Excess Summer Looks to Extend Win Streak

The horse that will be the shortest price on the card today at Santa Anita is in the first race.

Excess Summer, who has won two in a row, including a local victory on Jan. 12, is 4-5 on Jeff Tufts’ morning line in the $50,000 claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Owned by a partnership and trained by Jeff Mullins, the 5-year-old In Excess gelding will be looking for his ninth win in 18 career starts.

Tyler Baze will ride the California-bred, who has won two of five at Santa Anita. Fairly Crafty, Ride And Shine, Early Cotton, Four Checker and Hasslefree will provide the opposition.

In the day’s final race, which is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $82,760, Grand Warrior will try for the 11th time to break his maiden as he drops to the $25,000 claiming level for the first time.

Owned by Grand Slam Farm LLC and trained by Wayne Lukas, who won Wednesday’s final race with a maiden claimer, Grand Warrior was purchased for $600,000 as a yearling in 2002. Jon Court, who rode Hedge Your Bet to victory for Lukas in the Wednesday race, has the call on the 4-year-old Grand Slam colt.

Race of the day: Bohemian Lady, who was last seen running in consecutive Grade I stakes last year in New York, returns in a softer spot for Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher in today’s ninth at Gulfstream Park. John Velazquez, who won the Eclipse on Monday as the nation’s top jockey in 2004, has the call on the 4-year-old Carson City filly in the $37,000 optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Other contenders include Forty Moves, Fall Fashion, Miracle Runner and Habiboo.

One for the road: Blueyed Lass looked good breaking her maiden at first asking on Jan. 3 and should have no problem with the switch to the turf in today’s sixth at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Robby Albarado will ride the 3-year-old Sky Classic filly for owner Vickie Krantz and trainer Gary Palmisano in the $32,500 allowance at about one mile.

Exotically speaking: A pick three with Black Horse Money and Frankelstein in the fifth, Processor, Beat The Chalk and Andlikethathesgone in the sixth and Mazella, Papa To Kinzie and Dee Dee’s Diner in the seventh.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 0/62. Money: Previous day/meet total: $0/$332.20. Total money bet: $408.