Hammersly: Santa Anita pick three play for Friday, Dec. 26

A competitive opening leg gives appeal to the pick three comprising races 5-7. An added benefit may be a solid ‘A’ in Leg 2, the Grade 1 La Brea, with TARIS, and then a contentious Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile with the promising HEART TO HEART as a key.

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Race 5

There are a couple solid in-form runners in here, but you may be able to snag a price because the talent gap from those to some of the others isn’t all that significant. WANSTEAD GARDENS (#8) finished full of run to be second in a spot like this at Del Mar Nov. 30 at 30-1, and may be ready to peak. CHRISTOPHER STREET (#7) figures to be finishing well, and two recent bullet works at San Luis Rey say he’s doing well. CRUX (#2) has found a home on turf with a win here Oct. 29 and second at Del Mar Nov. 16. He has tactical speed and should be prominent from the opening bell. MAL VERDE (#3) looked good beating Cal-breds on this course Oct. 11 and may be good enough to handle open foes. HUSBAND’S FOLLY (#6) is a tough old pro who continues to put in a good late kick, while BENCH LIGHT (#9) gets well-deserved relief in class after three straight tries vs. Grade 2 foes.

A’s) 8

B’s) 2, 3, 7

C’s) 6, 9

Race 6

TARIS (#1) was a monster back East, and if she comes here with anything close to that kind of form she romps. Should she not fire you have some price options with STONETASTIC (#7), who can flat sizzle early and must be caught, and JOJO WARRIOR (#10), who’s had a very nice campaign and was only two lengths behind certain 3-year-old filly champ Untapable when last seen. She’s sprinted just fine before, and some strong recent works say she’s doing well. AWESOME BABY (#4) is awfully quick, and while she hasn’t run since last March 23 she’s proven fresh. She is under the care of Bob Baffert, who is superb off a long layoff, and has worked as if she’s primed to come back firing.

A’s) 1

B’s) 7, 10

C’s) 4

Race 7

HEART TO HEART (#7) has looked like the second coming of Lure with his run-away-and-hide turf wins the past few months. He’s been targeted for this all along, and while speed is his primary asset he’s not a need-the-lead type. LONG ON VALUE (#10) showed he’s the real deal when he rallied to win the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on this course Oct. 31. He’s been off and has been working splendidly. TALCO (#12) can put up a big late run when things break his way, while SAWYER’S HILL (#5) figures prominent from the start, and nearly wired rivals in the Twilight Derby over this course Oct. 31. PATRIOTS RULE (#1) ran on nicely behind top-class sprinter Big Macher in a main-track sprint stakes at Del Mar Nov. 23 and may be better playing this game. HOME RUN KITTEN (#9) found the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint waters a tad too deep, so this drop may help. He’s 2 for 3 at this trip.

A’s) 7, 10

B’s) 5, 12

C’s) 1, 9