Hammersly: Santa Anita pick four play for Saturday, May 23
Some good-sized competitive fields give the end-of-the-card pick four some appeal. There are a couple fairly heavy favorites, but they’re not unbeatable, so if you can topple them, you can eliminate many other tickets.
Race 7
SHEER PLEASURE (#3) has won twice on dirt – once wire to wire and the other from far off the pace – so she has versatility. She routes here, but her lone route, which came on turf, was solid. LA FIERA (#6) is a proven router, having won three times routing. That said, all her work has come on turf or synthetic, so this footing is new. ASHLEY’S SASSY (#5) wasn’t that far behind Sheer Pleasure when third sprinting here April 4 and wasn’t far behind La Fiera when second routing on turf April 26 at Golden Gate, but this combination (routing on dirt) may help her bridge the gap on those two – or overcome it altogether.
A’s) 3, 6
B’s) 5
C’s) None
Race 8
ZINVOR (#4) looked super blasting Cal-bred N1X foes here April 4. He may have things figured out. GRAZEN SKY (#5) tried turf for the first time in a stakes April 26 at Golden Gate and flourished as he won. PULMARACK (#10) fits as he wasn’t far behind Zinvor in that April 4 turf race here and was second to Grazen Sky in that Golden Gate grass stakes April 26. RICHARD’S BOY (#2) is 4 for 5 overall and 2 for 2 on turf, including winning a stakes here May 2. All that has been sprinting, so this distance is a new, significant hurdle. ROCKO’S WHEEL (#9) showed last time he can route, and while it’s first-time turf, he is bred for it.
A’s) 4, 5
B’s) 2, 10
C’s) 9
Race 9
MOTOWN MEN (#9) romped here April 10 and was a good third in the Grade 3 Precisionist here May 2 to Catch a Flight, who figures the favorite for the Grade 2 Californian and the Grade 1 Gold Cup. SPIRIT RULES (#2) may be the quickest in here coming out of tough sprints where he was often on or near the lead, making him a distinct theft possibility. SOI PHET (#6) likes this game, and if fully recovered from a fruitless trip Dec. 29 to Japan, he can be a factor.
A’s) 9
B’s) 2
C’s) 6
Race 10
ACE DEUCE (#5) has been knocking on the door with three straight seconds on turf. It may be his day to break through. THE CUSTODIAN (#7) also has been close a number of times, and it could be his day as a first-time gelding. PROHIBITION REPEAL (#2) may appreciate moving back to turf as he was a strong third in his only grass try. SIR CAL (#13) tried turf for the first time here May 2 and showed signs of life running on well for fourth. VERY GOOD YEAR (#9) debuts with some solid works and is kin to three grass winners. BRIMSTONED (#10) ran on smartly in a grass sprint here May 2. That was just his second start back after 14 months off, so he can improve further.
A’s) 5, 7
B’s) 2, 13
C’s) 9, 10
