Hammersly: Santa Anita pick three play for Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018
A stakes-caliber female who makes her first start in almost three months and is proven fresh gets some class relief and looks as though she could be a key to Santa Anita’s late pick three Sunday (races 8-10).
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Race 8
CORDIALITY (#2) is a stakes winner on turf and Grade 3-placed on this course. She didn’t fire her best shot when sixth in the Swingtime here Oct. 7, but drops in class for this one-mile optional claimer on the turf. Three of her five turf wins have come on this course. PULPIT RIDER (#3) finished full of run to be second in a race like this at Del Mar Nov. 24, so she may be peaking. ENGLISH DANCER (#4) opened up into the lane in that same Nov. 24 race at Del Mar but couldn’t quite hold on, ending up third, a half-length behind PULPIT RIDER.
A’s) 2
B’s) 3, 4
C’s) None
Race 9
AMUSE (#7) romped over maidens in her only try on this track Oct. 12. She then had a troubled start in her first try vs. winners at Del Mar Nov. 22 as the 4-5 favorite, but ran on well for second. Returning to this track and a better start can help her make amends in this allowance sprint. DULCE RIDE (#10) was second at about this level here Sept. 29 and then second in a race at this level at Keeneland Oct. 26, beaten just a head by Cathedral Reader, who came right back to win and ran seventh in Wednesday’s Grade 1 La Brea. UPPERCUT (#3) flashed considerable talent in her first two starts but was then eased in a stakes here last May. She’s been off since but has worked well for a trainer who does well with horses off a long layoff. ZUSHA (#6) has done her best work here. She’s worked well and gets blinkers.
A’s) 7, 10
B’s) 3
C’s) 6
Race 10
UNICORN (#9) is an interesting firster in this maiden race for 2-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course. She’s worked smartly, lures a top rider, and is bred top and bottom for turf. HARMLESS (#10) was sixth in her in her only start, a turf sprint at Del Mar, beaten by just two lengths. That race was flattered when runner-up Data Storm Kitty came back to romp by over seven lengths. GALLANTLYSTREAMING (#1) was fourth on this course in her Oct. 19 debut and then fourth when beaten just a length in a shorter turf sprint at Del Mar Nov. 15. APACHE PRINCESS (#3) showed turf talent when second, beaten just a nec,k at Del Mar Nov. 10. That was her first try on grass.
A’s) 9, 10
B’s) 1
C’s) 3