Saint Buddy Looking to Reverse His Slide

Since finishing third behind Southern Image and Island Fashion in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, Saint Buddy hasn’t been able to succeed in three races against non-Grade I company.

A 4-year-old gray owned by Stan Fulton and trained by Rafael Becerra, the son of Saint Ballado is the 8-5 morning line favorite to get his third lifetime win in today’s second race at Santa Anita.

After checking in 3 1/2 lengths behind Southern Image in the Big Cap, Saint Buddy finished second in an allowance race on the turf at Hollywood Park, was last at 2-1 in the Lone Star Park Handicap, a Grade III in Texas, and a distant third at 5-2 in an optional claimer at Del Mar on July 25.

Winless in four starts at Santa Anita, Saint Buddy will be ridden for the first time by Mike Smith.

His opponents are 2-1 second choice Forty Suertudo, Private War, who will be trying the main track for the first time in his ninth career race, Good Gold, and Mud Shark, a 4-year-old Deputy Commander gelding who has earned both of his wins on the Santa Anita main track for trainer Bob Baffert.

Saint Buddy kicks off what will be an active day for Becerra, who has seven other horses on the eight-race card.

Race of the day: Carthage, an impressive winner against $32,000 claimers on Sept. 1 at Del Mar, will make his first start for trainer Art Sherman in the seventh at Bay Meadows.

The 4-year-old Smoke Glacken gelding will break from the outside in the field of six in the $30,000 optional claimer at six furlongs. Bobby Gonzalez will ride.

One for the road: Tricky Travis debuts for trainer Bruce Levine in the seventh at Belmont Park and can score in his New York bow in the $20,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles. Levine and owner Roddy Valente scored with California shipper Potrisunrise last week.

Richard Migliore will ride Tricky Travis, a 6-year-old Dixie Power gelding.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Yummy Yummy and Alpenwald in the fourth race, Yankee Val in the fifth and Max Power, Fail Me Not and More Modern in the sixth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/22. Money: Previous day/meet total: $13.40/$129.10. Total money bet: $104.