Bernier: How I'd play Santa Anita on Saturday, Feb. 14

The late double at Santa Anita is a bit appealing to me, and I’ll take a shot at hitting it. The two races that make up the double are the Grade 2 Santa Maria and the Sweet Life Stakes.

Race 8

THEGIRLINTHATSONG (#2) is the horse to beat in the Santa Maria, but to try to infuse some value in the wager, I’ll look to beat her. YAHILWA (#1) may have just hated the surface at Los Alamitos, or it could have been the quick turnaround from her effort in the stakes race at Delta Downs in Louisiana. Either way, she has the ability to go to the front should the others allow her, or she can sit just off a target. I’m hopeful she rebounds.

Race 9

The Sweet Life Stakes is an intriguing contest going down the hill, and I’ll be using a few runners. BOBBI GRACE (#2) was impressive in her hillside debut Jan. 15, and it’s nice to see Gary Stevens stay aboard here. If she progresses in her second start off the layoff, she’ll be tough. MIO ME (#6) didn’t run a step Jan. 31 in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes, but it simply could have been the fact that she hated the dirt surface. Today, she cuts back to the downhill trip where she won her maiden two back and retains the services of Corey Nakatani. SHE’S A BIG WINNER (#10) won her maiden going down the hill last time out, and while this is a steep step up in class, she very well could repeat in her first try against winners.

The plays

$5 Doubles – 1 / 2, 6, 10 = $15

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