Santa Anita: Sweet Factory returns Friday after a year on the sidelines

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sweet Factory was three strides into her second career start at Santa Anita last March when she clipped heels and fell in tight quarters.

“She did one of those ’80s break-dance moves, without the cardboard,” said Karen Headley, who assists her father, trainer Bruce Headley.

The fall led to a lengthy layoff for Sweet Factory, who returns to racing in an optional claimer at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Friday. Karen Headley said Sweet Factory did not suffer any negative effects from the fall, other than body soreness.

“We took her back and stood her in the gate a bunch of times,” Headley said. “She was body sore.”

Sweet Factory is owned by Golden Eagle Farm of Ramona, Calif., and was sent there last year to recover from the fall. A 4-year-old filly, Sweet Factory has worked steadily in recent weeks for her comeback, including a six-furlong workout in 1:11.20 on Feb. 15, the fastest of 19 recorded works at the distance; seven furlongs in 1:26.60 on Feb. 22; and a bullet five-furlong workout in 57.40 seconds Monday.

Karen Headley said her concern about Friday’s race is the distance.

“Starting back at seven-eighths is the hardest race to run,” Headley said. “I would have liked to have had a comeback at six furlongs.”

The optional claimer drew a field of eight.

Sweet Factory has the fewest numbers of career starts in the field with two. She won a maiden special weight race at six furlongs at 20-1 in her debut March 2, 2013. Mike Smith was aboard for that race and has the mount Friday. Edwin Maldonado was aboard when Sweet Factory fell.

Friday’s race has two last-race winners in Appealing Resume and Small Moves. Appealing Resume won a $25,000 claimer Feb. 1 and starts for a $40,000 claiming price Friday. Small Moves won a starter allowance here Jan. 19.

Our Pure Creation, to be ridden by Maldonado, is likely to set the pace. She was a troubled second in an optional claimer at six furlongs Feb. 6.

There will be support for Rhodium, trained by Peter Miller. She was second in an optional claimer at a mile Jan. 26 and won a $25,000 claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park last November.

Clear Pearl starts on dirt for the first time after finishing seventh and fourth in her first two American starts.