Saturday’s card at Santa Anita is highlighted by two Grade 1 events, the Shoemaker Mile on turf and the Vanity Mile on the main track. Each race brings plenty of intrigue to the table. The Shoemaker Mile is a small but select field, and the Vanity is a showdown between Beholder and Stellar Wind (and possibly Taris, as she’s yet to be officially scratched at the time of this writing). Here are a couple of wagers I’ll look to play Saturday. RACE 5 The fifth race is a salty 6 1/2-furlong sprint for true blue-collar types, and four horses in particular have caught my attention. NO CONTINGENCY (6) has displayed big speed in the past, and trainer Mike Pender thought enough of this runner to claim him right back after losing him two starts ago. He’s been away for a couple of months, and while I don’t love the huge gap in his work tab between the end of April and the end of May, his best race fits here. GIANT EGO (8) may be a need-the-lead type, but his tenacity should be admired. If one of the other speeds breaks a bit slowly, there’s no reason this gray can’t make the front and get brave. TOO FAST TO PASS (4) is another forward presence, but he’s shown the ability to sit off a target in the past. If the pace gets too warm up front, this John Sadler trainee could be the one to take advantage. BASMATI (1) generally likes to be forwardly placed, but he hasn’t seen this type of early lick since running here in February. He’ll likely need to sit a few lengths off the pace if he’s to threaten. I’m going to use all four of these runners in the first leg of a pick three, using singles in the final two legs. RACE 6 – SHOEMAKER MILE Heart to Heart must be respected, as he’s in career form for trainer Brian Lynch. Whenever he’s allowed an easy lead, he’s made his competition pay the price. While I do believe he’ll make the lead, I’m not so sure that MIDNIGHT STORM (6) doesn’t still possess the ability to fire a big shot in a big spot. If Midnight Storm can run a race comparable to the one he ran in last November’s Seabiscuit at Del Mar, I think he has a huge chance. I’ll single him in the middle leg of this pick three and play him to win if he goes off at odds of 7-2 or greater. RACE 7 – VANITY MILE I understand people want to make cases for both Stellar Wind and Taris, and rightfully so. Each of these ladies possesses immense talent. But I don’t think either of them is going to defeat one of the better mares we’ve seen in some time, BEHOLDER (2). Beholder’s seasonal debut was nothing more than a public work, and we’ve seen in the past that she’s capable of upping her game when necessary. I’ll single her in the payoff leg of this small pick three sequence. PLAYS $5 pick three, races 5-7: 1,4,6,8  /  6  /  2                                                                 $25 win, race 6: 6 – MIDNIGHT STORM at odds of 7-2 or greater :: Bet Santa Anita with DRF Bets and get FREE access to this article and all of DRF Plus, including selections, video, and real-time analysis.