Hammersly: Santa Anita pick three for Sunday, Feb. 19

One of the main issues for tackling Santa Anita’s Sunday card is how to gauge the track condition. Heavy recent rain almost surely will impact the footing, though it’s encouraging that track management still carded a couple of turf events for Sunday. So, if they felt good enough to card such races, we’ll rely on their judgment that the footing will be decent. With that in mind, the end-of-the-day pick three (races 8-10), with a turf race as its middle leg, has some appeal.

Race 8

GIO’S LADY (#9) has been knocking on the door and may be ready to break through. Her last three improved efforts came at this level. PARTY GAL (#7) found straight maidens too tough here Jan. 7, then dueled and ran fifth for $50,000 here Jan. 28. She drops further for trainer Phil D’Amato, who’s having a super meet. And should the track be wet, she’s bred for it. CHILIANNA (#6) is another who takes that all-important drop from straight maiden to maiden claiming, though this marks her first start on dirt.

A’s) 7, 9
B’s) 6
C’s) None

Race 9

It’s a competitive one-mile event on grass for California-breds, with a big field, but START A RUNNIN (#8) appears to hold the aces. The son of Tribal Rule looked super in winning for $50,000 on Del Mar turf Nov. 20. He was freshened, came back here in a race just like this Jan. 8, set the pace, and finished a game second, beaten just a nose. Not only did he almost win, he finished well clear of the rest. THE BIG TRAIN (#4) was third behind START A RUNNIN in that Jan. 8 race, beaten nearly three lengths. That made for a fifth straight strong outing, and he had traffic issues going into the backstretch. That run shows he fits well with these, and he figures to come running late. AEON (#2) finished gamely to be a sharp third (beaten just a neck) in a dirt sprint here Jan. 27. But note that prior to that, he handled turf and this trip quite well. TRIBAL TRIBUTE (#1) finished gamely to be third in a race just like this on Del Mar turf Nov. 17. He’s been freshened since, has run well fresh, and has won on this course. DANO’S DREAM (#5) comes here off a series of good turf efforts in Northern California. What’s more, he’s proven on non-firm turf, and that could be pivotal here.

A’s) 8
B’s) 1, 2, 4
C’s) 5

Race 10

HOOK ‘EM KURT (#8) showed ability here in the spring of 2015. He was then gone more than 14 months but came back with a nice run at Del Mar last August before finishing sixth here Oct. 10. It must be noted that all of his work came against straight maidens, so today’s drop is key. He’s also worked in solid fashion, has run well fresh, and has done his best work here. SMUGGLER UNION (#7) has likewise faced only tougher straight maidens, and today’s class relief could be key. PAPA ROYALE (#1) is another who’s spent all of his time facing tougher straight maidens. He did show talent a few times, albeit on turf, but the drop may be pivotal. SUPER TOUCH (#3) just missed when second, beaten a nose, for $40,000 here Jan. 26. He’s bred to relish wet going if that applies, and with his two recent tries being his best, he could be ready to break through.

A’s) 7, 8
B’s) 1
C’s) 3