Racing reconvenes at Santa Anita Park on Friday afternoon where there will be carryovers for horseplayers to take a swing at off the four-day freshening. $21k in the Super High 5, as well as $42,057 sitting in the traditional $2 Pick 6 pool is a proper way to get the second racing week of May started at the “Great Race Place.” Frank Carulli has you covered on the blog for the Super High 5. Here is how I see the Pick 6 sequence that kicks off in Race 3 at 2:07 local time.


Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.

Race 3:
Grade: C
Main Ticket: 6 Aloha Dreamin; 1 Headstrong Ways
Backups: None

Forecast: I landed on #6 Aloha Dreamin on top in this conditional $10k claimer over the main track. The 5YO mare finally gets away from an inside draw. This should help the Jose Valdez trainee that has early speed, but has been put in some tight spots early given her affinity for getting out of the gate a beat slow. More options should be there for Aloha Dreamin with the move outside. 8-5-ML favorite #1 Headstrong Ways moves back to the dirt and drops in class after a starter allowance on the grass. She has run well in 2 starts over this surface, but will need to work out a trip from off-the-pace and the along the inside. She will be tough to hold off though with a clean voyage.


Race 4:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 5 Anywaythewindblows; 3 Infinity Dream
Backups: None

Forecast: The pace should be honest in this $32k beaten claimer at one-mile over the grass given the presence of #1 Eighties and #2 Bear’s Board. Of the two, Bear’s Board is the likelier to be able to handle some early contention and kick on with it, but I prefer a pair of runners from that can relax early and hopefully finish with energy. #5 Anywaythewindblows drops in class after a pair of off-the-board finishes for trainer Manuel Badilla. She has shown solid finishes late in races compared to the rest of this group and should offer decent value. #3 Infinity Dream was made the second choice on the line, which is not ideal since she is just 1 for 9 and has not shown the same late kick as a 4YO. That said, she could get the right trip and setup here.


Race 5:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Sentient Soon
Backups: 3 Buena Vida

Forecast: I landed on #2 Sentient Soon in this MSW event for 2YO fillies comprised of all first-time starters. The Cal-bred debuts for trainer Jeff Bonde. Bonde has proven capable over the years in these early 2YO races at Santa Anita earning 3 wins over his last 14 starters. The daughter of Dad’s Caps is out of a Quality Road mare that ran third on debut and thus far has produced a first out winner and two runners that finished second. She looks live at first asking.


Race 6:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3 Allequin Summer
Backups: None

Forecast: #5 Start the Ride is likely to be the heavy favorite in this state-bred first-level allowance over the grass. The Upstart colt competed in the two big Kentucky Derby qualifiers this winter/spring, so he gets major class relief, but lacks speed and has to prove his late kick will be as effective on the lawn. Sometimes these horses will beat you, but in general they are not great wagers because there will be an assumption by many that their form will automatically translate from dirt-to-turf. I will try to beat him with #3 Allequin Summer. The Summer Front colt comes in off a pair of underneath finishes since moving back to the grass. Hector Berrios will be aboard him for the first time.


Race 7:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 5 Danzing Til Dawn; 4 Bitter Truth
Backups: None

Forecast: Despite lacking early speed and never having travelled two-turns, #4 Bitter Truth does appear the clear horse to beat in this state-bred low level maiden claimer at two-turns. She has finished her races decently and meets a suspect field. If she were to lose, it could be #5 Danzing Til Dawn that springs the upset. The Vronsky mare has had 9 chances already, but has the foundation that very few other runners in this field possess. Her early speed could prove quite valuable.


Race 8:
Grade: X
Main Ticket: 7 Jenny’s Wine Girl
Backups: None

Forecast: #7 Jenny’s Wine Girl has struggled to seal the deal thus far in her career, but her three recent starts over the grass have come against maiden special weight foes. Trainer Richard Baltas drops this gal in for a tag and into a spot where it feels like now or never. She should get a great trip as the fastest horse making her a chalky single to close out the Friday Pick 6.