Bernier: How I'll play Santa Anita on Saturday, May 27

Saturday’s pick five at Santa Anita features two graded stakes on turf – the Daytona going down the hill and the Gamely going nine furlongs. Each race figures to have a rather heavy favorite. I’m going to lean on one of them and fade the other. Here’s how I’ll approach the pick five.

RACE 1
GETOFFMYBACK (1) should get some pace to run at while turning back in distance, but he may have too much to do late at the distance of 5 1/2 furlongs. ONE I’M RUNNING TO (3) hasn’t been seen since November at Del Mar, but he figures to be forwardly placed beneath Irad Ortiz Jr. in his 3-year-old debut. BITTE (6) drops from starter-allowance company into beaten-claiming company and re-adds blinkers; he’s competitive from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint and should figure prominently throughout.

RACE 2
RUN LIKE RHETT (2) has blinkers added for the first time for trainer Blake Heap; if he can be a bit more forwardly placed, he should have a shot rounding the far turn. KITTEN’S ROYAL (4) looks like one of the rare Kitten’s Joy runners who can’t step on turf; his most recent race on dirt was encouraging, and having the blinkers put back on may prove beneficial. MIND READER (6) is competitive from a Beyer perspective, and it’s possible that the stretch-out in distance could be the difference maker. WILBON (7) stretches out in his first start for trainer Steve Knapp, and one should note the success Knapp has had with runners making their first start following the claim. SUPER STORM (8) earned a solid Beyer in his career debut before being eased in his second start; there obviously have been issues physically (he’s started twice, and he’s 5 years old, but a rebound to the debut effort makes him a player.

RACE 3 – DAYTONA
STORMY LIBERAL (6) is strictly the horse to beat; he possesses the ability to go to the front as well as sit just off the pace – a combination that is lethal. He’s going to be a very short price, and deservedly so.

RACE 4
HONOR AND COURAGE (2) looked as though he could be a player on the Triple Crown trail this year before missing some time; he’s due for a maiden win, and the hot-riding apprentice stays aboard for Jerry Hollendorfer. ACKER (4) finished with interest in his career debut for Richard Mandella, and the stretch-out in distance in start No. 2 should work to his advantage.

RACE 5 – GAMELY
AVENGE (1) is making her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last November and happens to be running against Lady Eli; Lady Eli is a formidable foe, but Avenge looks to be loose on the front end, and Mandella has excelled bringing runners back in graded stakes after this sort of layoff over the past few years.

THE PLAY
50-cent pick five: 1,3,6 / 2,4,6,7,8 / 6 / 2,4 / 1 = $15