When Zeus’ War finished fourth by a half-length in an allowance race on turf on Jan. 25, jockey Assael Espinoza was left encouraged. The allowance race was the first career start on turf for Zeus’ War, who was stakes-placed on dirt at Pleasanton last November. “I always knew he would run good on the grass,” Espinoza recalled on Friday. “He’s got that stride. He gave me a good run down the lane.” Zeus’ War is winless in eight starts since early March 2024, a losing streak Espinoza thinks can end in an allowance race at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday. :: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race day. Access now. Zeus’ War is part of a competitive field of eight that includes Money Makes Money, who was third in an allowance race on the hillside turf course on Feb. 22; and Schwarzmeier and Player B, who were first and second in a starter allowance at six furlongs on turf on Feb. 17. Those runners may provide a pace for Zeus’ War to follow. “He’s not the quickest out of the gate,” Espinoza said of his mount. “He’s always comes running at the end.” Zeus’ War is owned by Steve Reger and trained by Tim McCanna. Espinoza has ridden Zeus’ War in seven of 12 career starts, including the win in an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields last March. Espinoza has been aboard Zeus’ War for both starts at this meeting, beginning with a third in an allowance race on dirt in December. Through Thursday, Espinoza was 10th in the standings at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting with 14 wins, trailing leader Juan Hernandez who has won 43 races. Espinoza won the riding title at the final Golden Gate Fields meeting, which closed permanently last June, and won or tied for riding titles at fair meetings at Sacramento and Santa Rosa last summer. He moved to Southern California last December, in advance of the closure of racing in Pleasanton, Calif., later that month. No racing has been held in Northern California since December, although there are discussions about conducting a fair meeting at Pleasanton this summer. “I hope they do it for all the people up there, but it seems hard,” Espinoza said. If racing returns to Northern California this year, Espinoza says he will stay in Southern California. “I came down here with the idea of staying down here,” he said. Espinoza is booked on seven mounts from Friday through Sunday this week at Santa Anita, but said he wants more opportunities to improve his position in the standings. “I’m satisfied with it, but I’m not happy with it,” he said. “I want to keep going up the ladder. “It will happen. It’s just a matter of time.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.