SANTA ANITA
AUDACE: Maiden was coming off a little layoff for trainer Mike Puype and ran into a buzzsaw vs. the even money winner in this race, Audace ran his own race, after hopping at the start he was in tight and had to steady hard into the turn. He spilt runners while three deep and blasted home to be a clear second, almost four lengths ahead of the rest of the runners in this race.
QUEEN OF THE TRACK-QUICK-THRIVING-LAVENDER: These four runners were going 5½ furlongs on the grass and finished second, third fourth and fifth and were within a length of each other from top to bottom. Quick was making her first start in the States and broke in and was dead last. She was far back until the top of the lane when she unleashed a huge late run, just missing the place by a nostril behind Queen of the Track and less than a length behind the winner while three-quarters of a length in front of Thriving who was a nose in front of Lavender. There is a good chance that trainer John Sadler will be sending Quick long on the grass next out, but if we see these girls meeting up again next out, it will be exacta and trifecta time.
A MAN’S MAN: Maiden was going 5½ furlongs on the grass. He looked to be in a good spot but had to be steadied hard when crowded along the rail. He saved ground after that but had to swing out for room and made a big four-wide run down to get the show money, missing second by less than a length.