Hammersly: Santa Anita pick three for Sunday, Feb. 22

Some decent-sized, competitive fields in the middle of the card give a pick three (races 5-7) some appeal.

Race 5

Z BESHA (#8) was very slow into stride in his debut here Jan. 31 but finished full of run to get third. He can surely benefit from that outing and is bred to be any kind. He’s by a Horse of the Year (Ghostzapper) and kin to last year’s champion female sprinter, Judy the Beauty.

KETOS (#1) has been working lights-out for trainer John Sadler for this first run, and Sadler, of course, is strong first out (20 percent). All three siblings are winners. CURLY ROAD (#5) was a very sharp third in his debut here last month (beaten just a neck) and merits respect. SMART TRANSITION (#2) has some strong works for his first run. He’s the son of a Grade 1 winner and Grade 2 winner. WIN THE SPACE (#3) has worked well for his debut. The $360,000 son of Pulpit’s only sibling is multiple Grade 2-placed House Rules. AIR POCKET (#6) has some strong works for trainer Bob Baffert, who, of course, is strong first time out. He cost $200,000 at auction and is the son of a Grade 1-winning sire and a stakes-winning mare.

A’s) 8
B’s) 1, 5
C’s) 2, 3, 6

Race 6

DADDY D T (#3) was a very respectable third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf here Oct. 31 and then ran into a beast in Bolo in the Eddie Logan Stakes here Dec. 27. He’s been freshened since, and so long as nothing has gone amiss, he’ll be tough. STORMY LIBERAL (#6) dueled and faded to 10th in the aforementioned Eddie Logan, but his starts prior and since were much better. He has ample tactical speed, and it’s nice to see leading rider Rafael Bejarano stick with him.

BROUGHTON KITTEN (#8) wasn’t disgraced on Golden Gate’s main track when fourth in the California Derby on Jan. 17, but the son of turf champ and top turf sire Kitten’s Joy figures better on this footing. He finished just a head behind DADDY D T when fourth in the Eddie Logan on this course and at this trip Dec. 27.

A’s) 3, 6
B’s) 8
C’s) None

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Race 7

ARLINGTON HOUSE (#1) may have turned the corner. After three so-so outings to start his career, he looked super in blasting maiden claimers at this trip Jan. 16. He faces winners for the first time, so that’s a hurdle, but he’s not again offered for a tag, there are two bullet works since, and Bejarano rode him for the first time in that big Jan. 16 win and stays put.

FOLLOW ME CREV (#6) looked super in blasting $30,000 maiden claimers sprinting here Jan. 19. Alfredo Marquez not only saw fit to claim him but brings him back without a tag attached. This guy showed route ability in his prior starts, too. GOLD CHASER (#9) is a top threat. He rallied well to beat maidens in a dirt sprint here Dec. 31 and was a nice second on turf in his first try vs. winners here Jan. 19. He’s back to dirt, which may help, and note his top Beyer (85) came in his only route, which came here last June. MR. ITKINS (#4) took a while but finally broke through to get his diploma here Jan. 30. That sprint speed should translate to him being prominent from the start on the stretch-out.

A’s) 1
B’s) 6, 9
C’s) 4