The cross-country notebook begins this week with a heretofore anonymous filly named Pennybaker. Her résumé includes only a single U.S. start. But what a start it was . . . Although it is too early to compare Pennybaker to the division heavyweights, the 4-year-old filly’s stakes romp April 16 at Laurel in her first start on dirt suggests she will make some noise. At the very least, Pennybaker is making up for lost time. Pennybaker lost her first six starts, all maiden turf races in France. She finally switched to synthetic and went on a tear. The Godolphin-owned and -bred filly, by Medaglia d’Oro and produced by a full sister to Frosted, won four straight, including a late-season stakes race in France. It earned her a ticket to the United Staters for her new trainer, Michael Stidham. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures “We got her in at the Fair Grounds this winter, and she never took a step backward at any point, physically and mentally,” Stidham said. “She kept moving forward every work. Whether it was a gate work or behind horses, she kept stepping up. That’s why we went straight into a stake with her. Then when she went out and did that, it was great to see.” What she did was demolish the $100,000 Heavenly Cause Stakes, winning the one-turn mile by 6 3/4 lengths under Jevian Toledo and earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Watching her win, wrapped up, one gets the impression Pennybaker has more to offer. “She gives every indication that two turns wouldn’t be a problem,” Stidham said. “Just being around her, her mental attitude, the way she moves. But that’s something I don’t think we’ll know for sure until we try it.” Pennybaker’s next start will be a graded race, and though she is not a current threat to the division elite, the season is young. Pennybaker has returned to Stidham’s stable at Fair Hill in Maryland. Meanwhile, distaff focus this week is on Grade 1 winners Letruska, Ce Ce and Malathaat. Ce Ce? Si, si! As controlling speed in the five-runner Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, Letruska might be gone as the program favorite. Or not. In fact, Ce Ce has enough speed to stay in striking range. Ce Ce is recently battle-tested versus top company, whereas Letruska enters off a slow-paced front-running Grade 3 “workout” versus modest rivals. Letruska and Ce Ce each seek a second Apple Blossom victory. This handicapper considers Ce Ce a low-odds overlay at her 2-1 program price. Smart play: Watch Malathaat Skepticism is a horseplaying attribute, and once upon a time a cynic would bet against a multiple Grade 1 winner returning from a five-month layoff as the favorite in a Grade 3. But even contrarians must choose their spots, and the Doubledogdare Stakes on Friday at Keeneland is not it. Malathaat looks like a complete and total standout in her first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. With respect to 2021 Doubledogdare winner Bonny South, who is back again, this year’s race looks chalky. To be clear, this is not to advocate backing Malathaat. It’s a nudge – the Doubledogdare is a pass. Thomas Shelby worth a look In all likelihood, front-runner Thomas Shelby will get run over in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday. But his past performances include two traits that sometimes produce unreasonably high odds – a rise in class following a loss, and going a longer distance after setting the pace and tiring at shorter. Thomas Shelby set the pace and faded to fourth last out in a Grade 3 at 1 1/16 miles. On Saturday, he moves up in class and stretches to 1 1/8 miles. Thomas Shelby, listed at 8-1, might be worth a gamble. Mystic Guide coming along Mystic Guide comeback, Take 2. The 2021 Dubai World Cup winner, who underwent surgery for a knee chip last summer and whose initial comeback was aborted after two works in December, is back on the tab. Mystic Guide worked three furlongs April 16 at Keeneland for Stidham, who in winter was not pleased with the colt’s post-workout condition and had him reevaluated. Dr. Larry Bramlage recommended giving him a bit more time. Now, it is full speed ahead for the 5-year-old. Stidham said Mystic Guide came out of his initial comeback work in good shape. “We’re optimistic,” he said. “Hoping for a summer campaign that hopefully leads us to the Breeders’ Cup.” Mystic Guide has won four races and $7,593,200 from nine starts, all for Godolphin. Epicenter tries to reverse trend It is no secret Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter has emerged as a legit Kentucky Derby contender. But for what it’s worth, Louisiana Derby winners have had a hard time in the Kentucky Derby this century. From 2000 