Hammersly: How I'd play Santa Anita on Sunday, June 21
It’s not often that there’s one horse on the card on which to key your day. Usually there are a couple runners that pique your interest, but Sunday’s Santa Anita card presents such a scenario where one horse can make or break your strategy.
There is a tough aspect to this, however. There are two juvenile stakes races (4, 8) that intersect a number of multi-race wagers, and those two races are full of question marks, and then there are a few maiden races late as well (7, 9), so multi-race wagers would have to take any and all into account.
Still, in race 7, for maidens going a mile on turf, SWEET looks primed and ready. And if I’m right, it means She can be my linchpin for so many different wagers, both in-race and multi-race.
Her appeal comes from the fact she’s proven she can route on turf. In just her second start, she ran on well for second here April 25. That also was her first route, and the big winner she chased (Paulina’s Love) came right back to beat winners. Her Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella has given her time since, and she’s been working splendidly. He also adds blinkers.
For in-race purposes, I’ll key her on top of five others in a $1 trifecta play ($20) – GIRL DOWNSTAIRS, MARKETPLACE, FOOLISH WAYS, SCATTAGIRL, and EMYVALE COURT.
For multi-race purposes, Sweet will be my base from which to expand for a few pick three plays. In the gimmick encompassing races 5-7, she’ll be my A in leg three. In race 5, I’ll use SCANDAL (A), AREWEHAVINGFUNYET (A), CAUSEWAY CAROLYN (B), and JAYCEE’S HUMOR (B). In race 6, I’ll employ NICKLAUS WAY (A), MY JEALOUS (A), WHEN WE MET (B), and BLUEGRASS REWARD (C) and close it out with Sweet.
For the pick three from races 6-8, the above play for race 6 remains the same, Sweet obviously is the A in race 7, and then in race 8, I’ll use MISS GRIDLEY (A), FAITH PACER (A), SAMBAMZAJAMMIN (B), and RIGHT THERE (B). For the day’s final pick three (races 7-9) I’ll repeat my race 7 and 8 designations and use ROSICKY (A), VOLUME (A), NOB HILL (B), and BELLAMY CONCERTO (C).