Matt Bernier's $6 pick four ticket for Santa Anita

Pick four play for Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Santa Anita.

RACE 9

WHAT A VIEW (12) is a Grade 1 winner who is proven over a turf course with some give in it – which is almost guaranteed to be the case Saturday afternoon. The Thunder Road field doesn’t feature much as far as pace is concerned, and there’s a very real chance that What a View makes the front and takes this field gate to wire. He’s a lone “A” in this $6 play.

RACE 10

The Echo Eddie is a wide-open event featuring 3-year-old California-bred males, but GOLD RUSH DANCER (7) may be the runner that takes advantage of the significant class relief he’ll be getting in this spot. In his Southern California debut, Gold Rush Dancer faced some salty runners in Denman’s Call and Iron Rob – two horses that will be running in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby. Look for him to give a good account of himself here. TOUGH BUT NICE (6) turns back from a route of ground, and his sprint two back makes him dangerous. XINGONTOTHEBONE (9) doesn’t like to win very often, but if he can somehow replicate the 81 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in his most recent start, he’ll play.

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RACE 11

PACIFIC HEAT (4) was upset as a heavy favorite on the turf last time out, and she’ll turn back and try the main track in the Evening Jewel. This Peter Eurton trainee may simply be better than the rest of the fillies in this race, and she’ll be one of the two “A’s” that I’ll stand on. BAKO SWEETS (7) was very strong in her debut for Neil Drysdale, and while she didn’t run very well down the hill in her most recent start, the addition of Lasix could put her over the top. Her early foot makes her a serious threat to get back to the winner’s circle. BE A LADY (5) has ripped off four consecutive victories, and while she’s going to need to run the race of her life if she’s to beat Pacific Heat, it would be foolish to think that would be out of the realm of possibility given her recent record.

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RACE 12

I bet BROWN’S BABY BOY (8) in his debut for Eurton on March 18, only to see him come flying down the lane and finish second, galloping out like a freight train. He’ll stretch to seven furlongs on the main track, and he figures to relish the added real estate. He could also be worth a straight win wager, odds pending. AMERICAN FREEDOM (10) debuts for Bob Baffert and Rafael Bejarano, and based on his recent workouts, he looks as though he’s sitting on a big effort. Being drawn toward the outside is a major plus for this son of Pulpit, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him graduate at first asking.

Race 9
A: 12 – What a View
B: NONE
C: NONE

Race 10
A: 6 – Tough But Nice, 7 – Gold Rush Dancer
B: NONE
C: 9 – Xingontothebone

Race 11
A: 4 – Pacific Heat, 7 – Bako Sweets
B: NONE
C: 5 – Be a Lady

Race 12
A: 8 – Brown’s Baby Boy
B: NONE
C: 10 – American Freedom