Santa Anita horses to watch: Week of March 8

BATTI MAN
Trainer: Dan Hendricks
Last race: Feb. 27, 7th
Finish: 2nd by head
Beyer: 89
He caught a break when this came off the turf and then caught another when fellow speedster El Commodore scratched. Still, he was hounded from the start by Royal F J. He looked in trouble when that foe poked his head in front in midstretch but re-rallied to edge past that foe, only to get nailed by County Lineman in the final strides. Still, this was a nice bounce-back after facing stakes-caliber types of late.

LITTLE UNUSUAL
Trainer: Barry Abrams
Last race: Feb. 28, 7th
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/4
Beyer: 66
Broke slowly in this mile contest for Cal-bred maidens and put in a sustained rally to finish far clear of third. Even so, this was his 36th try at getting her diploma so you have to wonder if she’ll ever get over the hump. And if the footing was what she liked who knows when she’ll get another shot at a sealed wet-fast track.

CITIZEN JANE
Trainer: Francis Meza
Last race: March 1, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 1 1/4
Beyer: 57
Hadn’t done much of late but showed signs of life here. On a wet track she’d never seen before and on a day where speed dominated, she was a bit sluggish early but came with a nice run through the lane, missing second by a nose. May be ready to improve.

HALF STRIKE
Trainer: Bill Spawr
Last race: March 2, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 4
Beyer: 87
This regally bred gelding has never lived up to his pedigree. He was freshened, added blinkers, dropped to the $25K level off nice works, and the response was encouraging. He went right to the lead in the mile contest, set fast splits and understandably tired late. This was an encouraging move forward.