Three solid favorites on ability but only one with synthetics experience. Heavy Breathing (3-1) is undefeated in two starts for Pletcher, winning both by impressive margins, one at today’s 9F trip, and pedigree looks very suitable for transition to the AW surface.

Went The Day Well (4-1) also has 9F experience and appears to be a natural router with turf experience in Britain before shipping over for Team Valor. Karma fans will appreciate the fact that this colt gets a switch to Animal Kingdom's partner, Johnny Velazquez

But it's Handsome Mike (4-1) who owns consistently fastest figures on Equiform scale and he's been toughened in four graded stakes. He'ss compromised by a wide draw--the extreme outside in a field of 12--but not the presence of Joel Rosario, Santa Anita's leading rider shipping in to ride the Doug O'Neill trainee.

Taking Handsome Mike to win at 3-1 or greater and key boxing him first and second in multiples, adding Mr. Prankster (12-1) off a bounce-rebound pattern switching to Rosie, and Ill Conceived (8-1), who stayed very gamely after pace battle in the Battaglia Memorial prep, to the super-exotic mix.


Running Totals: (1049) 325-204-154 Total Dollar Return: $2,239.60 [win selections only]