Socialized stretches out in optional claimer

Socialized will appreciate the easier company and added distance when she runs in a $40,000 optional-claiming race at Santa Anita on Thursday. The 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares drew 10 horses and appears to be a wide-open event.

Trained by Cliff Sise Jr., Socialized looked good in winning a similar race Jan. 28. With Mike Smith aboard, she set moderate fractions. After being passed on the stretch turn by Moon Over Paris, she fought back to edge Moon Over Paris by half a length.

She couldn’t keep up a faster pace when she cut back to a mile and moved up in class in a $62,500 optional-claiming turf race for fillies and mares in her next start Jan. 28. After forcing the issue for six furlongs, she faded to sixth.

Kent Desormeaux picks up the mount. If he can get Socialized to ration her early speed, she could be tough to run down after she breaks from post No. 4.

There is other potential speed in the field, particularly Margaret Reay.

Trained by Tom Proctor, she set honest fractions under pressure when she won a maiden special weight race for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 14. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the race Socialized won Jan. 28, she was taken out of her game when she got bounced around while leaving the starting gate.

She drew post No. 2 and should be prominent early if she breaks alertly with Drayden Van Dyke retaining the mount.

Diamond Cut, Hiking, and Dressed to a T will benefit the most if Socialized and Margaret Reay get carried away early.

Key Contenders

Socialized, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 78-82-79

◗ She may have bounced after posting a career-best Beyer Speed Figure in her game win over Moon Over Paris and could rebound here if she isn’t under too much early pressure from Margaret Reay.

Diamond Cut, by Unusual Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 81-78-74

◗ The John Sadler trainee came from last to win a one-mile, $20,000 optional race for California-breds on turf Feb. 21. She will be rolling late and could get up in time with a clean trip.

Dressed to a T, by Square Eddie

Last 3 Beyers: 78-79-76

◗ She will appreciate the extra ground to work with after finishing fifth as the favorite in a one-mile race on turf at this level Feb. 27.

◗ Trained by Ben Cecil, Dressed to a T rallied to edge Diamond Cut by a half-length in her previous start going 1 1/8 miles in a $20,000 optional race for California-breds on June 17.

Hiking, by First Defense

◗ A three-time winner in Britain, she is looking for her first score in the United States.

◗ Trained by Simon Callaghan, she rallied to finish third in her last two starts on turf at this level, the latest going 1 1/4 miles on Feb. 26.