Pick 3 of the Week: Santa Anita Thursday

This week’s Pick 3 of the Week will come from The Great Race Place Santa Anita on Thursday. I have a single in the middle leg of the sequence and have confidence in the bookend contests of the wager, as well. 

Race 6 Wager

• $2 Pick 3: 1,3,4,7,8 with 5 with 3,9 ($20)

Race 6 – Starter Allowance

The six-furlong dash on the lawn attracted eight and using a handful of the contenders will get me out of the first leg of the three-race sequence. #1 Caribbean King (3-1) has won a pair of races in succession and is a logical threat for Peter Miller. The Speightstown chestnut has prospered cutting back in distance since joining this outfit and could make it three in a row from the rail with Flavien Prat riding. 

#3 Blue Cheese Olive (15-1) is the lone long shot in the cast that I feel can pull off an upset. The six-year-old son of Danzing Candy has a pair of turf-winning siblings, and he races for a conditioner who is quite good second off the claim, as well. The lightly raced Cal-bred could be any kind trying the grass for the initial time. 

 The Jeff Mullins-trained #4 Yacowlef (4-1), morning-line choice #7 Rexford (2-1), and the speedy #8 Invincible (5-2), will also make the ticket. 

Race 7 – Maiden Special Weight

I’ll take a stand with second-time starter #5 Lava Lucy (4-1) for trainer Luis Mendez who is good with this kind, in general. The bay daughter of Dads Caps disputed a fast pace against a solid group at Los Alamitos at first asking and faces a field of unknown quantities in her local bow. The sophomore filly gets Lasix and will force the issue from the start beneath Armando Ayuso. 

Race 8 – Claiming

An overflow field of 12 has been entered in the well-matched turf tilt. #9 Gem Mine (8-5) is the one to beat on the class drop for trainer Richard Baltas. The Kantharos gray has been consistent in her four outings in 2024, and the mare only needs minor improvement to be a menacing figure in the affair. She is training swiftly as of late and will also have Flavien Prat in the stirrups, but she is no sure thing at a short number. 

I feel that #3 Amelia Bleu (5-1) is worth a long look on the route-to-sprint move for conditioner Lorenzo Campuzano. This dark bay daughter of Air Force Blue has rallied to be runner-up in two straight since adding blinkers, and I love the cutback in distance for her, too. Mike Smith retains the mount, which is a positive in my eyes.