Hammersly: How I'd play Santa Anita on Saturday, March 7

It’s not just a thrill to be able to watch Shared Belief, likely the best horse in the land, race in the Santa Anita Handicap. But his presence provides you with a “free square” to help with a number of your multi-race wagers.

Sure, he looms a heavy, heavy favorite (somewhere in the 1-2 range), so you’re not going to get rich on him, but his presence allows you some wiggle room in surrounding races, where you might find a price or two. All that being said, he’s in the last race of the day (race 11), and there are a number of options in earlier races, as well as candidates to use with him in the final pick three of the day, the pick four, and even the pick six.

You may have to wait a bit as the first four races are inscrutable (difficult restricted claimer, then three maiden races with a number of firsters involved), but then the options come at you right and left.

Race 5

CHASINGTHEACES comes with a familiar pattern for Bob Baffert. He was quite impressive breaking his maiden here last May 4 but fizzled in his first start vs. winners June 1. He hasn’t been seen since, but he returns at the same level with a bunch of strong works for Baffert, who of course is strong off the bench (33 percent off a layoff like this). His big maiden win came after an even longer layoff (16 months), so he’s proven fresh. He can be hooked up with CAUTIOUS GIANT (at his best sprinting), KILL SHOT (in sharp form), and MAY B (freshened since dueling and faltering and capable of better).

Race 6

ZANBO may have turned the corner. She’d done good work before, but it seems moving back to a route was what the doctor ordered. She did that Nov. 23 at Del Mar and won and routed again here Jan.2 and won easily. Both came for a tag, yes, but it’s great to see trainer Mike Puype does not again risk her for a tag, and off the freshening, he moves her up in class, which is a thumbs-up. That also should help your price. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt leading rider Rafael Bejarano, up for those two wins, stays with her.

She can be used in race with HUG AND A KISS (Group 3 placed in France, a solid fourth in her U.S. debut here Feb. 5 from which she can move forward), CYCLING (a well-regarded Irish import who was Group 3 placed there), and JADE WITH ENVY (claimed for $25,000 off a nice third down the hill by Richard Baltas, who’s having a terrific meet).

Race 7

DORTMUND surely is the one to beat, but BOLO is a viable alternative. He was nothing short of brilliant beating maidens on turf Nov. 29 at Del Mar and blasting rivals on turf in the Eddie Logan here Dec. 27. His connections immediately made comments about a dirt start and a crack at the Derby trail, but he missed some time as he apparently had a minor setback.

Well, he’s been working wonderfully since, and if he weren’t doing so well, there’s no reason they would need to try this. After all, they knew whom he’d be running against. Also, they could just wait for the big 3-year-old turf races. But he’s certainly bred for the dirt-distance game. His grandsire is Dynaformer, who a few years ago produced another turf standout who really made his name when moved to dirt – Barbaro. He also produced the likes of Grade 1 dirt route winner Perfect Drift.

They can find out if they have a Derby horse, and if he can be pointed in that direction, he needs points, so don’t assume this is just to get him acquainted with dirt. And, should he falter, they already know they have a real nice turf horse, so there’s no downside to this. If he runs on dirt the way he runs on turf, he can be scary, and the presence of Dortmund and other promising runners will keep his price more than palatable.

Race 8

BOBBI GRACE was troubled in the stretch of the Sweet Life down the hill or she might have won. Regardless, the Irish import has shown her talent, and while her best races so far have been sprinting, there isn’t a reason in the world she shouldn’t be as effective at this mile trip. Best of all, the presence of the much ballyhooed CURLIN’S FOX means Bobbi's Grace’s price should be more than fair.

She can be used with Curlin's Fox (obvious one to beat), LUTINE BELLE (may like the drop and return to turf), SPIRIT OF XIAN (ran on well in her U.S. debut after invading from England, finishing less than a length behind Bobbi Grace), SHE’S A BIG WINNER (two for two on turf with speed to be prominent from the start), and MIO ME (has rallied well in her three turf outings).

Race 9

CHITU’s game third in the opening day Grade 1 Malibu looks stellar now as that day he only narrowly lost to Shared Belief (we all know what he is) and Conquest Two Step (next won the Grade 2 Palos Verdes). He’s worked splendidly, has responded well before to a freshening, and while he’s stuck on the rail, there’s not a ton of big-time zip lined up against him, meaning a clean break can put him on the lead, and in fact, he may be able to clear off early without using too much fuel.

A cold exacta with him and CONQUEST TWO STEP, who figures to be charging, may be the play.

Race 10

WINNING PRIZE won this last year and at the time was the best turf miler in Southern California. Things went south after that, but the good news is he’s been working steadily for his return to trainer Neil Drysdale, who for years has been among the best at bringing a horse back off a layoff. Drysdale isn’t in the Hall of Fame by accident.

He was supposed to return a couple weeks ago, but when that race was washed off the turf, they opted to wait for this instead. The fact they’re going here says the son of Pure Prize is fit and ready. He has the tactical speed to be in a good spot from the bell.

Others who can be used with him include HOLY LUTE (appears to have a new lease on life since moving to turf), SILENTIO (can be top class when on his game and has fired fresh before), SUMMER FRONT (a proven commodity and rock-solid invader), RING WEEKEND (was supposed to return in a Grade 3 at Gulfstream last week, but they opted to scratch and ship across the country for this much tougher spot), and ZA APPROVAL (a good fourth in this last year and seemingly better on these firmer turf courses out west).

Of course, various combinations of those can be tacked on to SHARED BELIEF as a single in the late pick three, pick four, and even the pick six.