Bernier: How I'll play Santa Anita on Saturday, Feb. 10

Three graded stakes highlight the Saturday card at Santa Anita: the Santa Maria, the Thunder Road, and the San Vicente. Unique Bella, Blackjackcat, and Ax Man all appear to be legitimate short-priced favorites, but I’ll take a serious swing against one of them. I’ll also look to make a win wager later on the card in race 9.

RACE 6 – SAN VICENTE

AX MAN (1) was brilliant in winning his maiden in his career debut for Bob Baffert at Santa Anita on Jan. 1, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 97. On paper, he’s incredibly difficult to get around, but there’s a part of me that wonders if breaking from the rail with legitimate speed just to his outside could be his undoing Saturday. Conversely, ALL OUT BLITZ (4) is beautifully drawn outside of the main speeds, and the turnback in distance from a mile to seven furlongs could be the difference maker for this Simon Callaghan trainee. While he proved no match for McKinzie in the Sham Stakes most recently, All Out Blitz fits very well from a speed-figure standpoint in this race and should offer a decent price. I’ll look to play him at odds of 5-2 or greater.

RACE 9 – STARTER ALLOWANCE

If you’re looking at the ninth race from a Beyer perspective, LIBERTY JACK (11) can’t win; if you watch the replay of his maiden score Jan. 12, you’ll think he’s a major threat on Saturday. This gelded son of Munnings looked sensational when winning by more than four lengths most recently, earning a 72 Beyer. Realistically, it likely will take something in the mid-80s to win this race, but I think Liberty Jack is more than capable of getting to a number like that. Trainer Billy Morey can do no wrong recently, and I think this horse has a big chance at a very nice price. I’ll play him to win at odds of 9-2 or greater.