Bernier: How I'd play Santa Anita on Saturday, Jan. 16
Saturday’s card at Santa Anita features only one graded stakes, the Grade 2 La Canada, but it does showcase some solid races throughout the day. The two plays I’ll be making include a win wager and a daily double, each keying in on the main event.
RACE 7 – Grade 2 La Canada
TARIS (7) will attempt two turns for just the second time Saturday, and based on the way she finished in the one-turn Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct in November, this trip could be a trying one. She figures to be forwardly placed throughout, having to deal with pressure from a proven commodity in YAHILWA (5), who projects to sit just off her flank. Yahilwa ran a giant race at Keeneland in the Spinster on Oct. 4, and a replica of that effort would make her very tough here.
If Taris and Yahilwa hook up on the front end and duel each other into the ground, a horse like HONEY RIDE (4) could be the beneficiary. Each of Honey Ride’s three most recent efforts can be excused – she hated turf Dec. 27, something went wrong Sept. 2, and she received a ridiculous ride Aug. 1 when running against Beholder. The race she ran June 19 is one that is capable of being competitive in a field like this. Look for Tyler Baze to have this mare positioned a length or two off the early pacesetters entering the far turn. I think she should be 6-1 in this spot, but I’ll only play her at 9-1 or greater.
The La Canada also will be the first leg of a daily double that I’ll be playing; the horses I’ll use in the opening leg are Honey Ride and Yahilwa.
RACE 8
ENTRECHAT (5) makes her return to the races here, and she’s very likely the horse to beat. Her best race going down the hill makes her the most likely winner, and while she’s been working consistently since late October, I’m not convinced that she’s a slam dunk here. HARD NIGHT’S DAY (2) won her maiden going down the hill in June and finished very impressively. While she did flip back to her left lead late in the stretch, her gallop-out was tremendous, and it’s nice to see Rafael Bejarano retain the mount. Look for her to begin making her move around the far turn as the field turns for home. She’ll be the only runner I’ll use in the eighth race.
PLAYS
R7: WIN wager on HONEY RIDE (4) at odds of 9-1 or greater
R7/R8 DOUBLE: HONEY RIDE (4), YAHILWA (5) / HARD NIGHT’S DAY (2)