forward, none of the 11 Louisiana Derby winners whose next start was the Kentucky Derby finished first or second (three ran third – Revolutionary, Gun Runner, Hot Rod Charlie). On the other hand, Epicenter dominated an above-average division this season at Fair Grounds. Prior to his Louisiana Derby win, Epicenter won the Risen Star while defeating subsequent winners of the Blue Grass, Lexington, and Sunland Derby. Oaks upset not out of question For us dreamers who still believe Venti Valentine could upset the Kentucky Oaks despite a mediocre runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct, history offers a glimmer of hope that also applies to Adare Manor, Hidden Connection, and Secret Oath. Eleven of the 22 Kentucky Oaks winners since 2000 lost their final prep; 11 won their prep. But the reality is Nest looks rock solid in the Oaks following her crushing victory in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. Powell runners deserves look Despite no Santa Anita racing April 18-29, only two trainers and one jockey based primarily in Southern California will journey north to compete Friday at Golden Gate. Trainer Ron Ellis entered Brittle and Yoo in race 6, an allowance route that is the first Northern California mount for Jessica Pyfer. Trainer Leonard Powell entered claiming mare East Rand in race 7. For two decades, Powell runners at Golden Gate have produced steady profits – 20 percent winners (25 for 122) and $2.87 return per $2 win bet. Stakes-rich return card In case you missed it, a reminder that Santa Anita resumes racing Saturday, April 30, with a 12-race card that includes four graded stakes. The early favorites are Express Train in the Grade 2 Californian; Beyond Brilliant in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham; Brickyard Ride in the Grade 3 Kona Gold; and Miss Bigly in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita. A maiden race for 2-year-old fillies also is scheduled April 30, and here’s hoping for a bigger field than the quartet of California-bred fillies that contested the meet’s first 2-year-old race on April 15. Half Birthday worth a flutter An inconspicuous New York-bred maiden-claiming turf race is worth fooling with Friday at Aqueduct, based on five-year Formulator data. The play is No. 7 Half Birthday, listed 4-1, trained by Tom Morley and ridden by Javier Castellano. Morley-trained maidens first-off-the-claim are 3 for 12, including $26.80 and $81.50 winners. Morley and Castellano have combined to win at a 28 percent rate (23 for 82) with an insane $3.84 return per $2 win bet. Formulator also offers pedigree insight. Half Birthday is first-time turf, and all six of her dam’s one-two finishes were on turf and her first foal is a two-time turf winner. Half Birthday, by all-surface stallion Freud, can post a minor upset. :: Want the best bonus in racing? Get a $250 deposit match, $10 free bet, and free Formulator with DRF Bets. Code: WINNING Still squeezing the bettors It was cool to watch the 10-year-old gelding Royal Squeeze score his 15th victory in a $6,250 claiming race Sunday at Gulfstream Park. What’s not cool is the repeated squeeze of late odds drops. Royal Squeeze was 2-1 at the gate, even-money at the break. Late odds changes continue to discourage bettors, but resolving the issue does not seem to be an industry priority. As for Royal Squeeze, he is a bona-fide horse-for-course. Including his maiden victory way back in February 2015, he has won 13 races at Gulfstream. Alysheba did it old-school Remember when horses flaunted durability and ran frequently? My, how times have changed. It was 35 years ago Saturday (on April 23, 1987) that Alysheba finished first in the Blue Grass Stakes. He was disqualified for interference and placed third, but no big deal. It turned out to be the ideal prep. Nine days after Alysheba crossed the wire first in the Blue Grass, he wheeled back to win the Kentucky Derby under Chris McCarron for trainer Jack Van Berg and owners Dorothy, Pam, and Clarence Scharbauer. Dream Shake back in big way An allowance win by California shipper Dream Shake on April 10 at Keeneland deserves attention. His return from a seven-month layoff was impressive. Third last year in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and second by a head to Jackie’s Warrior in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill, Dream Shake earned a 93 Beyer in his comeback. Trainer Peter Eurton said Dream Shake was off because he was “fried mentally” after a taxing 3-year-old campaign. Plans call for Dream Shake to stay in Kentucky for now. His long-range California goal is the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien at Del Mar.