Betting With, and Against, Forbidden Kingdom in the Joe Hernandez Stakes

An overflow field of turf dashers will go 6 1/2 grassy panels down the Hillside Turf Course in Saturday’s $200,000 Joe Hernandez S. (G2) at Santa Anita. Two-time Grade 2 winner #4 Forbidden Kingdom (3-1) has been made the morning-line choice for the opener on the card for conditioner Richard Mandella. 

Forbidden Kingdom – With

• $5 trifecta key 4 with 1,6,10 ($30)
• $1 trifecta 4 with 1,6,10 with all ($30)

Forbidden Kingdom – Against

• $2 trifecta 1,6,10 with 1,4,6,10 with 1,4,6,10 ($36)
• 4 exacta box 1,6,10 ($24)

A winner in three of his first five lifetime tries, the speed four-year-old has fallen short in six races in succession, although he has finished second in a pair of graded tilts led by a runner-up performance in the 2022 Malibu S. (G1). The chestnut is something of a mystery on the green having just one try on the sod to his credit overall, but his pedigree and speed indicate that he will be a major factor in the heat. Flavien Prat will guide the son of American Pharoah. 

 #6 I’m A Gambler (5-1) has been in a good spot in the stretch in each of his five runs on U. S. soil without breaking through as of yet, but I feel that he could do so against this cast. The expensive son of No Nay Never missed by a length when fourth in the Eddie D. S. (G2) here two back against a tougher field, and his last is a toss as he experimented with blinkers for the initial time and wasn’t at his best. The dark bay gelding picks up Frankie Dettori and will stalk the pace from the opening bell. 

#1 Lucky Score (5-1) has finished in the top three in his last seven sprint tries, five of which came on the turf, and the late runner makes a lot of sense in this spot. The Mark Casse trainee gets a tricky draw from this post slot, but he always fires in the lane, and the Ontario-bred finished less than three lengths from the winner in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) to prove his class most recently. Umberto Rispoli will guide the son of Lookin at Lucky. 

#10 Turn on the Jets (5-1) has never been worse than fourth from nine outings since arriving in the U. S. for trainer Phil D’Amato. The Mehmas chestnut has performed well in each of his pair of runs at this unique distance in the past, and the four-year-old will be in a nice spot just behind a swift early pace in the early going, as well. The Irish-bred posted a strong half-mile drill in his latest work and will have leading local jockey Juan Hernandez in the silks.