Hammersly: Santa Anita pick three for Saturday, April 18
A key horse in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara (race 7) gives the pick three involving races 6-8 some appeal. The mare gives us a chance to take a stand and doesn’t figure to be too short a price to boot.
Race 6
ALAMO (#9) cost $600K and has always been well regarded. It’s been a bit of a bumpy start but he’s shown talent and now he returns as a gelding – you know with his price tag and pedigree that was probably the last resort but it may well be what he needed. A big bullet 46.60 work here April 5 is a thumbs-up, particularly as his trainer doesn’t really push down hard on his runners in the last work before a start. SOUTHERN LOYALTY (#7) flashed talent at Evangeline Downs last June when fourth in his bow. He hasn’t run since but he’s been working lights-out here for his local unveiling. There appears to be talent here. WAR DESTINY (#3) dueled and paid the price down the hill last time. He’s got ability, has worked well since his last race, and his best race so far came the one time he got a crack at dirt when a clear second to the talented Logan’s Moon here in January 2014. J SERINO (#2) has been knocking on the door for some time and might be ready to break through. His best stuff has come here. SOUL CRUSHER (#11) was heading the right way last spring here. He hasn’t run since but has worked very nicely for this return and rates a look at a decent price.
A’s) 7, 9
B’s) 2, 3
C’s) 11
Race 7
THREE HEARTS (#1) could well have won both the Grade 3 Robert Frankel and Grade 2 Santa Ana this meet. She was unlucky when troubled in the Frankel and then got beat by a game winner in the Santa Ana. She’s worked four times since and should relish today’s added ground. DIVERSY HARBOR (#6) can absolutely blast home and is awfully scary. With her style, though, she needs help in terms of pace and traffic, and when she gets it, look out. WALK CLOSE (#5) did some good work back East last year. She hasn’t run since Nov. 15 when sixth in the very tough Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill, but has worked well and her trainer can get ‘em ready off the bench with the best of them. The fact her trainer opted to ship her bodes well, too – he ain’t comin’ here for a view of the San Gabriels. QUEEN OF THE SAND (#4) showed big talent last fall when second in the Grade 1 Matriarch. She didn’t do much in the Santa Ana (ran eighth) but that was her first start in nearly four months so she can improve.
A’s) 1
B’s) 5, 6
C’s) 4
Race 8
SECRET APPEAL (#3) is the one to beat. She came back after 11 months to graduate here March 20 and then was a sharp second for twice this tag here April 12. The fact she ran so well for $25K makes today’s price cut a little worrisome, but if she runs the way she did in her last two, she wins. SPY GIRL (#4) was in too tough in her last two, giving way badly. Today’s drop and the addition of blinkers may snap her back to life, at a price. LADY NOW (#1) came back after five months off and was a nice third, despite trouble, at this level here March 22. She can move forward off that, and two works since encourage, too. LYLA DELLA (#9) looked good whipping maidens here Feb. 14. She then found $25K foes too much to handle March 13, so today’s price slash may be key.
A’s) 3, 4
B’s) 1
C’s) 9