It May Be Her Favorite Year

Minnie The Moocher won twice in seven starts in 2004, finished second twice and third once. Two races into her 4-year-old season, the daughter of Fast Play has already equaled her victory total of last year.

Owned by Thunder Racing Stable and trained by Mike Mitchell, Minnie The Moocher will try to stay perfect in 2005 when she takes on seven rivals in today’s sixth, a $52,000 optional claimer at six furlongs, at Santa Anita.

Since being claimed by her current connections for $40,000 out of a third-place finish at 3-2 odds in October, Minnie The Moocher has won her two starts by a combined 9 1/2 lengths. Now four for five at six furlongs, the bay filly will seek to keep her roll going under new rider Corey Nakatani.

One of the horses she will have to beat is Mazella. A 4-year-old daughter of Mazel Trick owned by Barry and Judith Becker and trained by Jay Robbins, she was third in last month’s Las Flores Handicap, a Grade III, but has had trouble finding the winner’s circle. She is one for 15 since 2004.

Race of the day: Trainer Wesley Ward, who has had success in such races, will send out Storming Hun, a gray daughter of Devon Lane, in Southern California’s first 2-year-old race of 2005 today at Santa Anita. Martin Pedroza will ride the California-bred in the $36,000 race, the first on the card, at two furlongs.

One for the road: Bailero, a 6-year-old son of Roy, makes his first start for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. in today’s sixth at Aqueduct. Rafael Bejarano will ride for owner Michele Mandara in the $40,000 claimer at seven furlongs. The race will be part of a pick six with a carry-over of $68,250.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Rozys Account, West Coast Gee Gee and Kind Lena in the fifth, Minnie The Moocher in the sixth, At Dawn, Frankelstein and Risky Weather in the seventh, and Railroad, Andlikethathesgone and Awesome Sign in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/158. Money: Previous day/meet total: $22.60/$842. Total money bet: $1,082.