Hersh: How I'll play Santa Anita on Sunday, April 29

Pick four, races 6-9
Not my favorite pick-four sequence of all time, and accordingly, I will keep play to a relative minimum, going with a $24 ticket.

It’s win or go home in race 6, the opening leg, with Temple Princess (#7), who has plausible excuses (dirt last out, down the hill two back) for her last two races and three back ran into the very good filly Paved and others in a turf MSW. Suffice it to say, there are no Paveds in this $50K maiden claimer, just a couple other “logicals” who’ve already shown they can lose at the class.

In race 7, not convinced Bobby Axelrod manages to break through second out. Took a bit to run back, and the added ground probably does no favors. Trying to beat him. Aurora d’Oro (#5) would be my top pick off a very encouraging work pattern, and Lontani (#1) should come forward second out with an additional furlong. Bomber Causeidititmyway (#7) goes for a strong second-out barn and has a “feel” to him.

The fillies, Belvoir Bay (#4) & Coniah (#3) are the “As” in the San Simeon, race 8. Coniah could shake loose here. Belvoir Bay loves the course. Never really bought that Isotherm (#5) wanted to run that far. From 10 furlongs, he’s back to a sharp 6 1/2 – and I kind of like it. He’s a “B,” as is Anatolian Heat (#8), who looks a little light in the shorts but is Peter Miller-trained in a turf sprint, so . . .

Ground Rules (#6), Shackleford Banks (#2), and Eagle Screams (#3) will have to suffice in a $20K claimer to end the card (race 9). Ground Rules is the top pick. Runs fresh at one mile – same circumstances that produced a good win to start his last form cycle.

Here’s a link to the play in DRF’s invaluable TicketMaker.

RACE 7
Betting $25 to win on Aurora d’Oro (#5, mentioned above) at odds of 4-1 or higher.

RACE 9
Betting $20 to win on Ground Rules (#6, mentioned above) at odds of 4-1 or higher.