SANTA ANITA

he defeated third preference MYSTICAL MOON by three-quarters. MOBOU probably will get a pressing trip outside potential pacesetter MYSTICAL MOON. The latter took a big step forward last time when he finished third after setting the pace in the same race the top choice exits.

SIXTH RACE

TANNERS PRIDE returns to the N3L claiming level at which he finished a close third two starts back. He was in tough two weeks ago in a Cal-bred allowance. Now he is drawn near the outside, over a track on which he scored both career wins, and figures for a front-running or pace-pressing trip in a sprint without much pace. IRON ALEX faces a potentially compromising pace scenario, because he shortens from a route to a sprint and probably will be outrun early. But he has been running well against better, and his runner-up finish on this track two back (albeit one mile) puts him in the hunt. FACTS MATTER might be ranked too low by this handicapper. He dusted N2L claiming rivals last out, and wheels back in top form while moving up one class level. Inside post is no bargain, however.

SEVENTH RACE

Despite finishing sixth as the favorite in his debut, SCALPER gets the call in this MSW for 3-yearolds. He reportedly was showing speed in morning works, but was not quick from the gate first out, steadied in a tight spot between rivals on the backstretch, dropped back, raced wide and just went evenly. The whole thing was inconclusive. He worked twice since, is likely to show more speed, and can make amends. First-time starter ADARE is a sibling to G3 winner/debut winner Ocean Knight, and G2-placed/debut runner-up Nero. ADARE debuts with a long work pattern for Jerry Hollendorfer, though video of the colt’s Dec. 27 and Jan. 11 works (viewed on XTBV.com) suggest he might want farther than six furlongs. Nonetheless, he is the second preference and should be rolling late. DESSMAN, Bob Baffert-trained stablemate of the top choice, debuts with sharp workouts. TAOS is a son of Tapit making his first start as a gelding after misfiring his first two starts. JUMPIN THRU HOOPS showed speed and tired in his debut. With plenty of gas, and a race under his belt, improvement expected.

EIGHTH RACE

In a deep and competitive starter allowance on the hill, route-to-sprint TIGERBEACH gets the call. He ran very well in his California debut. Racing one mile, he pressed a strong pace, made the lead in the lane, and then got run over and finished second. Good effort. A proven sprinter in the Midwest, he cuts back to six and a half and can win with a stalking trip. There are plenty other contenders however, including downhill horsefor-course MORE HONOR. Three starts on the hill produced two wins and a second; he returns from a freshening of nearly three months while facing older winners on turf for the first time. His best races last year were in age-restricted races; these older starter allowance horses are within reach. LAUREN’S LADD, scratched from a $25k claiming race last week when it was taken off the turf, has run well multiple times on the hill. JIMMY CHILA ran similarly to the top choice while finishing a good fourth in the same race, after pressing the pace. CATS BLAME will rally late. His numbers put him in the hunt.

NINTH RACE

ROY H seeks his second straight victory in this Grade 2, with the same pattern as a year ago. ROY H won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint the past two years, and has worked well for his first start in two months. The class of the field, fastest on figures, his versatile style allows him to adapt to any pace scenario from the outside post. Best horse, low odds. He does face a stronger lineup than the field he beat in this race last year. KANTHAKA finished a troubled eighth last out in the G1 Malibu. He could have finished second to McKinzie with any luck. KANTHAKA got stuck behind a tiring rival (Seven Trumpets), steadied and lost position, dropped to last, re-rallied and actually made it respectable. Good effort under the circumstances. KANTHAKA is likely for a better trip this time in this smaller field. The challenge is six furlongs might be shorter than he prefers. AWESOME ANYWHERE misfired and finished third last out as the oddson favorite in a stake race at Golden Gate, but his romping allowance victory two starts back at Santa Anita puts him in the hunt. He could get a good trip positioned right behind potential pacesetter CONQUEST TSUNAMI. The latter is fast, but he is a turf specialist unproven on dirt. If he handles the footing, he has a shot to steal it.

TENTH RACE

DEARBORN looks like a low-odds standout, dropping from maiden special-weight to $50k maidenclaiming, with speed to be forwardly placed in a downhill sprint conspicuously void of pace. DEARBORN ran well her only previous hillside sprint (third by a neck, rallying from behind); she went too quick setting the pace last time at a mile. Shorter distance, easier rivals, long gone even with blinkers off. MELA JONES looms a crazy 285 West Huntington Drive Arcadia, CA 91066 (626) 574-7223 Main track: One mile, oval. Distance from last turn to finish line: 990 feet. Turf course: About Seven Furlongs

TAKEOUT INFORMATION ■ WPS, Roulette: 15.43% ■ Two-horse exotic wagering: 22.68% ■ Trifecta, Superfecta, Super Hi 5, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 6: 23.68% ■ Early pick 5: 14% ■ Late pick 5: 23.68% ■ Daily Double: 20%

NOTE: A horse which wins a non-winners of $3,000 other than maiden or claiming, or two races, for Calbreds, shall remain eligible for that comparable open allowance race, provided that horse did not win a race other than claiming following that Cal-Bred win. Once a horse has won the two first condition allowance races (Cal-Bred and open), then the Cal Bred win will be disregarded in future allowance races for eligibility purposes only. upset candidate, primarily on the pace angle. This is her first on turf, first time in maiden-claiming. She has enough gas to be near the front. She ran okay in her recent MSW comeback, drops in class second start back, and could start at a giant price. Bombs away, perhaps. STRENGTHINNUMBERS went even-paced both starts on the comeback trail. Like many others in this field, she does not seem to be getting any better. But she gets a seven-pound weight break (five-pound apprentice allowance, two pounds lower claim price), and her runner-up finish on this course last June would be fast enough.