Hammersly: Santa Anita pick three play for Saturday, Jan. 17

A deep, competitive race 7 and a filly I consider among the elite who can be your linchpin makes the day’s final pick three (races 7-9) attractive.

Race 7

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A difficult event but RUSTY SLIPPER (#3) may bounce back. She was a smart third (in a dead heat) in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive here Sept. 27, showing her quality. After being in too tough in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, she came back in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel here Dec. 27, had the lead in midstretch but couldn’t sustain her run, finishing a close-up sixth. The drop may do the trick. NASHOBA’S GOLD (#4) showed a ton of promise last winter/spring here, winning three of her first four starts, all on this course. She then ran fifth in the Grade 1 American Oaks here May 31. She has been freshened and may be ready to come back firing.

BLINGISMYTHING (#1) was only a half-length behind Rusty Slipper when seventh in the Frankel and this shorter trip may be more to her liking. WINNING RHYTHM (#6) won on this course at this trip Oct. 9 and was a good fifth in the very strong Grade 3 Red Carpet at Del Mar on Nov. 22 (beaten just two lengths). BEE BRAVE (#8) showed talent here last winter/spring. She has been freshened and shortens up for this, which may help get her back on track.

A: 3, 4
B: 1, 6
C: 8

Race 8

LEXIE LOU (#3) may be the best older female not named Beholder or Untapable. She tries dirt for the first time but she has worked well on it here so that bolsters confidence. Besides, she handled Woodbine’s Polytrack and three different turf courses so odds are she will handle this.

SAM’S SISTER (#2) is 4 for 5 (2 for 2 on dirt, both here) so she has quality, and the way she ran down top-class Taris to win the Grade 1 La Brea here Dec. 26 was very nice. It’s her first route but daddy Brother Derek was a multiple Grade 1 dirt route winner and damsire Include was a Grade 1 dirt route winner, too, so she should handle it. JOJO WARRIOR (#5) faded to eighth in the La Brea but that was sprinting – she may be better routing, as evidenced by wins in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks here June 21 and Grade 3 Torrey Pines at Del Mar on Aug. 31. A good third to sure-to-be champion Untapable and Grade 1 winner Sweet Reason in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 20 backs up that assessment.

A: 3
B: 2, 5
C: None

Race 9

FORT CADY (#7) ran on nicely for third on turf at this trip at this level Nov. 9 and an even better third in a dirt sprint at Los Alamitos on Dec. 20 hints he may be ready to peak. ITSGETTINHOTINHERE finished full of run on this course at this trip Oct. 5 to be second. He was very slow into stride and very wide at Del Mar on Nov. 9 and unable to make a dent but has been freshened and is surely capable of better.

THE CUSTODIAN (#5) ran on decently for third in a turf sprint here Jan. 8 and may be getting things figured out, while WEEKENDWITHBERNIE (#3) steps up in class but flashed ability at Del Mar last summer and is bred for this. EASY TEN (#6) was sixth in his debut, which came on turf at this trip at Del Mar on Nov .9, but he had a post 10 that day and got away slowly. He ran sixth again on dirt at Los Alamitos on Dec. 7 but may prefer this footing. He has worked well since and gets a better draw.

A: 7, 10
B: 3, 5
C: 6