Two taking first crack at winners
ARCADIA, Calif. - Budget Surplus and Frankelstein, who won maiden races at Hollywood Park in the fall for trainer Marty Jones, make their first starts against winners in a $52,000 allowance race for California-breds at Santa Anita on Friday.
Both geldings have similar styles - they are most effective when racing from the front.
The pair have seven opponents in a race over 1 1/16 miles. Many of the entrants made their last starts in claiming races and have won multiple races against older horses.
, owned by breeder Eddie Nahem, will be well supported. By Bertando, Frankelstein beat maidens at 1 1/16 miles in his third career start, on Nov. 24. In that race, he was on or near the lead throughout, fought off a challenge in midstretch, and won by a length. Mike Smith, who has been aboard for all three races, has the mount Friday.
Frankelstein has more speed than , who is owned by John Harris. By In Excess, Budget Surplus needed four races to win his maiden, doing so in a one-mile turf race for California-breds on Dec. 16. He led throughout that race and won by four lengths. Tyler Baze rides Budget Surplus on Friday.
The Jones-trained runners could have company on the lead from J J Jake, Tangmalangaloo, and My Onomatopoeia.
J J Jake beat statebred maidens over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Hollywood Park on Nov. 18, setting a decent pace while racing clear and winning by 2 1/2 lengths. Trained by Paul Aguirre, J J Jake has made only two starts.
won a starter allowance race over 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 14. Trained by Bruce Headley, Tangmalangaloo beat maidens last August at Del Mar in his sixth career start. Friday's race will be the 11th start of his career.
My Onomatopoeia has won three races, but they were all for claimers. Trained by Dan Hendricks, My Onomatopoeia won a maiden claimer for sprinters at Hollywood Park in July, a starter allowance at Fairplex Park in September and a $40,000 claimer over S1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park in December. Friday's race will be his first appearance in an allowance race.