Hammersly: Santa Anita pick 3 for Saturday, Jan. 27

A promising Bob Baffert runner trying turf for the first time and facing winners for the first time and a grass horse dropping out of a couple Grade 2 efforts could be key to a Pick-3 play on the Saturday Santa Anita card (races 6-8).

Race 6
HECK YEAH (#2) came out firing for Baffert in his debut on Los Alamitos dirt Dec. 7, dueling early and then drawing off to win easily. The horse he beat back into second, today’s foe RAVEN CREEK (#1), came right back to win smartly himself. It’s first time on turf, yes, but he’s bred to relish it, being by multiple Grade 1 turf winner Acclamation. Raven Creek couldn’t handle Heck Yeah in that Los Alamitos race, but he returned to this hillside course Jan. 1 and won smartly. He was a good second in his only other turf start, also down the hill. HARDBOOT (#3) rallied gamely to beat maidens on turf at this distance at Del Mar on Nov. 18. That earned him a shot in the Eddie Logan here Dec. 29. He found that assignment too tough, but he had trouble early as well. He moves in vs. statebreds only and a bullet work since encourages. CONO (#7) has upset potential. His first two turf tries came in open stakes and he found those waters too deep. He dropped some for a turf sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 24r and finished nicely for third, so he handles the footing.

A’s) 1, 2
B’s) 3
C’s) 7

Race 7
MATRICULATE (#3) dueled and paid the price for $20,000 on Dec. 31 but it’s most encouraging trainer Bill Spawr snatched him right back via a claim after losing him to a claim in his prior outing. Spawr is strong off the claim and this runner has done his best work here (all three wins have come here). ROCKET FUEL (#4) takes a big drop for this. They made the same move with him Nov. 26 and the result was a handy win, so it may be déjà vu all over again. Remember, too, trainer Philip D’Amato’s mentor, Mike Mitchell, was one of the absolute best with multiple-level droppers, so odds are D’Amato took the lesson well. BLACK TIE ‘N TAILS (#1) was overmatched here Jan. 7. This is a better level and a return to his prior form in the fall would make him a player.

A’s) 3, 4
B’s) 1
C’s) None

Race 8
HE WILL (#1) holds a significant class edge. He comes out of a couple Grade 2's, nearly winning the Seabiscuit at Del Mar on Nov. 26 before finishing seventh in the San Gabriel here Jan. 6. The change of altitude class-wise looks pivotal. CAMINO DEL PARAISE (#4) may have been 0 for 8 in 2017 but don’t let that fool you – he ran a number of strong races including being twice stakes-placed on turf in Northern California. SMOKEY IMAGE (#8) set the pace in the Grade 2 San Gabriel and stayed on well for fourth. Remember, this guy won his first six starts and looked like potential Kentucky Derby material. Things didn’t work out in that regard, but that San Gabriel effort hints he may be peaking. THE BIG TRAIN (#7) may have turned the corner. He flashed ability prior, but his last two were smart and there’s a bullet work since to indicate he holds his edge.

A’s) 1
B’s) 4, 8
C’s) 7