Free: How I'll play Santa Anita for Monday, May 30

A bettor could wager on all favorites Monday at Santa Anita, and probably cash a few tickets. Or, a bettor could take one healthy swing at one decent price in race 8, the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes.

The latter option makes more sense, don’t you think?

Wekeela is the 9-5 program favorite in the Gamely Stakes, a nine-furlong turf race for fillies and mares. Her U.S. debut was outstanding. Racing one mile in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, she broke slowly, rallied wide on the far turn, made a menacing move and finished second.

She lost to the top-class miler Tepin. It was a super U.S. debut by Wekeela, who shipped from Belmont Park to Santa Anita early this week and looked outstanding physically while schooling on Saturday. The point is, Wekeela will be tough to beat at low odds.

Meanwhile, a longshot worth backing is Elektrum, whose May 5 comeback in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine was a lot better than the seventh-place finish suggests.

Elektrum was making her first start in more than five months at a one-mile distance that is shorter than she prefers. She was anchored leaving the gate, and taken back. She had a wall of horses in front of her into the lane, was not asked, and finished on her own.

It was the perfect prep for Elektrum, who wants every bit of the nine-furlong distance. She also has something that Wekeela lacks – a good race over the funky Santa Anita turf course that will soon be replaced.

Elektrum is not as good as Wekeela. But her odds are higher, and she is sure to improve second start back.

A bettor could back the favorites on Monday. Or, a bettor could be bold and make a win bet on Elektrum, and an exacta box with the favorite Wekeela.