Strong Race Comes Early

The second race at Santa Anita today is a lot more interesting than most conclusions to the early daily double.

A.P. Warrior, runner-up in the Norfolk Stakes, will face the promising Bob And John and six other 2-year-olds in the $45,000 allowance at one mile.

Trained by Eoin Harty for owner Stan Fulton, A.P. Warrior, a son of A.P. Indy who was purchased for $1.3 million as a yearling, broke his maiden in his sprint debut at Hollywood Park on July 17, ran a disappointing sixth in the Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7, then finished less than a length behind Brother Derek in the Norfolk, a Grade II.

Marooned in the outside post in the field of eight in the Norfolk, A.P. Warrior will move to Post 2 today and will again be ridden by Patrick Valenzuela.

After missing the Norfolk because of illness, Bob And John will be making his first start since he beat maidens by 11 1/2 lengths in his route debut Sept. 5 at Del Mar.

Owned and bred by Bob and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable and trained by Bob Baffert, the son of Seeking The Gold has worked well for his return, including a 58 4/5 -second five-furlong drill on Halloween. Victor Espinoza will ride the dark bay colt.

Race of the day: Lennyfromalibu, a 6-year-old Unusual Heat gelding who has won six of 20 and earned more than $439,000, will make his first start in over a year for trainer Barry Abrams in today’s fifth at Santa Anita.

The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $366,827. Alex Solis will ride in the $80,000 claimer at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

One for the road: Farnum Alley goes first time off the claim for high-percentage trainer Tom Amoss and is given a confident two-level boost in class in today’s seventh at Churchill Downs. David Flores will ride the 4-year-old Distorted Humor gelding for owners Robert Orth and Gregory Hoffmann in the $40,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Nice Maracas, Glimmering Pete and It’s A Topper in the first, Bob And John in the second and Singalong, Hallowed Dream and Sunrise Summer in the third.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 1/78. Money: (previous day/meet total): $4/$415.20. Total money bet: $492.