Bernier: How I'd play Santa Anita for Saturday, March 5

The featured event on Saturday’s nine-race program at Santa Anita is the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and the undefeated 2-year-old champion SONGBIRD will look to remain perfect on her way towards the Kentucky Oaks. Unfortunately, her presence makes that race very unappealing from a wagering standpoint, as I have zero desire to attempt to beat her. While that race doesn’t appear very appetizing, there are a few spots where I believe a few bucks can be made.

RACE 2

BROTHER SOLDIER (9) is getting significant class relief for trainer Richard Baltas, and his outside post should make him the horse to beat. Not only is he halving in claiming price (from $32,000 to $16,000), but he’s also dropping from the open claiming ranks into the conditioned level (non-winners of three lifetime). He has enough tactical speed to make him very dangerous in here, and he’ll be my key in trifectas. I’ll key him around two other runners – SYNDICATED (2) and LONDON LEGACY (8). Here are the plays:

9 with 2,8 with 2,8
2,8 with 9 with 2,8
2,8 with 2,8 with 9

RACE 6

Trainer Vladimir Cerin has SWISSARELLA (10) in career form as a 5-year-old mare, and she has a very serious shot at wiring this field. The major question for her has to be the distance – can she successfully carry her speed out to 1 1/16 miles? She prevailed in each of her past two efforts at a flat mile, but the margins were diminishing late in the running. If Swissarella goes off above 4-1, she’s worth a win wager. In case she comes up wanting, I’ll look to play an exacta using her underneath the rail runner, TWO TAPS (1). Here are the plays:

Win on Swissarella (10) at odds of 4-1 or greater
Exacta of Two Taps (1) over Swissarella (10) if the combination pays $65 or more for a $2 wager