Bernier: How I'll play Santa Anita on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019

The main event at Santa Anita on Saturday is the Buena Vista at a mile on turf for fillies and mares, and VASILIKA (9) looks formidable yet again for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. There are alternatives who could be considered if you’re looking to take a shot against the big mare, but I’m not too keen on trying to beat her. However, there are other appealing races throughout the day; below are a few horses to consider.

RACE 6

At face value, TAOS (5) may not have much appeal, as he hasn’t done much running in the first three starts of his career. When you dig a bit deeper, there may be some appeal this afternoon at a very square price. A son of Tapit trying turf for the first time, Taos is a half-sibling to Lucullan (3 for 7 on turf, lifetime-best Beyer Speed Figure of 99) and Innovative Idea (2 for 4 on synthetic), so he may take to the downhill turf course nicely. The Richard Mandella trainee sports a bullet half-mile drill entering this event and gets Lasix for the first time, along with the removal of blinkers. At 15-1 on the morning line, he’s at least usable in exotics underneath and perhaps one to consider if spreading in multirace wagers.

RACE 7

TOUGH BUT NICE (1) is a horse who needs the lead, and breaking from the inside draw should ensure that Flavien Prat sends and puts this 6-year-old gelding on the engine. Incapable of picking up his feet on a wet track (5-0-0-1 lifetime), his two most recent starts should be excused, and in many ways, today’s effort could be looked at as the first start off the Peter Miller claim. In a rather competitive heat, anything approaching his 3-1 morning-line odds would be fair.

RACE 9

LITTLE SCOTTY (8) hasn’t performed well recently, but there’s reason to believe he’ll offer his best this afternoon; whether that’s good enough to win remains to be seen. A horse who does his best when dictating things on the front end, Little Scotty projects to be loose on the lead, according to TimeformUS, and likely at a slower tempo than in his last two races. TimeformUS had the early splits color coded red in his past two starts, with pace figures of 155, 155, 145, and 136 dotted throughout. It’s always advantageous to be forwardly placed in two-turn races on the main track at Santa Anita, and even if he’s unable to hang on late, Little Scotty deserves consideration at 12-1 on the morning line.