Baze Leader of the Pack

Through the first 13 days of Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet, the race for leading jockey is tight.

Tyler Baze leads the way with 14 victories, two more than Rene Douglas and three more than Jon Court.

Baze, who often rides for leading trainer Doug O’Neill, has five mounts on today’s card as he tries to maintain his advantage at a meet that will continue until April 18.

None of Baze’s rides this afternoon will be for O’Neill, who will employ Felipe Martinez on second-race entrant Shanghai Joe and Court on Orchid Thief, who will run in the sixth.

Two of Baze’s mounts will be for trainer Mel Stute, including impressive first-out winner Who’s Kidding Who in the second race, a $48,000 optional claimer for 3-year-olds bred in California at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Owned in partnership by Stute and Bill Thomas, Who’s Kidding Who, a son of Wild Gold, won by three lengths over a sloppy track on Dec. 29. He is the 5-2 second choice on Jeff Tufts’ morning line in the field of six.

Baze will also ride Lower Shore for Stute. His other mounts on the card are Proud General in the first, Red Legend in the fifth and Helms Deep in the seventh.

Race of the day: Relaxed, a beaten favorite in her U.S. debut at Belmont Park on Oct. 22, will return to her preferred surface -- turf -- in today’s ninth at Gulfstream Park. Jerry Bailey will ride the 4-year-old Royal Academy filly, who had a win and a third in three starts on grass in England before coming to this country, for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bobby Frankel in the $35,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

One for the road: Gold Like U has never been worse than third in five starts on Aqueduct’s inner track and should improve after being claimed for $50,000 by trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. in today’s eighth at the track in Ozone Park, N.Y. Rafael Bejarano will ride the 4-year-old Gold Token filly in the $43,000 allowance at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using S S Strange and Proud General in the first, Who’s Kidding Who in the second and Bless Her Heart, Lila Hope, Queen Of Soul and Frysland in the third.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/35. Money: Previous day/meet total: $19.80/$185.40. Total money bet: $206.