Santa Anita: A Pick 3 play for Jan. 30

Santa Anita. (Photo by Breeders' Cup/Todd Buchanan)

January 29th, 2021

The Robert B. Lewis (G3) is the main highlight Saturday at Santa Anita, and it offers 3-year-olds a chance to vie for Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points.

But the San Pasqual (G2) for older horses is also an appealing betting race.

The two events are separated by an allowance sprint, which features a small but quality field.

This looks like a great opportunity to assemble a Pick 3 play on a $30 budget.

Race 5: San Pasqual (G2, 1 1/8 miles, post time 5:33 p.m. ET)

A quick tempo should ensue, since #1 Tizamagician (9-2), #5 Zestful (15-1), and even #3 King Guillermo (2-1) seem destined to vie for early supremacy. That could lend an advantage to #2 Idol (9-5) and #4 Express Train (2-1).

The improving Idol ran a gutsy race in the 1 1/16-mile San Antonio (G2) at Santa Anita last month, when he finished a half-length away from victory with a rally up the inside. The son of Curlin previously dominated a 1 3/16-mile allowance at Churchill Downs, so the distance of the San Pasqual should suit him.

Express Train also warrants support. He has shown flashes of talent, under the patient care of trainer John Shirreffs, and most recently rallied to finish second in the 7-furlong Malibu (G1), behind flashy winner Charlatan. The stretch out to 1 1/8 miles could stretch the limits of Express Train’s stamina, but from a talent perspective, he has the goods to compete at this level.

We’ll use Idol and Express Train equally to kick off our Pick 3.

Race 6: Allowance/optional claiming (6 furlongs, 6:05 p.m. ET)

#1 Speed Pass (5-2) owns the best Brisnet Speed rating in the field. He threw down a 104 when he dominated a December 2019 allowance at Los Alamitos by seven lengths. The son of Bodemeister hasn’t run in nearly a year, but he has been training up a storm in preparation for his return, with fast workouts week after week.

Jockey Joel Rosario and trainer Bob Baffert have won four races from seven starts together over the last two months, so let’s single Speed Pass and assume he’ll bring his "A" game off the layoff.

Race 7: Robert B. Lewis (G3, 1 1/16 miles, 6:37 p.m. ET)

Baffert’s #1 Medina Spirit (5-2) ran a huge race to finish second in the Sham (G3) four weeks ago, when he rallied from a tricky tracking position to fall less than a length shy of catching early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Life Is Good.

The son of Protonico is bred to improve with distance and maturity, so any step up off his Sham performance will make Medina Spirit tough to beat.