Several intriguing prospects in maiden race at Santa Anita

Bob Baffert, who leads all trainers at this meeting with 19 wins through Sunday, has two starters in an intriguing maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds over six furlongs in Saturday’s second race.

Baffert starts Tokubetsu, who was a game second at Hollywood Park in his debut on Dec. 5, and Midnight Interlude, a first-time starter by War Chant. Midnight Interlude is owned by breeder Arnold Zetcher and has shown quick works, including two from the gate, in recent weeks.

The field of six features five first-time starters, including the well-regarded Runflatout, who is trained by John Sadler. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Runflatout was trained by Carla Gaines at 2, but was transferred to Sadler earlier this month.

Purchased for $165,000 at the 2010 Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in-training, Runflatout was scratched from maiden races at Del Mar on Aug. 7 and Sept. 5 because of illness, track officials reported at the time.

Sadler has worked Runflatout three times, including six furlongs in 1:11.40 on Jan. 16, the fastest of 13 recorded works at the distance.

“He’s breezed well each time,” Sadler said. “He’s been kind of a hyped horse. I haven’t seen the competition, but there are two Bafferts in there and an Asmussen and those guys are always tough.”

Steve Asmussen starts the first-time starter Le Mans, a War Front colt who was purchased for $275,000 at the 2010 March Ocala Breeders Sale and races for Padua Stables.