Free: Pick three play for Santa Anita on Saturday, Jan. 3

ARCADIA, Calif. – A pick three that “singles” a hot first-time starter is the exotic-wager recommendation Saturday at Santa Anita. The pick three is on races 2-4.

Race 2 is maiden sprint at 5 1/2furlongs. First-timer THE MAN (7) will be tough to beat. Trained by Bob Baffert (0 for 16 into Friday), the colt’s works include an impressive gate move Dec. 22. He went in 58.60 seconds under a hold. It was a “wow” work. Yes, he has speed.

For a long-term prospect, take a look at HONOR SOCIETY. The son of Bernardini acts like a good one for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, but 5 1/2 might be too short.

The pick three will single The Man, expected to start shorter than his 9-5 program price.

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Race 3 is a “spread.” The $16,000 claiming race is restricted to non-winners of three. The ticket will use half the field: ENDLESS CRUISE (1), QATAR’S PEARL (6), INDUSTRY LEADER (9), CONGRETIONALIST (11), and TIZ FUTURITY (12).

Race 4, a turf sprint for 3-year-old maiden fillies, anchors the pick three and will include first-time turf, first-off-the-claim MIZ PENELOPE (2) at 10-1. Trainer Richard Baltas has aimed her to this race since claiming her in October. If the pick three is dead, Miz Penelope is worth a straight bet.

MIO ME (3) is in from Churchill Downs, where she finished a better-than-looked fourth in her debut; LAWKANI (10) finished a creditable fourth in her debut on the downhill course. She has more speed than her main rivals. The ticket will use three.

The ticket:

Race 2: The Man (7)
Race 3: Endless Cruise, Qatar’s Pearl, Industry Leader, Congregationalist and Tiz Futurity (1, 6, 9, 11, 12).
Race 4: Miz Penelope, Mio Me and Lawkani (2, 3, 10).

At $1 each, it’s a $15 play.