Bernier: How I'd play Santa Anita on Saturday, June 13

Saturday’s card at Santa Anita features two graded stakes events, and I’ll use both of them in individual daily double wagers.

The first double I’ll play begins in race 4, a Cal-bred maiden special weight event going five furlongs on the main track. Speed and experience can be lethal with 2-year-olds, and I’ll only use runners who fit that profile here. HOT ORE (1) just missed breaking his maiden at first asking for Robertino Diodoro here on May 15 over a wet-fast racetrack, and he figures to move forward in his second start. CARLOS DANGER (2) took money in his debut against open company but proceeded to lay an egg. Today he’ll add blinkers for Jeff Bonde – look for him to be more forwardly placed. RALIS (8) could be the most dangerous runner of all in here, and he’s very logical. His 58 Beyer Speed Figure in his debut towers over the rest of the field, and if this Doug O’Neill runner moves forward in his second start while dropping into the Cal-bred ranks, he figures to be a handful.

The Shoemaker Mile is the first of two graded stakes on the card Saturday, and while everyone is clamoring over BAL A BALI (5) (and for good reason) I fear he’ll be a very short price – not only on the win side of things but also from a multi-race standpoint. I truly think MIDNIGHT STORM (3) could be a bit of a freak. Ever since switching to Phil D’Amato’s barn he’s been a different animal, and that could largely be due to his taking so well to the turf. He’ll have to deal with WINNING PRIZE (1) early, but I think Midnight Storm has more ability and early speed than Winning Prize. I’ll single Midnight Storm in the payoff leg of this daily double sequence.

DAILY DOUBLE (RACES 4 and 5): 1,2,8 / 3

Knowing that the entire world is likely to be singled to BEHOLDER (4) in the Adoration, I feel like I need to take a bit of a swing in the seventh race in order to make this double worthwhile. I’ll be using two runners in the seventh and singling Beholder in the eighth.

FUELED BY BOURBON (5) rolled down the hill in his second start, and first as a 3-year-old, for trainer Dan Blacker, and the form of that race has already been flattered. Second-place finisher Roy H returned to win his next start going down the hill with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure, and the last-place finisher behind Fueled By Bourbon also came back to win next out. Some horses love going down the hill at Santa Anita and untilFueled By Bourbon shows me otherwise I’ll ride with him at a square number. The other runner I’m intrigued by is BAM BAM (9) for Paulo Lobo. While the Lobo barn hasn’t done much this year, this horse was slated to run down the hill here on May 14 only to see that race washed off the grass. Today he’ll get over the downhill turf course, plus he’ll receive Lasix for the first time. I don’t see any reason this son of Elusive Quality can’t make some noise at a big number.

DAILY DOUBLE (RACES 7 and 8): 5,9 / 4