Hammersly: Santa Anita pick four play for Saturday, April 7, 2018

Some big fields on this Santa Anita Derby card provide options for Saturday’s pick four (races 9-12) but let’s face it, the two heavyheads in the Derby itself and a filly just two noses shy of being unbeaten provide the linchpins.

Race 9
BOLT D’ORO (#3) came back firing to win the Grade 2 San Felipe here March 10. Whether you agreed with the call by the stewards doesn’t matter. What matters is he came back firing and has worked well since. JUSTIFY (#6) has shown enormous talent, romping in his only two starts. There’s no telling how good this guy might be, though taking on BOLT D’ORO is an entirely different kettle of fish than the opposition he’s seen so far, but he may be this good.

A’s) 3, 6
B’s) None
C’s) None

Race 10
THUNDERING SKY (#5) stalked the paced and kept to her task gamely to be a good fourth in the Grade 2 Buena Vista at this same trip here Feb. 17. That run looks even better when you note the winner, Fault, came back to win a Grade 1 on dirt. This mare should get a great stalking trip. MADAME STRIPES (#7) showed she can win a race like this when taking the Grade 3 Megahertz here Jan. 15. She didn’t fire in the Buena Vista but can bounce back. ENOLA GRAY (#6) has worlds of speed and is 4 for 5 on turf. She hasn’t been seen in more than nine months but is proven fresh and has done all that strong turf work here. SASSY LITTLE LILA (#9) has speed and courage, a nice combination. Two straight solid Grade 2 outings here this meet show she’s back on form.

A’s) 5, 7
B’s) 6
C’s) 9

Race 11
MIDNIGHT BISOU (#3) looked super winning the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel at this same trip March 3. That was her first route and she handled it wonderfully. She’s worked well since – and remember, she’s just two noses shy of being unbeaten. SPRING LILY (#2) was dazzling beating maidens here Feb. 4. She then dueled and faded in the Santa Ysabel but can benefit from that outing. It’s most encouraging that her connections give her another shot at this caliber and this trip.

A’s) 3
B’s) 2
C’s) None

Race 12
LASEEN (#1) posted a string of good outings before she refused to run in the Grade 2 Santa Ana. She’s worked since and is reunited with Espinoza who has been up for much of her best work. PANTSONFIRE (#2) finished strongly to be third in a tough mile race at this same level March 8. She gets an extra furlong here, which figures to help, as her prior win here Feb. 1 came at this trip. QUEEN BLOSSOM (#10) has been freshened a bit and cuts back in distance for the hot Richard Baltas barn. She showed ample ability last summer and if able to get back to that form can be dangerous. HACHI (#8) invades from Chile where she did plenty of good work including being Group 1-placed vs. males. She’s worked well and trainer Dick Mandella has done wonderfully with South American imports over the years.

A’s) 1, 2
B’s) 10
C’s) 8