Hammersly: Santa Anita pick three for Saturday, Feb. 7

Much of the focus for this card will be on the big stakes action later in the day, but some good-sized competitive fields make an early pick three (races 2-4) more than a little attractive as you await the epic clash of California Chrome and Shared Belief.

Race 2

INDUSTRY LEADER (#7) may have tipped his mitt here Jan. 3, when after two months off, he finished a fine second at this level. He figures tough with that under his belt. He’s run second, first, and second in his last three dirt starts. SHEER TALENT (#6) chased hot splits against tougher here Jan. 10 and paid the price. Today’s two-level class drop may be just what the doctor ordered.

PRAY HARD (#3) returns after more than seven months with a drop. He’s reunited with Rafael Bejarano, who was aboard the last time he won, which coincidentally came at this distance on this track last Feb. 27. AMERICAN ACT (#5) hasn’t won in a long time, but he’s got more than a little back class and comes off a good second at this level here Jan. 15. That was routing, yes, and he moves to sprinting here. At least one of his two wins came at this trip. LOVE FOREVER (#4) won two straight here last winter but hasn’t been seen since. He’s worked decently for his return, and you know he likes it here.

A’s) 6, 7
B’s) 3, 5
C’s) 4

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Race 3

FORCE (#9) chased the pace and was a decent fifth in his only route here Dec. 27. He then dueled in a sprint before finishing fourth, but that sprint should set him up well for another shot at a route, and his speed should have him well positioned from the bell. SECRETO PRIMERO (#4) showed route talent at Del Mar last summer (second to the eventual Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red). He ran third on turf here Oct. 29, but after nearly three months off, he came back to be a strong second (beaten a nose) in a dirt sprint here Jan. 10. That should set him up nicely for this stretch out.

CYRUS ALEXANDER (#7) cost a fortune ($1.7 million) and has shown talent, and maybe it’s his turn to break through, though he again figures a short price, and he’s already burned plenty of money. NOB HILL (#8) didn’t show much in his first two starts, but he perked up nicely routing here Jan. 16, finishing fourth just a nose behind Cyrus Alexander, which means he fits.

A’s) 4, 9
B’s) 7, 8
C’s) None

Race 4

BATTLE OF EVERMORE (#3) ran his best race the one time he competed on this hillside course, finishing second. He comes off a smart main-track try to show he’s doing well, and the return to the hill may do the trick. He’s worked well three times since his last, too.

ANYTIME ANYPLACE (#5) has considerable speed, and while it’s his first time on grass, he’s certainly bred for this. CURRENCY EXCHANGE (#8) never was a factor in his dirt debut here Jan. 10, but he can benefit from that outing, and this surface switch may be key as the Curlins handle turf just fine, just as daddy did (just see what Curlin’s Fox did on her turf debut here Sunday when she won easily). The pedigree also doesn’t stop there as mommy was Grade 1 placed. GO TRUMPY GO (#9) was away slowly and never a factor in his main-track debut Nov. 30 at Del Mar. He’s been gelded since and moves to turf, a surface he may relish, being by top turf sire War Front.

A’s) 3
B’s) 5, 8
C’s) 9