Free: Santa Anita pick three play for Sunday, Feb. 8

ARCADIA, Calif. – Forecasters are talking about a chance of rain Saturday night. If correct, the second race Sunday at Santa Anita could be moved from the downhill turf course to the main track.

That won’t matter.

A suggested pick three play on races 1-3 will use “all” in the turf sprint, middle leg of the sequence. If the race stays on the hill, that’s okay also. Turf-sprint favorites have underachieved this winter, winning at a mere 23 percent clip.

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That is a low rate, particularly compared with the overall 38 percent win rate of favorites. Let’s hope the favorite misfires in the first race, otherwise the pick three will be dead early.

Race 1

BLOOMING HANNAH (2) is favored at 6-5. If she wins, the pick three ticket is done. Her runner-up finish last out in a four-horse field does not make her a legitimate favorite. Instead, the gamble is on a pair of first-time starters.

POCKETFULLOFGREEN (5) has worked well for a winning stable. So has HERECOMESKAT (6). PocketfullofGreen is 5-2; Herecomeskat is 6-1. The ticket will use those two only.

Race 2

This is the “all” race; seven starters. The favorites are late-runner ROYAL TEMPTRESS (2) and sharp veteran CAMRYN KATE (4). If the race moves to dirt, anything goes and there are likely to be scratches.

Race 3

Two promising second-time starters are virtual co-favorites off in this seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old maiden fillies. NEVER ENDS (5) finished second in a highly rated race won by the potential stakes filly Fantastic Style.

WILD AT HEART also finished second in her debut, a race won by Glory, the favorite Saturday in the California Oaks at Golden Gate. Wild at Heart finished more than nine lengths clear of third, running like a filly that will appreciate the stretch-out to seven furlongs. This ticket will use those two only.

The play

$1 pick 3 (2 x 7 x 2) = $28

Race 1: 5, 6

Race 2: “All 7”

Race 3: 5, 8