Santa Anita Pick 5 Analysis

With a 14-percent takeout, the early Pick 5 at Santa Anita provides incentive on a daily basis for horseplayers to dive into the card from the opener. There is just more attraction than usual on Saturday due to a pair of Grade 1 stakes, the Triple Bend and Frank Kilroe Mile, being a part of the wager as the fourth and fifth races. Here is a look at the sequence and a suggested ticket.

Race 1, Maiden

Five of the 12 horses in the body of the field are firsttime starters, and of the seven that have raced, only three have established turf form. So going deep in this leg seems the way to go. Of those that have started, I advise using Frenchman Street (8), a close fourth under these conditions Feb. 10; Northern California invader Capall (9), by turf sire Run Away and Hide; and Goodwillambassador (3), who goes from dirt to turf and should appreciate a cutback in distance. Debuting horses that also merit use include Rush (5), Agent Bond (6), Lontani (7), and Call West (12).

Race 2, Maiden

Inexperienced 3-year-olds again go in the second race, a six-furlong dirt contest in which Blame the Rider (1) is the only horse that has raced. I’ll use him in the Pick 5 given that advantage alone, along with first timers McKale (2) and Bobby Axelrod (6) – whom have both worked smartly leading up to their debuts.

Race 3, Allowance

Little separates the leading contenders in this 1 1/8mile first-level allowance on the lawn. Spreading is advised. Tartini (6), second in his U.S. debut, should like stretching out a further in distance and should benefit from racing an extra furlong, and seems wisely backed up with The Big Train (12), Accountability (8), and California Street (11).

Race 4, The Triple Bend

Edwards Going Left (1) was asked to alter his usual stalking style in winning the Cal Cup Sprint, rushing up early to put heat on Masochistic, and he kept going to run a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure. I suspect he will be more patiently handled Saturday and perhaps run even faster. City of Light (5), who beat Edwards Going Left in winning the Malibu, is my second choice and another to play.

Race 5, The Frank Kilroe Mile

World Approval (5), a winner of his seasonal debut at Tampa, was the champion turf horse of last year and the grass milers in California don’t seem to be a stellar group. After going deep in earlier races, he is a logical single.