Bernier: How I'd play Santa Anita for Saturday, Jan. 10

Saturday’s card at Santa Anita features two graded stakes events, and they will be the focus of my plays. I will play each of them individually, as well as have them be the bookends of a pick three play.

THE PLAYS

RACE 6

WIN/SHOW wager on UNBLUNTED (4) at odds of 7-2 or greater

EXACTA BOX of UNBLUNTED (4) / HERO TEN ALL (8)

PICK THREE (races 6-8): 4,8 / 2 / 1,2,10

RACE 8

WIN/SHOW wager on QUADRIVIUM (1) at odds of 9-2 or greater

EXACTA BOX of QUADRIVIUM (1) / HOPPERTUNITY (2)

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RACE 6

The Sham is an intriguing race, as the likely favorite is currently a maiden – CALCULATOR (7). Although he has the best Beyer Speed Figures in the field, I have some serious questions about him. After missing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with foot problems, he then proceeded to miss the Los Alamitos Futurity with an illness. He has yet to win a race, and although he figures to get a nice setup I’m going to take a shot against him. UNBLUNTED (4) was very solid winning his maiden at Santa Anita going seven furlongs on Oct. 18, and in his first start off the layoff at Golden Gate he had a horrific trip. He’s better than that effort would suggest and I expect him to bounce back in a big way. HERO TEN ALL (8) was very impressive winning his maiden at Los Al on Dec. 7, and he figures to get a solid pace to run into here.

RACE 7

I won’t be playing this race individually, but I will be singling SECRETO PRIMERO (2) in the middle leg of a small pick three. This son of First Samurai ran well last out going down the hill at Santa Anita in October, and since that effort he has been gelded. He has been working very well for trainer Mike Machowsky in the interim and I anticipate Victor Espinoza to have him in a beautiful spot just off the pacesetters.

RACE 8

The San Pasqual features my favorite horses and the likely prohibitive favorite, HOPPERTUNITY (2). He’s coming off a victory in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, however, I thought he had to work quite hard to get the victory that day. He has the most potential and upside of anyone in this field, but I think he’s far from a sure thing in this spot. I will take a shot against him with Graham Motion’s entrant, QUADRIVIUM (1). Since coming to America, this son of Henrythenavigator has won both of his starts on dirt – one on slop while stalking, one on a fast track while closing from the clouds. The gelding that took place sometime between his last race in Europe and first in the States seems to have done him wonders and I think he has quite a bit of potential.