Coast to Coast Pick 5 play for Saturday, April 6, 2024

SA RACE 3: BIG SUMMER has the tactical speed to stay close and a decent late kick. She should be coming at the leaders late. The layoff is a clear concern, but if she’s ready she’s going to be tough to stave off. RUGELACH is wide, but she has the speed to get immediate position. Her steady Beyers are another plus. (2)

GP RACE 8: NORMANJITO makes her U.S. debut, and trainer Brendan Walsh’s record with foreign imports (3 for 8, with a $2.53 ROI going back to last year) makes this filly a threat by default. The fact that this doesn’t appear to be an especially deep field adds to the appeal. HOCKEY makes her turf debut for trainer Mark Casse, and while the pedigree doesn’t offer a lot of clues as to her ability to handle grass (she’s the first starter out of an unraced dam), she does have proven speed and has been working well toward her first start of 2024. (2)

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SA RACE 7: MRS. ASTOR is a stone closer reliant on pace, but there does seem to be enough early zip in this field to set her up to make the last run. This is her first start off the layoff, but she ran well off a brief freshening last year. PASTICHE makes her U.S. and seasonal debut, but she did run well last year when returning from a slightly shorter layoff. She is another who should benefit from a lively pace up front. ROYAL CHARTER is another foreign import. She appears to have some tactical speed, and that could enable her to fall into a favorable trip behind the pacesetters. (3)

SA RACE 9: GRACELUND GRAY gets the rail, and that should help her get immediate position in this turf sprint that is light on obvious pace. She can steal this, if she breaks alertly and is able to shake loose without facing much pressure. AG BULLET beat Gracelund Gray in that last one with the benefit of a perfect trip, but she could find herself in a similar situation here as her tactical speed should once again give her an edge. (2)

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SA RACE 10: STRONGHOLD was a prompt winner of the Sunland Park Derby when on the lead, but he showed in prior tries that he doesn’t necessarily need the lead to run his best race. He is capable of winning the Santa Anita Derby with a slight step forward in only his second start of the year. IMAGINATION is the one to beat and very tough to leave off any ticket off his last couple of figures, including the 96 Beyer he earned in winning the San Felipe in game fashion. He has speed but also can rate as he did in the San Felipe. If he’s not on the lead, he figures to get first run at likely pacesetter E J Won the Cup. (2)

THE PLAY: 3, 9 / 3, 4 / 5, 8, 9 / 1, 6 / 3, 4 = $48 ticket

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