Today’s Insights

3rd-SA, $52K, Msw, 2yo, a6 1/2fT, 5:00 p.m. ET
Spendthrift Farm’s THE REF Distorted Humor) will make his career bow from the barn of Richard Mandella Friday. For the same owner/trainer combo as multiple champion, MGISW and GI Breeders’ Cup Classic bound Beholder (Henny Hughes), the grey was purchased for $650,000 as an OBSMAR juvenile after breezing a furlong in :10 2/5. He is out of SW Dance Quietly (A.P. Indy), a half-sister to Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado), GSWs Quiet Giant (Giant’s Causeway), Congressionalhonor (Forestry) and MGISP Miss Besilu (Medaglia d’Oro). Fellow firster Agronomy (Sidney’s Candy) has fired back-to-back bullets at Santa Anita including a :46 flat half-mile (1/25) for Hronis Racing and John Sadler. Snapped up for $560,000 from the same sale as The Ref, the son of SW Broadway Hennessey (Hennessy), breezed a furlong in :10 1/5, and was the top-priced juvenile for his sire to sell this year. Click for TJCIS.com PPs.

4th-SA, $52K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 5:30 p.m. ET
Eric Guillot saddles GEM Racing Stable’s BAMBOCHE (Tapit) in her career bow. The regally bred bay is out of GI Hollywood Starlet S. and GII Beaumont S. heroine Diplomat Lady (Forestry), herself a half to GSW Dream Play (Hennessy). Click for TJCIS.com PPs.

5th-SA, $52K, Msw, 3yo/up, a6 1/2fT, 6:00 p.m. ET
RAN JAN Racing’s homebred EL GRAN TURISMO (Arch) will attempt to continue a family tradition–capturing a victory down the hill at Santa Anita. Dam MGSW Cambiocorsa (Avenue of Flags), a full-sister to the MGSW and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint hero California Flag, kicked things off, breaking her maiden going this route before eventually adding both of her graded stakes wins. All four of her foals to race, all fillies to date, have at least one victory over this unique course: recently retired GSW Moulin De Mougin (Curlin), GSW Schiaparelli (Ghostzapper), MSW Alexis Tangier (Tiznow) and the winning GISP Vionnet (Street Sense). Mike Puype trains the bay . Click for TJCIS.com PPs.