Tyfosha an imposing first-time starter for O'Neill

ARCADIA, Calif. – One day after canceling the Thursday card due to insufficient entries, Santa Anita will present a silver lining on Friday. The nine-race program includes big, evenly matched fields and a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies with star potential.

Although wagering value in race 3 is uncertain, the five-furlong sprint for juvenile maiden fillies will be a center of attention because the field includes one of the most highly publicized 2-year-olds of the spring, a Doug O’Neill-trained filly named Tyfosha.

“She’s ready to roll,” O’Neill said, giving away no secrets. Tyfosha has been touted since May 19, when she outworked stablemate Saudi Chroma. Tyfosha went a half-mile from the gate in 47.20 seconds; Saudi Chroma went in 47.60 and days later romped in her debut. She won “ridden out” by more than three lengths.

:: Get PPs, analysis for Friday's $513,712 jackpot pick six at Santa Anita

The point: If Saudi Chroma is that good, then Tyfosha, who outworked her in the morning, could be even better. It makes sense in theory. The reality is that Tyfosha has not yet done it in the afternoon.

“So much of it has to do with how they handle the paddock and the post parade,” O’Neill said, cautioning that Tyfosha “has a lot of energy. We’re hoping she can reserve herself and save herself for when the actual gates open. She’s a very, very tough filly.”

Tyfosha, a daughter of Flatter, is owned by Amar Zadan. O’Neill’s brother, Dennis, purchased the filly on Zadan’s behalf for $410,000 at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds. O’Neill also had his eye on a 2-year-old filly at the Barretts March sale, but she sold to Rockingham Ranch. Her name is Surrender Now, and she is the main rival for Tyfosha.

Peter Miller trains Surrender Now, a $220,000 filly by Morning Line with a series of sharp works at San Luis Rey Downs. Miller also entered Mondaymorningblues, who endured a tough trip in finishing fourth as the favorite in her career debut.

Nothins Free, by Flat Out, drew the rail and is not a confirmed starter, according to trainer John Sadler. Krissy Manicure, a first-time starter trained by Richard Baltas, is expected to be outrun early and rally late. It’s a good race on a good Friday card.

Below are additional races of note:

◗ Race 1 is an allowance turf sprint for 3-year-olds; California-bred stakes winner Mr. Hinx, unbeaten in sprints, is the likely favorite. Rivals include Who Cares and front-runner What’sontheagenda. Six of the last nine turf sprints were won by the pacesetter.

◗ Race 4 begins the pick six; it is an inscrutable turf mile for California-bred $50,000 maiden claimers. The Phil D’Amato-trained Hi Heat Boy is the tepid choice under apprentice Austin Solis, whose most recent win on turf was 45 mounts and more than one year ago, on April 29, 2016, at Hawthorne.

◗ Race 6, a $12,500 claiming sprint, includes the most probable winner on the card. Juansagain, a crushing winner last out, moves up in class off the claim by Miller, the meet’s leading trainer with 23 wins from 75 starters (30 percent).

◗ Race 7 is a first-level optional $40,000 claiming turf sprint in which the top contenders include Zuri Chop, Aotearoa, and Doc Curlin.