On Surface, It’s an Easy Pick

The defending champion is back, but she is not the one to beat in the $250,000 Santa Barbara Handicap today at Santa Anita.

Astra, who defeated Beautiful Noise and five others as the 7-5 favorite in last year’s race, will try for her ninth victory in 13 starts in the Grade II, but most of the attention will be focused on Golden Apples.

Owned by Gary Tanaka and trained by Ben Cecil, the Irish-bred filly has established herself as arguably the best female turf performer in the country and she will be favored to remain perfect at Santa Anita.

A winner of her previous two starts on the turf, Golden Apples began her 4-year-old campaign with a powerful victory in last month’s Santa Ana Handicap. Outrun early as usual, she was last after six furlongs and it appeared to some she may be in trouble.

However, she began a strong rally under jockey Garrett Gomez along the inside and was up to beat pacesetter--and 2001 Matriarch winner--Starine by a little more than a length. It was her fourth victory in nine starts and only once has she been worse than third.

Besides Astra, who will be making her second start for trainer Laura De Seroux after winning eight of 11 for Simon Bray, the rest of the field consists of Polaire--who will race coupled with Golden Apples because she is also owned by Tanaka--Blue Moon, Desiraes My Candy and Old Money.

Race of the day: Bluesthestandard and Aggressive, who have combined to win eight of 11, head a field of eight $20,000 claimers going six furlongs in today’s eighth.

Who’s hot: Patrick Valenzuela. He won two races with longshots Thursday, coming from off the pace to win the sixth with Cafe Del Mar ($18), then, subbing for Martin Pedroza, took Meet Me To Dixie ($29.80) wire-to-wire in the seventh.

Who’s not: The Right Prize. Claimed first for $40,000, then for $50,000, the gelding has one third in eight starts and is running against $12,500 maidens in today’s ninth at Bay Meadows.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Cat Blade in the fifth, using Issaqueena, Gold Scammer and Vital Asset in the sixth and Friendly Wager, Another Star, Broadway Moon, Such Charisma and Riverside in the seventh.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/228. Money: Previous day/meet total: $21/$1,313. Total money bet: $1,428.