Maiden King

Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races

Maiden claiming $32,000, 6-1/2 furlongs, 3-year-olds

Possible overlays                         Morning line

#11 Saccente                                    10/1
#13 Only Be Cause                              2/1

Bob Baffert drops #13 Only Be Cause from $50,000 claiming to this horse’s lowest level in nine lifetime starts. On Feb. 14, Only Be Cause ran 7 furlongs and finished a game second to a well-meant first time starter named The Major.

 In that race, Only Be Cause earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure which is well in excess of the 68 winning median Beyer Speed Figure for this class.

Of the three first time starters, #11 Saccente looks like a play if the odds fall the right way.

I will bet $350 to win on #13 Only Be Cause only if he is 2/1 or better and I’ll take $150 on #11 Saccente at 10/1 to 19/1.

When #2 Atta’ Girl scratched, I could tell that I probably would not be betting on this race. And sure enough, my other possible overlay #8 Juicy Lucy went off at odds of 7-to-5, while I was waiting for 3-to-1.

The favorite here, #4 Golden Rocketship, was able to win while never being challenged because jockey Joel Rosario slowed her down on the lead. She strolled through fractions of 23.28 seconds for the first quarter mile and 47.15 seconds for the half mile then won easily.

Golden Rocketship, who is trained by John Salder, paid $4.60 and I ended up making no wager.

To watch a replay of this race, go to www.calracing.com.