gaines also trained his dam, Glorious Luck, who won her first three races and was retired after four starts.

Press On is likely to improve second out, while Chief Council is a California-bred by Into Mischief with fast works for trainer Steve Knapp. A live longshot is comebacker Johnny Paycheck, a sibling to stakes winners Enola Gray and Alice Marble. Johnny Paycheck underwent a minor throat procedure to correct a breathing problem since his last start.

Race 5

Few trainers the past year in Southern California have been as reliable with favorites as Gaines – 13 for 21 since December 2021, according to DRF Formulator. Lightly raced Anacapa will test the statistic in this mile dirt race for entry-level allowance fillies and mares.

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An improving Tiznow filly, Anacapa finished second with a wide trip last out. She switches riders to Prat, who rides nine live mounts on Friday. Prat (14 wins) enters the card second in the standings. Hernandez (18) rides Anacapa’s main rival Rose Dawson.

Race 8

In Vronsky Style seems the antitheses of a horse for course. He has been no worse than third in all five of his starts at Santa Anita, including two recent seconds. But his three turf starts at Del Mar have produced three off-the-board finishes. Nonetheless, his trainer is optimistic going into the California-bred allowance turf sprint.

“I’m hoping he is a horse that just needed to round into form,” D’Amato said. “And he rounded into form his last couple. He showed he could rate last time. I definitely like the outside post for him, because I think he can stalk and pounce.”

D’Amato also starts comebacker Jack Sixpack, who wants more ground.

“He definitely wants to go long,” D’Amato said. “He needs to run. I think he’s pretty fit. If the race fell apart, it wouldn’t surprise me if he came running late.”

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