Weekend Warrior for Saturday, Dec. 30: Picks for Robert J. Frankel Stakes, Tropical Park Derby, Midnight Lute Stakes

Saturday features stakes action from coast-to-coast, with several turf stakes at Gulfstream Park as well as three graded stakes races at Santa Anita. You’ll find whatever you’re looking for Saturday – potentially vulnerable favorites, turf sprints, two-mile turf marathons, and quality sprinters showcasing “California speed.” I’ll look at two of the graded events from Santa Anita and one from Gulfstream Park.

Robert J. Frankel Stakes

A short field of six in this year’s Robert J. Frankel means it’s unlikely you’ll see any boxcar prices, but the presence of two Chad Brown runners means the other four entrants may offer value. There doesn’t appear to be much early pace signed on, and RESPONSIBLEFORLOVE has shown the ability to be forwardly placed. Trained by Neil Drysdale, this daughter of Duke of Marmalade had a miserable trip two starts back in the Rodeo Drive and most recently was run down in the shadow of the wire in the Red Carpet Handicap at Del Mar. The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Frankel may be a bit sharp for her, but her potential tactical advantage makes her an intriguing price play.

:: Get PPs and analysis for Saturday's card at Santa Anita

Tropical Park Derby

There may not be any superstars in the Tropical Park Derby, but one of the more honest 3-year-old runners in 2017 is present for trainer Jeremiah Englehart. SMALL BEAR is a stakes winner on turf and stakes placed on dirt in 2017, and it appears he’s coming into his own in the later stages of his 3-year-old campaign. His most recent victory in the Gio Ponti at Aqueduct on Nov. 24 was impressive, as it looked like he’d need to settle for a minor award before showcasing a strong late kick. He should have a fair pace to run at Saturday, and with the other high-profile outfits present there’s a chance he goes off at a larger price than he should.

Midnight Lute Stakes

MASOCHISTIC makes his first start since the first Saturday in May when he finished 13th in the Churchill Downs Stakes as the 2-1 favorite. Bob Baffert now handles his training, and while his speed is always dangerous, Masochistic has shown that he’ll wilt if there’s another horse that’s willing to take him on. In this case, that’s likely AMERICANIZE, who is drawn just to his outside. Americanize is a serious threat to win this race, but I’m hopeful he does the dirty work – duel with Masochistic early and set things up for a horse that’s likely to be sitting just off the leaders, TOUGH SUNDAY. Tough Sunday returned off a long layoff and emerged victorious in a turf sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 16 for trainer Steve Miyadi, and Miyadi’s numbers with these types of runners are very strong. The form Tough Sunday showcased late in 2016 would give him a puncher’s chance in the Midnight Lute and he should be a very square price.