Friday's 3rd race (2:02pm PT) from Santa Anita Park is an Optional Claiming event for 4-year-olds and up dashing six and one-half furlongs on the downhill turf course (rail at 30 feet).
#2 Innocent Man (3-1) returned from a long layoff and ended up a respectable 3rd after setting the pace at a flat mile over the local weeds Jan 31. The son of sprint sire Henny Hughes is most effective around one turn and looks like the type to relish the hillside turf course. He removes the hood, fired a local bullet for this Feb 9, and might not look back under Leparoux (2 wins Thursday).
Play Friday's Santa Anita games at DerbyWars.com
#4 Relentless Heat (7-2) has won his last four starts down the dip and will be finishing under Talamo.
#3 A Toast to You (5-2) earned a strong number in a nose defeat at this course/distance Jan 12 and should sit a decent tactical trip under Maldonado.
The Plays:
$12 to win #2
$5 Exacta Box 2-4 ($10)
$2 Trifecta 2-4/2-3-4/2-3-4 ($8)
analysis by Jarrod Horak
For daily insight on Santa Anita Park's Pick 6 races, please check out Pick 6blog.com for free selections
and tickets.