Spot Plays for Santa Anita stakes on Sunday, May 26

A pair of Grade 2 tilts for the ladies headlines the Sunday card at Santa Anita. RACE 6: Summertime Oaks (G2) Just five sophomore fillies will go postward in this 1 1/16-mile affair, and Judy Hicks’ homebred My Majestic Rose (#1) (4-1) is very intriguing making her stakes debut. The daughter of Majestic Warrior didn’t display much early in her career but she has shown marked improvement since adding blinkers. The Kentucky-bred chestnut comes off a smart maiden win in the mud at Churchill Downs, and she also put in a swift half-mile breeze in the interim. The three-year-old has a habit of breaking slowly, but it could be a benefit in this field with a trio of speedy types among the quintet entered. Flavien Prat rides for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. Sneaking Out (#3) (2-1) has rolled home to victories in four straight, the last two of which came in the stakes ranks. The Jerry Hollendorfer filly is an obvious contender. Santa Anita Oaks (G1) runner-up Flor de La Mar (#5) (5-2) was outclassed in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and lands in a much better spot here. RACE 7: Monrovia (G2) An overflow field of 11 fillies and mares will dash five furlongs in this turf affair. Morning-line choice Belvoir Bay (#8) (9-5) is a classy mare who will be nearly impossible to beat if she runs her best. The Peter Miller trainee is six-for-nine on this course and exits a huge second against the boys in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at Meydan behind the superb Blue Point. The six-year-old mare gets back in with the ladies in this spot and we will focus on getting value underneath for the exotics. Lady Suebee (#10) (15-1) finished second behind the favorite on two occasions earlier in the year and could be ignored in the wagering from the outside post. The First Defence filly is the less heralded of the John Sadler duo in the field, which will aid her price. Victor Espinoza has the riding assignment. Ginger Nut (#5) (6-1), who is also from the Sadler barn, was ultra-impressive in going last-to-first in the Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes at Keeneland most recently. The Irish-bred filly has displayed a strong turn of foot from a pair of races stateside and could be the main danger to the choice with another forward step. I will be keying Belvoir Bay over the Sadler pair in my vertical exotics. PHOTO: Belvoir Bay (middle, pink silks) finished second to Blue Point but in front of two-time Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero and champion turf male Stormy Liberal in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) last out at Meydan on March 30, 2019 (c) Horsephotos.com/Frank Sorge