Santa Anita: Big Cap Day late pick five play

RACE 7: WHATASTARR, a minor player last fall in Ireland, is returning to action with the addition of Lasix. She was beating company in her works before a fast solo half on the Tapeta the other day and looks poised for a breakout performance. DECISIVE DECEPTION has worked strongly for her debut for a trainer who rarely clicks at first asking. She’s bred for the grass on the dam’s side, as is another first-timer with solid drills, MADDOG. MO SASHA was along for second in her Jan. 31 opener in a longer turf sprint that hasn’t been very productive. (4)

RACE 8: Unbeaten SO HAPPY got a 96 Beyer Speed Figure when taking the Grade 2 San Vicente going seven furlongs and could handle the stretch-out, even though he’s bred to sprint. Trainer Mark Glatt had a 24 percent strike rate with first-time routers on dirt over the past five years, with a return on investment of $1.74. Favored BRANT has been working up a storm for his first start since a leading third in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. SECURED FREEDOM rallied wide for third in his first two-turn try in the Grade 2 Lewis after earning his diploma with an 88 Beyer. (3)

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RACE 9: GAS ME UP was rank early while trailing before closing for second last out when moving back out to a mile, a distance that he mastered last year at Woodbine. He has lots of speed to chase in this Grade 2 tilt and should be tough if he brings his A game. EL POTENTE beat Gas Me Up in front-running style when favored in the aforementioned Grade 3 Thunder Road. He has versatile speed and figures to be dangerous as the chalk. (2)

RACE 10: None of these appear to want to go the 1 1/4-mile distance in the Big Cap. GETAWAY CAR, by elite stamina sire Curlin, has posted some stamina-building works since ending up second in the Grade 2 San Pasqual behind WESTWOOD. The latter should be prominent as the favorite in his second start of the year and first for Peter Eurton, who has inherited the training duties from the recently deceased John Shirreffs. (2)

RACE 11: INFINITUM lacked a clear path along the rail in the stretch when third going down the hill in his first turf try Feb. 14. The son of good grass sire Grazen is a half-brother to the stakes-winning turf router Aligato, who’s trained by Infinitum’s conditioner Glatt. WARM SUN AND BREW and HIGHPLAINSDRIFTER ran 2-3, respectively, in an identical spot Feb. 7. Glatt is adding blinkers to Warm Sun and Brew and the Highplainsdrifter is finally getting the chance to string some races together. (3)

THE PLAY: 1, 4, 10, 11 / 3, 4, 6 / 3, 4 / 2, 7 / 1, 3, 7 = $72 ticket

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