Satanta deserves another chance in Friday feature

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bettors burned two months ago when Satanta fizzled as the odds-on favorite at Del Mar might hesitate to back him again in the featured seventh race Friday at Santa Anita.

But he who hesitates is lost, and despite running fifth in a statebred allowance sprint, Satanta is expected to start favored again Friday at the same level. If his trainer is right, Satanta should be tough to beat in the six-furlong race.

Jeff Mullins believes Satanta had an alibi for his last-start misfire. The gelding certainly did not run as well as in his debut romp, a win by more than five lengths.

“I think he just ran too hard the first time,” Mullins said. “I think I knocked him out.”

He acknowledges circumstances were less than ideal when Satanta ran back only 24 days after his runaway debut.

“I really didn’t want to run him back that quick, but the next [condition] book came out and there wasn’t anything for him,” Mullins said.

The public did not mind him wheeling back on short notice. After all, bettors hammered him to 9-10. Satanta was empty at the head of the lane and lost by more than 12 lengths.

So which Satanta will show up Friday? Mullins is confident it will be the gelding whose flashy debut probably would be good enough to win the Friday feature.

“He’s training like he was before the first race,” Mullins said. “I think he’ll show his true self this time.”

The meet’s leading jockey, Drayden Van Dyke, rides Satanta, an Elusive Warning gelding owned by breeder Madera Thoroughbreds and Glen Kjelstrom.

Satanta drew post 5 in the eight-horse field and figures for a pressing trip outside potential pacesetter Rick’s Dream, who breaks from the rail. Meanwhile, an upset candidate is drawn directly inside Satanta in post 4.

It’s Fitting earned a mere 64 Beyer Speed Figure winning his career debut in late August at Del Mar. However, the neck victory was better than the figure or margin. It’s Fitting broke well from post 2, but was shuffled to fifth on the backstretch.

It’s Fitting rallied five wide into the lane, took aim while racing greenly, and gradually wore down the pacesetter. That race was at 5 1/2 furlongs; It’s Fitting probably benefits by the six-furlong distance Friday.

Victor Espinoza rides It’s Fitting for Jim Cassidy, the co-owner and co-breeder with Tamesis Stable.

The eight-runner field also includes Onthewingsofadream, Tiger Strike, Clem Labine, Minoso, and Ishi.