Hammersly: How I'd play Santa Anita on Sunday, Feb. 15
Some small fields the first three races of the day may limit your options, but there are a couple runners later on the card who hold appeal not only for utilization for in-race wagers but also for the various multi-race wagers.
Race 4
LUCKY J LANE isn’t some shocking selection. After all, the gelding just won his last start Jan. 15 on this course at this trip in terrific fashion. The water is a bit deeper here, though, as he beat Cal-breds that day but here must deal with open foes.
Still, they’re not monsters, and the manner of his Jan. 15 win hints he’s back on his game. He worked well since, and it’s very nice to see leading rider Rafael Bejarano stick with him – particularly as he and trainer Richard Baltas have been terrific together since the start of 2014 (29 percent).
While he can be used in the various pick three wagers involving this race, he also can be used on top in exactas with BUFFALO (stretching out and dropping), OPSEC (smart maiden winner on turf here), ROYAL BANKER (dropping out of stakes), and CERVARO (returning from a long layoff but capable of competing on his best day).
Race 9
GOLD JOURNEY has a few things in her favor. First, she returns to dirt. Her best race came on this track at this trip Oct. 30 (ran second). She’s been freshened since finishing fourth Nov. 20 at Del Mar at this level. That wasn’t the strongest run for her, but it looks oh-so-much better, too, when you note three of the other five runners in that race came back to win their next starts. She’s also been freshened since, and it’s very nice to see no drop in value for her return by trainer Kathy Walsh.
And while this is for $50,000, she doesn’t face much obvious power here. Not only can she be key for your late pick three, the pick four, and even the pick six, she also may rule the exacta over the likes of EASTER LILLIAN (worked smartly for her debut for Gary Mandella who is strong first out), BEHEST (also has worked well for her bow for Philip D’Amato who fires first out), and RACING HOPE (shown talent finishing second and fourth in her last two, both at this level).