She’ll Be Trying to Recapture Best Form

In her first start at Hollywood Park last May 7, In High Form was second at 5-2, beaten by four lengths in a $25,000 maiden claimer.

Small wonder the daughter of High Brite was 41-1 when she returned in a non-claimer against California-breds less than four weeks later. In a spectacular performance, In High Form won by eight lengths under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. She wasn’t the first -- or the last -- maiden owned and bred by John Harris and trained by Carla Gaines to show significant improvement the second time out.

Idle since that victory, In High Form surfaces in today’s seventh at Santa Anita, a $52,000 allowance for Cal-bred fillies and mares at one mile on turf.

An 8-1 shot on Jeff Tufts’ morning line, In High Form will face 11 others as she tries two turns and grass for the first time. Victor Espinoza will ride In High Form for the first time.

The lukewarm 7-2 favorite in the race is Pacific Ocean Song. Owned by Stan Fulton and trained by Eoin Harty, the 4-year-old Unbridled’s Song filly is back in with Cal-breds after finishing a decent fourth against open company on March 31. Valdivia will ride the $250,000 yearling purchase, who got her first win over this course at this distance in her second career start on March 11.

Race of the day: Artie Schiller, who won five of eight in 2004 for trainer James Jerkens, will make his first start as a 4-year-old in today’s $250,000 Maker’s Mark Mile on the Keeneland turf. Edgar Prado will ride Artie Schiller in the Grade II, the colt’s first start since he finished 12th of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Mile Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park in Texas.

One for the road: Alley Flash should be tough to catch in today’s sixth at Aqueduct as he tries for the fourth time to get his first victory for owner-trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero. Alan Garcia will ride the 3-year-old Bold ‘n’ Flash gelding, who finished third in his latest, half a length behind next-out winner Sarah’s Prospect.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Consolidated Fact, Pragmatico and Mining Diamonds in the sixth, Pacific Ocean Song in the seventh, Power Tripper and P Town John in the eighth and Cambiocorsa, Sexy Saint and Excessive Susan in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/207. Money: Previous day/meet total: $22/$1,138.80. Total money bet: $1,378.