Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 6-Cornucopian (Race 6)
Race #1: Selections: 3-6-5
3-Flamboyant is a trip handicapper’s delight who broke slowly on debut when well-backed before making a strong late rally from the rear of the pack to finish fifth (beaten less than three lengths). The sophomore son of Liam’s Map removes the blinkers for try number two, switches to Hernandez, and is bred to relish two turns. 6-Sharon’s Pharoah flashed good speed before tiring to third in an encouraging grass route debut on Feb. 22 for trainer Jonathan Thomas. This top barn is 17-for 73 (23%) with turf second-time starters the past five years, and improvement is likely. The D’Amato-trained 5-Koekoek (GB) closed well for the place spot in a promising U.S. unveiling on Feb. 22 (defeating Sharon’s Paharoah), where he posted the field’s best (76) grass Beyer. The gelding goes second-time Lasix and is a logical threat, making the all-important third career try.
Race #2: Selections: 1-2-4
1-Wolf Fill has hit the board in all five career tries, with four runner-up finishes. The Upstart filly has seen her Beyers improve with each subsequent try for Leonard Powell and is a logical win threat again, shortening up to seven panels. 2-Bad Manners has not been out since a well-beaten third on debut at Del Mar last August when facing recent Virginia Oaks winner Battle of Rogue and BC Juvenile (G1) victress Super Corredora. The $700k daughter of Into Mischief returns with Lasix and has trained steadily for today’s return to action. A beaten favorite in the last, 4-Feisty Red Head has hit the board in both local sprint tries for Glatt and now adds blinkers for career try number three. She was third to recent winner Brooklyn Blonde in her last effort and is dangerous with another progressive move forward for the top barn.
Race #3: Selections: 2-5-8
Trainer Doug O’Neill has three colts entered here in this one-mile grass route. Recent maiden winner 2-Classico scampered away to a solid gate-to-wire win with the addition of Lasix back on Jan. 30, going this trip, earning a field’s best (75) turf Beyer. The Classic Empire colt recently returned to fire a sharp four-furlong bullet over the synthetic course on March 15. in :47.4 and looks well-placed today for the meet’s leading barn. Florida invader 5-Savage Warden makes his first start for Phil D’Amato, having won on grass on debut, followed up by a pair of even efforts over the synthetic track. He adds Lasix for today’s Southern California unveiling. Two sprints to a route 8-Won for Lou drops in class off a well-beaten third on March 8, but can improve this afternoon for Bishop Racing and Team O’Neill.
Race #4: Selections: 3-6-5-4
The Jeff Mullins-trained 3-County Line Kid has finished seventh in both local sprint tries (on dirt and turf) but takes a huge class drop into the bottom $12,500 maiden claiming level today and is likely to show more against inferior rivals. 6-Stage Run finished behind Next Trick in last but now makes the all-important third career try off the recent claim on the turnback. Trainer Tim McCanna is 14-for-38 (37%) overall the past five years with newly acquired purchases and Kimura sticks. 5-Next Trick is a logical fit, exiting three consecutive runner-up finishes. BG Stables’ 4-Wild King ran much better than his eighth-place effort indicates on debut Feb. 14, when sent off at 18-1 by the betting public. The 4-year-old gelding broke slowly, was shuffled back to last when facing heavy traffic, and then ran on mildly late.
Race #5: Selections: 2-6-5
2-Copp returns to the turf as a first-time gelding for trainer Michael McCarthy and should get a spirited race flow to help utilize his strong closing kick. The 4-year-old gelding retains the hot hand of jockey Emisael Jaramillo. 6-Sneaking Candy flashed good speed before tiring to third off the mini-freshening for conditioner Mike Puype and co-tops the field’s best last-out grass Beyer (81). 5-Amplitude didn’t have much hope when stuck behind a sluggish pace when going this 1 1/8-mile trip on March 6 for Sadler. The son of Uncle Mo removes the blinkers today, makes the third start of the form cycle, and sports the field’s best last pace figure in a race that’s projected to have a lively clip.
Race #6: Selections: 6-2-4
Trainer Bob Baffert has won the San Carlos (G3) five times and sends out a pair of well-bred 4-year-old colts this afternoon. The lightly raced 6-Cornucopian (a $1.1 million son of Into Mischief) returned off a nine-month layoff with an impressive three-length 6 ½-furlong score back on Jan. 31 and projects to be on or close to the lead again this afternoon. He’s trained well in the interim and retains Hernandez. The 2024 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner, 2-Stronghold, is back off a seven-month layoff for D’Amato and typically fires fresh. The 5-year-old has finished second in all three attempts at seven furlongs, which may be the case again this afternoon if the top pick strings two solid back-to-back races together. The Grade 1-winning 4-Subsanador (Arg) has not been out in 547 days for Mandella, but there is no denying his solid resume of nine wins from 17 tries and back-to-back triple-digit Beyers before hitting the sidelines.
Race #7: Selections: 6-2-9
Two sprints to a route 6-Headstrong Ways drops in class from a starter allowance to today’s $30k claimer and may find herself on a clear lead today for trainer Richard Baltas. The 4-year-old daughter of Munnings may prove tough to reel in late against this suspect group and could post the mild upset. 2-Strange Addiction stretches back out to a mile this afternoon after rallying strongly to grab the place spot at 23-1 on March 6, when finishing in front of a trio of today’s returning rivals. The 6-year-old mare is only 2-for-30, but sports the field’s best last-out grass Beyer (75). 9-Sakura Flavor (Ire) didn’t have much of an excuse when finishing sixth at 16-1 in her most recent effort, but parlayed a favorable trip into a win two-back with Hernandez, who is back aboard this afternoon. She will need to work out a trip from post nine, however.
Race #8: Selections: 2-7-10
If today’s TimeformUS pace projection proves correct, things should set up nicely for the veteran 8-year-old 2-Wishtheyallcouldbe if she reverts back to his come-from-behind tactics that proved successful two back. The odds-on beaten chalk in last tried to wire the field when last seen back on Jan. 24 and folded badly late to finish a well-beaten third. The 10-time winner makes his second try off the Ryan Hanson claim and will likely linger at the back before unleashing a late rally. Recent maiden winner 7-Tiger of the Sea may prove to be the quickest out of the gate for trainer Brian Koriner as she looks to negotiate an additional furlong, facing winners for the first time. Her winning (76) dirt Beyer is nearly on par for this class level 10-Quick Kate hasn’t been out in roughly 11 months and has done most of her running on grass, but has proven she can fire off an extended break in the past and should get the right setup with Kimura, who is enticed to take the riding assignment. For trainer Craig Lewis.
Race #9: Selections: 6-2-3
The lightly raced 6-Going Lucky drops out of the G3 Megahertz into today’s softer spot for trainer Jonathan Thomas, who has quietly had himself a fantastic meet, clicking at 25%. The Lookin at Lucky 4-year-old is 3-for-5 lifetime and has run exceptionally well in both tries in Southern California since changing barns and relocating from Canada. The switch to the leading pilot, Jaramillo, signals that another top try is likely forthcoming. The 1-for-12 2-Eternal Reign (Ire) has hit the board on multiple occasions at this level for the D’Amato barn and figures to work out another favorable ground-saving journey with today’s inside draw. The late closing 3-Cailin Dana returns from an 11-month layoff for Drysdale after shipping to New York and breaking her maiden in career start number 11, routing on turf, before hitting the sidelines. The 5-year-old mare has trained well for today’s return try and should get a favorable live race flow.
