Santa Anita Derby Day: Ron Gierkink's late pick five play

RACE 8: MOHAVEN stands out off her fine juvenile form that included a seven-furlong stakes victory with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure at Del Mar. Trainer John Sadler is putting blinkers back on following a failed turf experiment in her season opener, a race you can draw a line through. (1)

RACE 9: Call Me Sir is arguably the one to fear most, but he’s displayed hanging tendencies and his outside draw in this large field is a negative. Warm Sun and Brew placed in all three of his races at this level and isn’t a dependable win candidate. (ALL)

RACE 10: Unbeaten POTENTE shed Lasix while beating several of his current rivals on the stretch-out to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 2 San Felipe, when he had a fast pace to close into. He should welcome the move out to nine furlongs with Juan Hernandez back riding for trainer Bob Baffert, who has won this event a record nine times and also is sending out CHEROKEE NATION. The latter, a late-bloomer, got a whopping 100 Beyer Speed Figure when crushing maidens last time out. Leading rider Emisael Jaramillo is being loyal to trainer Doug O’Neill and is sticking with Robusta and Florent Geroux is 4 for 12 at the meet for Baffert. Grade 1 victor INTREPIDO has worked weekly since finishing second in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7 and should be dead fit for his second race of the season. (3)

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RACE 11: QUEEN MAXIMA is hard to go past in this Grade 3 stakes going down the hill, which she won last year with authority in front-running fashion. Her versatility in terms of running style is one of her most effective weapons, and she’s won 7 of 9 starts with Hernandez on her back. (1)

RACE 12: The debuting LOOKIN AT DIAMOND broke sharply from the gate before dominating company in her March 9 drill and has since worked quickly. She’s by the good grass sire Lookin At Lucky, and her dam dropped the Grade 2-placed turf runner Diamond Wow. HIGH SOCIETY U has worked well since a prominent third in her opener in a turf sprint and is sent out by superb second-out trainer Jonathan Thomas. Irish import SILKIE SEVEI checked in fourth as the favorite among three next-out winners in her debut on this side of the pond. SOMERSET WEST got away slowly before closing from far back for fourth behind High Society U at first asking. (4)

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

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