Keeler Johnson's picks and plays Jan. 2

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, Jan. 2 at Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields, including a ticket for Santa Anita’s $10,251 Super High 5 carryover.

Picks and Plays

Santa Anita: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on turf, 3:30 p.m. ET)

#5 Nyvan (5-2) hasn’t missed the trifecta in three starts, and she’s cracked the exacta in both of her turf tries. Most notably, the daughter of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist ran second in a six-furlong turf maiden special weight at Santa Anita two months ago.

Nyvan has the pedigree to handle stretching out over one mile. She already owns the highest Brisnet Speed rating in Monday’s field, so any improvement at all should send Nyvan to the winner’s circle over #1 Violet Crown (7-2) and #6 Golden Temper (3-1).

Selections

• #5 Nyvan (5-2)
• #1 Violet Crown (7-2)
• #6 Golden Temper (3-1)

Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 5 with 1,6 ($30)

Golden Gate Fields: Race 1: $20,000 Maiden Claiming (one mile on Tapeta, 3:45 p.m. ET)

In a race containing barely any speed at all on paper, #7 Carrizo Springs (7-5) figures to sit a favorable trip. Conditioned by hot trainer Michael McCarthy (a 27% winner at Golden Gate since September), Carrizo Springs showed tactical speed to track a fast pace from third place in a $62,500 maiden claimer over the Santa Anita turf course last time out.

Carrizo Springs is dropping in class, switching to Tapeta, and adding Lasix for his first start as a gelding, so there are plenty of reasons to believe he can move forward under hot jockey Assael Espinoza. We’ll bet Carrizo Springs to win and key him over #1 Tacoma Sound (9-5) in the exacta.

Selections

• #7 Carrizo Springs (7-5)
• #1 Tacoma Sound (9-5)
• #2 Impact Zone (7-2)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 7 with 1

Santa Anita: Race 9: Maiden Special Weight (one mile, 7:00 p.m. ET)

#4 Harlocap (7-2) showed promise in his debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar. The Bob Baffert trainee overcame a slow start to rally and finish second behind Spun Intended, who is bound for a start in the Sham (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

As a son of Triple Crown winner Justify out of a mare by Kentucky Derby runner-up Bodemeister, Harlocap is bred to shine while stretching out over one mile. Throw in the fact Hall of Fame trainer Baffert wins at a 30% rate with horses running long for the first time, and Harlocap is an appealing choice under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

#1 Mr Fisk (3-1), #6 Navy Man (7-2), and #8 Riverside (7-2) are logical contenders for the minor awards.

Selections

• #4 Harlocap (7-2)
• #6 Navy Man (7-2)
• #1 Mr Fisk (3-1)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: 4 with 1,6 ($20)
• $2.50 Trifecta: 4 with 1,6 with 1,6,8 ($10)
  Total: $30

Carryover Watch

Santa Anita, Race 1: $10,251 Super High 5 carryover (3:00 p.m. ET)

The New Year’s Day card at Santa Anita was canceled due to heavy rain, which means the $10,251 Super High 5 carryover originally on the table for Sunday has shifted to Monday instead.

The prize pool for the $1 wager is available to chase in Race 1, the Las Cienegas (G3) for fillies and mares sprinting about 6 1/2 furlongs over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course. With eight entries, there are 6,720 possible Super High 5 outcomes, a manageable number.

The morning line favorite is #6 Amy C (5-2), who boasts a perfect 2-for-2 record sprinting about 6 1/2 furlongs over the downhill turf. During the spring, she employed pace-tracking tactics to win a $100,000 allowance optional claimer, and in October she rallied from midpack to nab the Senator Ken Maddy S.

Amy C’s affinity for the course can carry her to victory in the Las Cienegas, and we recommend keying the five-year-old mare on top in the Super High 5.

Who should we use underneath? Definitely #5 Brooke Marie (4-1). The Eddie Kenneally trainee has faltered in her last two starts against graded stakes competition on the Kentucky circuit, but during the spring she shipped to Santa Anita and snatched the Monrovia (G2) over this course and distance by half a length. Both the runner-up and the third-place finisher returned to win stakes, flattering Brooke Marie’s performance.

New York raider #3 Lady Edith (3-1) is also worth a long look. She was beaten only half a length in the Caress (G3) during the summer at Saratoga, and two starts back she nabbed Aqueduct’s six-furlong Autumn Days S. by three lengths. The five-year-old mare brings a bevy of competitive Brisnet Speed ratings to the table and has trained strongly at Santa Anita, suggesting she’s ready to factor in her first start for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Here’s how we’ll bet the Super High 5:

• $1 Super High 5: 6 with 3,5 with 3,5 with 1,2,4 with 1,2,4,7,8 ($24)
• $1 Super High 5: 6 with 3,5 with 1,2,4 with 3,5 with 1,2,4,7,8 ($24)
  Total: $48

Good luck!