Spotlight on maidens as fall meet wanes
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ARCADIA, Calif. – While anticipation builds toward the Breeders’ Cup next weekend at Del Mar, the Santa Anita autumn meet is quietly winding down. The meet ends Sunday.
Friday at Santa Anita, the focus is turf maidens and entry-level allowances. Race 3 is a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-old maiden fillies, while race 5 is a route for maiden fillies and mares. Race 7 is an allowance turf route with a standout, and race 8 is a California-bred sprint allowance with a live contender listed at 6-1.
Race 3 second-time starter Surfin’ U. S. A. should be tough after a promising fourth-place debut that she might have won with a clean start. She broke slowly, raced greenly, finished well, and missed by only two lengths while racing six furlongs.
“I thought it was a good run,” trainer Leonard Powell said. “I was a bit disappointed she broke a bit slow, because she had been breaking well in the morning. But her finish was excellent, and the [additional] half-furlong should only help her.”
Surfin’ U. S. A. is owned by Eric Sondheimer and the estate of Jeff Siegel. Siegel, a horse owner, bloodstock agent, and respected California handicapper, died Oct. 4 at the age of 74.
Juan Hernandez rides Surfin’ U. S. A., who is listed as the 5-2 second choice but likely to go favored. Her main rivals are first-time starters Egyptian Mistress, Hawaiian Moon, and program favorite Peanutbutterbombe.
Race 5 favorite Philippa is making just her second start of the year and enters with the highest speed figures. But she has never raced on turf, nor is she bred for it. Progeny of Arrogate prefer dirt, and Philippa’s dam was unplaced in three starts on turf.
Philippa’s main rival is her Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Nafisa, an 11-start maiden with eight in-the-money finishes. Nafisa was badly blocked last out and finished ninth. Juan Hernandez rode Nafisa, but he moves to Philippa. Hector Berrios is named on Nafisa, who drew post 9 of nine.
Powell-trained Surf Song, runner-up both recent starts short and long, is the main challenger to the Baffert pair.
Race 7 favorite Rastaman Vibe stands out in the 1 1/4-mile turf race. The veteran won back-to-back entry-level allowances at Del Mar, then was unplaced in a Grade 2. He returns Friday to his winning level, entered for the $50,000 optional claiming tag.
Steve Knapp trains Rastaman Vibe, whose 3-2 morning line is the lowest price Friday. Rivals include Oubabe and likely pacesetter Mongolian Apple, who is listed at a tempting 10-1.
Race 8 contender Catmansue regressed and finished third last out while making his third start of the Del Mar meet. It was too much to ask. Catmansue has had six weeks since, worked well at Santa Anita, and is fast enough to spring an upset second off the claim by Doug O’Neill.
The main rivals for Catmansue are debut winner Strongerthanbefore and last-out runner-up Berlin Wall, who drops from open company to face California-breds. Strongerthanbefore and Berlin Wall are the first two choices in the program, listed at 4-1 and 9-2, respectively.
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