On racing social media, from the tenor of personal communications, I get the sense there’s not huge interest in the second $20 million Saudi Cup. I get it – I guess. Without even touching on geopolitics and moral compasses, there also was the subsequent downfall of the first Saudi Cup-winning trainer and the cloud hanging over the horse he trained, Maximum Security. I think the whole situation left a fog, if not a cloud, hanging over the race. I can only speak for myself and say the matchup between Charlatan and Knicks Go very much holds my interest; I can’t wait to see how this shakes out. Given the draw and the one-turn, nine-furlong configuration, I lean Charlatan but not to the extent of actually betting at the expected odds. Maybe the top two fight hard enough through the middle stages and into the homestretch to precipitate an upset. I’m not sure he’s good enough, but Sleepy Eyes Todd could be sitting in the perfect spot. I’ll also consider getting involved with the John Gosden-trained longshot, Global Giant, whom I’m guessing will take to dirt. Closer to home, Mrs. Danvers should handle Eres Tu in the Royal Delta at Gulfstream, but those are the two short prices. Oaklawn canceled. We still find three plays. Buena Vista Mucho Unusual and Charmaine’s Mia could be the lowest prices in this sex-restricted one-mile turf race. The time to bet Charmaine’s Mia was last out, when she upset Jolie Olimpica at 16-1 making her first start in a new barn. She stretches to two turns now and risks getting caught in a strong pace at much shorter odds. Mucho Unusual has substance, but her ceiling is known and I can’t see her running any better than she has. :: Get Brad Free’s Betting Strategies for Saturday’s card at Santa Anita I like Red Lark to get up, possibly at something like 9-2. This petite overseas import has steadily improved for trainer Paddy Gallagher, and while she never will be confused with an imposing specimen, it was striking to note her physical presence in an encouraging Feb. 11 dirt work compared to a couple of dirt drills from last spring and summer. She has grown into her frame and, from the visual tells, is a more confident and professional athlete now. Her last start, the 1 1/4-mile American Oaks, was a parade, the top three finishers the ones on or near a slow pace before sprinting home and finishing as they started. The only horse making up much ground was Red Lark, who clocked a 22.41-second final quarter-mile, looking good doing it. In her last try at this one-mile trip she also ran into a slow pace and had no chance to catch Grade 1-class turf miler Toinette. There are no Toinettes here, and Red Lark should get a much better pace setup this time than last. Wide Country This Laurel Park race was canceled last Saturday and brought back without being redrawn for this weekend, so my opinion remains unchanged. One doesn’t often get the chance to quote oneself – I’ll take the opportunity. “Seeing Salt Plage’s form from Parx Racing put me in mind of Max Player, who came off two Parx races for trainer Linda Rice to win the 2020 Withers. Street Lute got wobbly at seven furlongs last out and can’t keep up this form forever [can she?], and a duel looms with the race’s other short price, Little Huntress. Impressive how Salt Plage handled some real kickback last out, and she could not have won that allowance race any more easily. The extra furlong only helps, and the hope is her price rises above the morning-line odds.” Maddie May It appears not much separates five or six fillies in this New York-bred one-turn mile, but a deeper dive yielded two leading contenders for me, and I’ll take Vacay over Make Mischief. Vacay won her debut in the slop, but, coming back from a two-month layoff Jan. 16 in the Franklin Square, I thought she struggled some with the wet track. If not the surface itself, she disliked the mud being thrown back in her face, and when the rider tried to steer her outside pacesetting winner (and Maddie May starter) Secret Love, Laobanonaprayer shoved her right back down into the leader’s wake. Vacay still finished solidly, should get a good run into a strong pace, and I think will enjoy the modest stretch in distance.