Hammersly: How I'd play Santa Anita on Sunday, Jan. 18

Pickings seem slim to start the card with a couple short fields comprising the traditional daily double and a completely inscrutable maiden claimer as race 4. However, a couple horses later on the card pique my interest and appear quite useful, not only for in-race wagering but also for your various multi-race wagers.

Race 5

DOOR’S OPEN came back after nearly nine month in a spot like this Dec. 6 at Los Alamitos and ran splendidly to be second. He dueled from the start, and while that helped set up things perfectly for closing winner Horse Laugh, he still stayed on well to beat the rest. Considering that was his first start off that lengthy layoff, he surely can move forward here. It also doesn’t hurt he’s done his best work over this track (all three wins have come here).

The horse he edged for second, KAFISTER, was the 2-1 favorite that day, and he’s lined up against Door’s Open again here. However, while Kafister is a bona fide speed horse, Door’s Open – though he has speed – isn’t a need-the-lead type. That can put him in good stead here, and with the likes of Kafister against drawing money, that should keep the price on Door’s Open palatable.

Hooking him up with Kafister and the impressive opening-day winner MAY B, as well as keying Door’s Open in the pick threes, looks like a play.

Race 8

LADY PIMPERNEL might be the most important horse of the day. The European import has shown significant quality and comes off a game win over a very strong field in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel here Dec. 27 at 1 1/8 miles, that after a significantly troubled trip when third in Del Mar’s Grade 3 Red Carpet on Nov. 22, her U.S. debut. Her connections want to keep her running long, so they opted for this 1 1/2-mile spot. It’s a significant class drop, so she figures to be a significant favorite.

And while that may discourage a win wager, her ability and that she faces weaker foes here may mean she can be a “free square” in a couple pick threes (races 6-8 and 7-9), the pick four and the pick six. Also, she can be keyed on top of LADY OF GOLD (who beat her in the Red Carpet at Del Mar and was only a half-length behind her in the Frankel), KITTEN’S POINT (freshened since a dull run in a stakes Nov. 7 at Del Mar and surely capable of better), and SHYSHEISNOT (who continues her strong form and may be ready for this class hike) in exactas and trifectas. Should she do the expected, she gives you the chance to be right about one horse which can lead to cashing multiple tickets.