Value search leads to back-to-back races

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Santa Anita spotlight this week is on 3-year-olds – maiden and allowance races Thursday, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.

Thursday is a makeup day for wet-track cancellations in winter, and entries are light. Just 51 horses are entered in eight races as field size commences its annual spring decline. The average field size dropped from 7.3 during the first week of March to 6.4 during the final week of March.

Despite short fields, Thursday’s 3-year-old races might offer value. Race 5 is a Cal-bred maiden sprint in which the most likely winner might not be favored. Race 6, an entry-level allowance turf mile, includes a last-out maiden winner who can repeat if he continues to improve.

Improvement is expected by 3-year-olds in spring, maidens in particular. The field for race 5 includes a pair who ran well first out – King’s Ride and potential favorite Matt At Five.

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King’s Ride, a full brother to multiple stakes winner Brickyard Ride, finished fourth in his debut on turf. His performance was better than it looks. He broke well, dropped back, raced greenly on the turn and into the lane, then finished well.

“I wasn’t disappointed,” trainer Craig Lewis said. “He actually broke very clean and just didn’t sustain it. I thought he’d show more speed, but the way he finished encouraged me.”

It was the ideal debut for King’s Ride, who is leaner and less temperamental than his sibling. Brickyard Ride won eight stakes, 13 races overall, and earned $925,477 from 31 starts. King’s Ride is just getting started.

“He does look like a horse that could go two turns, and his temperament is much better than Brickyard Ride,” Lewis said. “Brickyard Ride was pretty tough. [King’s Ride], you could lead him around with a string because he’s calm as could be.”

Juan Hernandez rides King’s Ride, who must improve to defeat debut runner-up Matt At Five. Carla Gaines trains Matt At Five, who dueled inside, put away his rivals, and got worn down by favorite Galloping Ghost while five lengths clear of third. Matt At Five could go favored.

Others in race 5 include comeback speedster Knowhere and first-time starter Blame It On Jack, who has worked well at San Luis Rey Downs.

Race 6 is an allowance for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf, and Hernandez rides the most likely winner for trainer Jeff Mullins. Charlie’s Curlin removed blinkers last out, switched jockeys, and ran the best race of his career. He won by 1 1/4 lengths over Koekkoek, who returned to finish second in a maiden race on Sunday.

Mullins said Charlie’s Curlin “is kind of funky to ride,” but “Juan seemed to have him figured out. He had worked the horse a few times but never could ride him. Finally got him in a spot where Juan could ride him, took the blinkers off, and it made a difference.”

Charlie’s Curlin won clear with a 79 Beyer Speed Figure, highest in the field. His rivals include last-out Cal-bred allowance winner Third Beer, class-dropping stretch-out Bust Out, Army Man, and Court of Appeal.

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