Statebred juveniles in spotlight Friday

ARCADIA, Calif. – Experience could be the difference in two maiden races for California-bred 2-year-olds at five furlongs at Santa Anita on Friday.

Empress of Lov and Spiced Perfection start in the second race, for fillies, having finished second in their career debuts after troubled starts. Spiced Perfection, trained by Brian Koriner, is making a quick turnaround. She was third, beaten a head, in a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs on June 1.

Trainer Jeff Bonde runs the first-time starter Native Jaylo, who is out of Go Jaylo, the dam of seven winners.

“It’s a solid race,” Bonde said. “She’s trained well. She’s quick.”

In the fourth race, Cono will be favored after finishing second in a maiden race for California-breds on a wet-fast track at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 6. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Cono must beat Rocky Rogue, who was second in the Turf Paradise Spring Futurity on May 7, and Masco Yodeler, who was fourth in a maiden race May 20.

The race drew 14 colts and geldings but will be limited to 10 starters.

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Two Grade 2 races Saturday

Sircat Sally will be a strong favorite to extend her unbeaten streak to seven races in Saturday’s Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Santa Anita.

The $200,000 Honeymoon Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles and had a projected field of six as of Wednesday. Beau Recall and Pacific Wind, second and third behind Sircat Sally in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at a mile on turf May 6, are expected to run.

Saturday’s Grade 2 Summertime Oaks is run at 1 1/16 miles on dirt for 3-year-old fillies. The projected field of nine is led by the stakes winners Faypien, It Tiz Well, Mopotism, and Noted and Quoted.

Faypien won the Angels Flight Stakes at seven furlongs on May 14. This will be her first start around two turns. It Tiz Well was third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on April 8.