Hammersly: How I'd play Santa Anita for Saturday, Dec. 27
There are a few entrants on the card who may be worth playing - as well as using as linchpins for some multi-race wagers.
Race 4
With races 2 and 3 being inscrutable maiden races, spreading there and keying JOMELO in race 4 is a viable pick three plan.
JOMELO has come into his own since coming west. After a sharp third for $25,000 here Sept. 26 (moved up to second via a DQ) he won for $25,000 here Oct. 19 and won again at that level at Del Mar Nov. 23. Those three strong races coincide with him teaming up with Rafael Bejarano, who stays aboard here. It’s also encouraging to see sharp trainer Philip D’Amato moves him up in value.
For in-race wagers there’s considerable appeal to use him with the likes of TIGAH, EZIO and TRELAWNY for exotics action.
Race 6
DADDY D T would have been favored in Del Mar’s closing-day Cecil B. DeMille but came up sick and had to scratch. He showed plenty of quality winning the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Sept. 3 and finishing a strong third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (leaving many a nice turf horse including some Euro hotshots in his wake). His smart works of late indicate he’s recovered, fit and ready to go. He figures to be an important cog in my pick three and pick four action.
Race 8
This race is a complete scramble but a potential pricebuster is RUSTY SLIPPER. Trainer Graham Motion is no dummy. After her smart win in Monmouth’s Grade 3 Violet he shipped her here and she finished third (in a dead heat) in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive. That was enough to earn a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She ran 10th against some of the world’s best. She’s been freshened and this class drop means she doesn’t face anyone like the gals she faced last time. This highly contentious race and that last not-so-hot running line may mean her price stays more than palatable.
A host of others can be linked with her for exotics, including DIVERSY HARBOR, LADY PIMPERNEL, SCOOTER BIRD, THREE HEARTS and LADY OF GOLD.
The presence of heavy favorite DANCINTHENIGHTAWAY in race 7 means you can use RUSTY SLIPPER and the others in your late pick three and pick four, and if you feel good enough about DANCINTHENIGHTAWAY to – gulp! – single her then you can spread here and also in race 9, a tough maiden contest. In fact, if you feel good enough about DADDY D T and DANCINTHENIGHTAWAY that leaves you with plenty of room to spread for races 8 and 9.