Rescheduled carryovers in the Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 ($48,662) and Sunset Pick 6 ($54,239) are recalibrated after weather forced Gulfstream's cancellation on Friday. Both sequences join races at Santa Anita and will be offered Saturday. Santa Anita continues its racing week with a 9-race card that kicks off at 4 pm ET / 1 pm local time and is headlined by the $100,000 California Flag over the grass. The high-quality wagering menu at the Great Race Place gives horseplayers plenty of options to leverage their strongest opinions. Here are a few horses I hope to leverage to the fullest on Saturday in Arcadia.

The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 races will now be: GP 8,10,11; SA 3,4.

The Sunset Pick 6 races now will be GP: 9,10,11; SA 7,8,9.

Race 1:

Trainer Phil D’Amato holds a strong hand in the Saturday opener with the 5-2-ML favorite #7 Never Ambling and 4-1-shot #5 Artic Power. Never Ambling took far more money when the two met at Del Mar on August 30 with both racing against the flow in that MSW event at one-mile over the grass. It was Never Ambling’s North American debut, so improvement should be expected on the likely public choice, but I think the same can be said for Artic Power. The son of Tamayuz makes his third start off the layoff after an improved effort on August 30 without a favorable setup. It is slightly concerning that the 3YO gelding lacks speed since it may leave him with too much to do late, but I am hopeful there is just enough pace to give him a fair chance when they turn for home. If he gets it, I think he shows a strong late kick under jockey Hector Berrios and gets the money.

Play: #5 Artic Power (4-1 ML)


Race 7: California Flag (part of Saturday's carryover Sunset Pick 6)

The featured event for Cal-bred turf sprinters down the Hillside Turf course attracted a solid group led by Bing Crosby (G1) winner #2 Lovesick Blues. It is not often you see a horse prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in this 6.5-furlong dash over the grass, but that is the case this year after the 7YO gelding sprung the upset in the Grade 1 sprint at Del Mar in late July. He has had some success down the hill, but is worth taking a shot against. The same is true for #1 Shea Brennan who has strong dirt form, but has to prove it over the grass. I will try to beat them both with #4 Sir Rocket. The son of Sir Prancealot stretches out in distance after a late running third against open company allowance foes at Del Mar. He needs to prove himself over this unique configuration, but he meets a beatable field and should be a very fair price. Hopefully, Armando Ayuso can navigate an off the pace victory in his first mount aboard the Neil Drysdale trainee.

Play: #4 Sir Rocket (10-1 ML)


Race 9: (part of Saturday's carryover Sunset Pick 6)

There is not a lot of speed signed on in this second-level allowance event at 1 1/8-miles on the turf. #1 Phosphorescence or #9 Packs a Wahlop are likeliest to take control early, but #3 City Exile is another that should benefit from a soft first half mile. The Cityscape gelding cuts back in distance and drops in class after going 1 3/8-miles in the Del Mar Handicap (G2). Prior to that the 5YO finished a solid second at this level to a lone speed winner in San Diego County. Look for jockey Juan Hernandez to find a perfect stalking position off the early pacesetters and use that forward position to get the jump on those coming from well out of it. With just 2 wins thus far, he seems a bit due for things to go his way.

Play: #6 City Exile (7-2 ML)