Maiden King

Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races

Maiden claiming $40,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds

Possible overlays                                Morning line

#1 Ultra Cat                                               7/2
#3 Captivating Lyrics                             6/1
#6 Dona Mary                                           12/1
#9 Katie G.                                               12/1
#11 Jaylo’s Mark                                       20/1
#12 Ocean Style                                         9/2
#13 Stormy Runaway                               30/1

Coming off of two turf sprints, #12 Ocean Style is dropping in class and has shown some ability. She probably fits better in here than with the maiden special weight company that she was keeping. She ran well on the synthetic at Oak Tree on Sept. 24, finishing second in a race for maiden special weight state breds. A three-way battle for the early lead might materialize as three filles are rated about equal: #1 Ultra Cat, #3 Captivating Lyrics and #10 Warren’s Lisa.

With the pace war brewing, Ocean Style might be the main benefitiary.

Second-time starter #2 Ultra Cat stumbled in her debut to lose three lengths then stumbled again in the stretch. Thomas Bell II trains #3 Captivating Lyrics who was making a run through the stretch in her Dec. 5 debut, but jockey Rafael Bejarano had trouble keeping her head straight. 

Of the first-time starters, I like #9 Katie G., trained by Jeff Mullins, who also runs #11 Jaylo’s Mark. Althought Mullins has a lousy 4 percent winning mark with first starters showing in the racing from, I have him down as winning with five of his last 14 high-priced debuting maiden claimers. Also worth a wager at the right price are #6 Dona Mary and #13 Stormy Runaway, who are also starting for the first time.

I ‘m betting $200 on #9 Katie G. at 7/2 to 19/1, and $150 on both #6 Dona Mary and #13 Stormy Runaway, but only at 10/1 to 19/1. Also, I’ll take $200 on #12 Ocean Style at 7/2 or more, but if she’s less than 7/2 then I’ll put $150 on the highest odds of the following two that are less than 5/1 : #1 Ultra Cat and #3 Captivating Lyrics.