Bernier: Pick three play at Santa Anita for Saturday, Feb. 20

Saturday’s card at Santa Anita is an intriguing one, and I’ll focus my attention on a pick three consisting of races 6 through 8. The final race of the sequence will be Saturday’s featured event, the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes.

RACE 6

GOTHAM NEWS (2) has been gone for more than a year, and it’s fair to question whether he can still run. That being said, he’ll be making his first start for trainer Phil D’Amato and will be piloted by Rafael Bejarano. At 15-1 on the morning line, he’s worth adding to the play. K THIRTY EIGHT (7) has proven himself going down the hillside turf course in the past, and Karen Headley has sent out nothing but live runner this meeting. DE TREVILLE (8) makes his North American debut for trainer John Shirreffs, and based on the company he kept in France, he’s a very logical choice in this spot. PERFECTLY MAJESTIC (11) was very disappointing in his most recent start at Turf Paradise, but the turn-back down the hill should work to this gelding’s advantage.

HORSES: 2,7,8,11

RACE 7

PRINCE VALIANT (4) is the fastest horse in the race early, and the fact that he also possesses the best turn-time of the field makes him very hard to beat in this spot. The main track at Santa Anita has been favoring early pace recently, and there’s no horse in the field who’s better suited for the current track profile. He’s a single for me.

HORSES: 4

RACE 8

PRIZE EXHIBIT (6) could very well be the most likely winner in the Grade 2 Buena Vista, and as long as she maintains her cool she’ll be tough to beat. That being said, she has shown in the past that she can be her own worst enemy; she has a penchant for being nearly uncontrollable throughout the early portions of races, and the energy consumed during these fits hurts her when the real running begins. If she maintains her composure, she’s the horse to beat. PAULINA’S LOVE (11) is a horse I’ve been fond of for quite some time, and it looks as though she’s maturing and putting it all together now for Richard Baltas. Although her most recent start was against inferior competition, she displayed a beautiful pace-pressing gear that is a huge asset in these types of turf races. She should be forwardly placed throughout and get first run on the closers here.

HORSES: 6,11

:: See Matt Bernier’s pick three play in DRF TicketMaker and bet it with DRF Bets