Pick 4 of the Week: Santa Anita Saturday, May 23

The Pick 4 of the week will come from Santa Anita on Saturday, led by a pair of black-type tilts to commence the play.

Race 7 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 3,4 with 1,3,7 with 3,4,5,9 with 1,8,9,11 ($48)

Race 7 – Melair S. 

Seven three-year-olds will run two turns on the main strip to get the play underway. A pair of runners stand out to me in the affair, led by John Sadler’s #4 Mohaven (3-5). The Yaupon filly is a very fast, two-time stakes heroine who will make her route debut in the heat. She has been first or second in every dirt run to date, and while she is no sure thing going two turns, the talented lass will dictate the action throughout under Jaramillo.

The Jeff Mullins-trained #3 Run With Liberty (7-2) has been excellent in a pair of going-away scores on the sod to begin her career and will try the main oval today. The Originaire homebred is a question mark on the dirt, but the sophomore is too talented to omit from off the pace in her stakes bow. 

Race 8 – Snow Chief S. 

A total of 10 sophomores bred in the Golden State will vie in the 1 1/8-mile contest. #7 Third Beer (6-1) is two-for-two in the state-bred ranks and comes in off the short layoff for Yakteen. The Mendelssohn colt will have Kimura in the irons. 

#1 Unrivaled Time (7-2) is a Grade 3 victor who has faced open stakes foes in a trio of races in succession and might be the one to beat with the class relief from the rail. #3 He’s a Knockout (6-5) has yet to be headed from two sprint runs on the sod against softer, but the Carla Gaines trainee could be any kind and is expected to move forward in his second run of the season beneath Juan Hernandez. 

Race 9 – Optional Claiming

California-bred males will run one mile on the main oval in the third leg. I think that I will be able to advance going four deep in the tilt with #3 Majestic Palisades (6-1), #4 King’s Ride (5-2), #5 Start the Ride (4-1), and #9 Sir Percival (10-1). 

Race 10 – Maiden Special Weight

A full field of three-year-olds will go eight panels on the green in the closing piece of the play. #1 Robin Olds (9-2) has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in each run to date and has a fine draw on the fence for D’Amato. The colt is kin to a pair of winners on the grass and will save ground throughout under Ayuso. 

Second timers #8 Lucky Sniper (20-1) and #9 Gaines (7-2), as well as Richard Baltas’ #11 Flash of Lightning (3-1), will also be included in the well-matched group.