Dream Tree a free space in Santa Anita Pick 5

A nine-race card has been set at Santa Anita on Sunday, with the feature coming in the form of the $200,000 Las Virgenes S. (G1) as Race 4. I think unbeaten DREAM TREE is easily among the top sophomore fillies in training and looks unbeatable with something close to her best. Her 3-5 morning-line price doesn’t make her much of a secret, but potential prices around her could make the early Pick 5 ticket very playable.

Race 1:

Optional claiming event on the lawn looks like a tough one. Debut heroine #1 CALIFORNIAGOLDRUSH, Surfer Girl S. third #2 RETRO, smashing Gulfstream Park debut queen #3 MS PEINTOUR, Blue Norther S. third #4 SILKEN SPY and nice maiden winner #5 CASINO GIRL all look logical. I will also use #7 KRISSYS MANICURE who has fine form with a pair of dirt wins in succession and will have the blinkers off in her grassy debut, an unusual move coming off a pair of scores. The move intrigues me. #6 TIME TO PLAY is not impossible for Eoin Harty, so I will buy the first leg.

Race 2:

Maiden claiming dash on the dirt lacks a standout and I go four-deep. First-time starter #6 DEFENSE MINISTER is not bred to be a sprint type but in a race with pace likely backing up, the colt could be the late danger for fine debut trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

#4 PURE PURSUIT, #5 MILHAUD and #7 THANKFUL EVERY DAY all exit the same January 12 race and each showed early foot before tiring some in the lane – hard for me to separate them.

Race 3:

Three-year-old maiden claimers on the dirt attracted eight, with #6 GEM OF A GUY the big morning-line choice. Bay son of Gemologist comes off a clear runner-up showing with similar and will run as a gelding for the initial time for Peter Miller. He is an obvious must use.

I am also going to look outside the box some and try #3 FABRICATION. Gelding showed little following a slow break last time, though he was a nice second two back at Los Alamitos off the freshening. Sophomore finished in front of a horse on that day who romped by seven lengths here last week. Tyler Baze might try to wire this field from this post slot.

Race 4:

I have always liked #3 Dream Tree. Her ability to settle and roll home an easy winner of the Starlet (G1) last time was impressive. $750,000 juvenile purchase is a standout.

Race 5:

Special weight dash drew seven and looks pretty competitive. #5 CHICKATINI has shown a nice turn of foot from a pair of turf dashes and I love the move to the dirt. Peter Eurton charge has taken money in each career run and the move to Mike Smith is a real positive in my opinion.

#7 WICKED STORM had a poor break and inside trip in a nice field at first asking, and overcame that to be a good third while narrowly finishing out of the place spot. Yakteen trainee gets a fine draw outside and improvement is likely.

Pick 5 Ticket

$.50-cent Pick 5 (Races 1-5):

All with 4,5,6,7 with 3,6 with 3 with 5,7 = $56