ARCADIA, Calif. – Beyond well-defined handicapping factors such as speed and class, today’s horseplayers must consider a host of modern uncertainties. Ambiguities include new whip restrictions in effect Friday at Santa Anita – jockeys are limited to six strikes per race, two strikes in succession, underhanded only. The new whip rule adds to a growing list of unknowns. Handicappers and trainers must also deal with a horse shortage that causes races to be canceled or postponed, and the resulting interruption in training. Who knows if a one-week delay will affect race-3 favorite Parnelli on Friday? Hello, chaos. Pedigree analysts wonder why bred-for-turf Hollywood’s Best, the likely favorite in race 6, improved on dirt. Then there is Classy Ruler, hyped last winter as special, but foiled in her first four starts. She won last out, and runs Friday in race 8, a first-level allowance route. Her improvement is for reasons not shown by her past performances. “There’s more going on behind the scenes than you know,” trainer John Shirreffs noted, before he elaborated on Parnelli and Classy Ruler. :: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program. Parnelli offers minimal value in a small field of maiden 2-year-olds. Runner-up in his sprint debut, he stretches to a mile in a race originally in the condition book for Sept. 25. When the race did not fill, it was written back for Sept. 26. When it did not fill again, it became an extra for Sept. 27 but did not fill again. It goes Friday with five starters. “Unless you knew what day they were going to use it, your training was out of sync,” Shirreffs said. Parnelli looked good working a half-mile Monday, and could be loose on the lead. Wire to wire? “It depends on if it’s a conga-line race, or not,” Shirreffs said. Parnelli faces Hot Rod Charlie, a sibling to Mitole adding blinkers after losing three times as the favorite. Others include Mega Mischief, Bolu, and Scary Larry. California-bred maidens sprint 6 1/2 furlongs in race 6, and Hollywood’s Best will be tough based on a better-than-looked runner-up finish second time out. Even trainer Mark Glatt acknowledged surprise at his improvement on dirt. “He’s bred up the ying-yang to run on grass, but [jockey Abel Cedillo] seems to think he handles dirt a lot better,” Glatt said. Sired by Temple City, from a Leroidesanimaux mare, Hollywood’s Best finished second with trouble and benefits going from 5 1/2 furlongs to 6 1/2. Rivals include Arickaree and Lil Richards Bello. Velvet Queen would be a proper favorite in race 8, having won at the first-condition level on this track in winter prior to being disqualified for a medication violation. Classy Ruler finally won a maiden race in her fifth start. Her improvement is due largely because her imperfect gait was corrected after repeated experimentation with new shoes. Classy Ruler is now in perfect alignment. “Her last race, she improved,” Shirreffs said. “Her last work, she [improved more]. Two turns will be fine. Now she’s got everything she needs.