Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Michael Hammersly handicaps the Saturday, May 23 racing card at Santa Anita. Michael shares his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 6.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Call Me Sir (6th race) 
Sixth Race
1. Call Me Sir    
2. Flyover  
3. Prince Dolce
CALL ME SIR appears to be getting things figured out. He comes off four straight good efforts, and his tactical speed can get him a nice stalking trip; A bunch of works since his last encourage. FLYOVER is the one to catch off a big turf sprint stakes win here two months ago. While he’s been sprinting the past year or so, he’s won before at this distance. He’s worked well since that March 22 stakes win and, as noted, might be able to control tempo. PRINCE DOLCE has perked up considerably in recent months. He looked good beating lesser at this trip here April 26 and might be ready for this class hike.
Here are Michael’s thoughts on the other nine races on Saturday’s Santa Anita card.
First Race
1. America’s Mark 
2. Christel Clean 
3. Goodnight Nellie
You had to be worried when, after a big win on this course in Feb. 2025, AMERICA’S MARK wasn’t seen for another year. However, she came back with a sharp 3rd down the hill Feb. 22. That run alleviates some concern about the layoff, she’s been freshened since and returns to the flat, which she might prefer over the hill. CHRISTEL CLEAN finished with good energy for 4th in a race like this here April 26, though that won’t make those who made her the 9-5 favorite feel any better. That was a nice return after a couple months off, so she’s eligible to improve, and a couple nice works since bode well. She has versatility, too. GOODNIGHT NELLIE opened up into the lane in a race like this here April 26 as if poised for the win but got nailed late. That and previous good work at this game and level stamp her a good fit.
Second Race
1. Thirsty Caitlin      
2. Potica   
3. Lihue Princess
THIRSTY CAITLIN ran super in her debut to just miss. That run stamps her the one to beat, and a bullet work since bodes well. POTICA, an AE, ran 3rd just behind the top pick showing talent and that she’s a solid fit in a spot like this. It won’t take much of a move forward for her to turn the tables. Her lone sib is Still Unwritten (6-2-0-2, $106K). LIHUE PRINCESS ran 5th behind the top 2 in that aforementioned April 30 run here but wasn’t THAT far behind them. A slow start didn’t help and she took money so somebody saw something they liked. Two of her four sibs are winners, including Legal Empress (16-4-3-2, $343K, 1 SP).
Third Race
1. Big City Lights      
2. Lonesome Stew  
3. Drop Um
BIG CITY LIGHTS appears to hold all the aces. He’s not only held his own vs. open company but has dominated state-breds. A sharp work since a win here May 2 (his first start in 5-plus months) says he holds his edge, and he loves it here (8-6-1-1). LONESOME STEW was gone 13 months but came back firing with a smart win here April 25. Yes, that came on turf, but he’s proven on dirt, and it’s nice to see there’s not another layoff and that they toss him into stakes waters. DROP UM stalked and kept on for 3rd behind the top pick here May 2. The fact he wasn’t that far behind him shows he’s a decent fit, and he’s held his own before vs. this caliber.
Fourth Race
1. Grand Slam Smile     
2. Prancingthruparis    
3. Take Another Card
GRAND SLAM SMILE has not only dominated these waters, she’s more than held her own vs. open company, including a couple G2 SPs in recent months. Her speed can again have her in it from the start but she’s no need-the-lead type. PRANCINGTHRUPARIS chased and kept on for 3rd in a sprint at this level here March 21, not far behind the top pick, who won. She was declared a non-starter (broke through the gate just prior to the start) but ran decently. That was her first start in a couple months, and she ran 3rd in this last year. That said, the last six times she faced the top pick, she finished behind her. TAKE ANOTHER CARD stalked and kept on well for 2nd vs. open foes as the 9-5 favorite so she comes here doing well. She has versatility to give her rider options, and the last two times she faced the top pick she ran 2nd while not beaten all that far.
Fifth Race
1. Trojan Mafia   
2. Mr Akin  
3. My Man Joe Roldan
TROJAN MAFIA comes off a couple decent sprints vs. much tougher. He drops as he routes for the first time and might be ready to break through. Eight of his 10 sibs to race are winners, including Rock and Glory (21-7-3-3, $244K, 4 SWs, 4 SPs) and Gorgeous Ginny (12-5-2-2, $143K, 3 SWs, 4 SPs). MR AKIN was a bit slow into stride in his dirt sprint debut here May 3, but kept to his task to pass a few. He can improve off that. MY MAN JOE ROLDAN wasn’t disgraced in a couple sprints vs. tougher. That experience, today’s drop and move to a route might get him going. All four sibs to trace are winners, including Firewater Jake (56-8-12-7, $231K).
Seventh Race
1. Run With Liberty     
2. Mohaven  
3. Troisieme Etoile
RUN WITH LIBERTY was a facile winner of her first two starts, so she’s got quality. The question is, both those came on turf, so she tries dirt for the first time and does so while up in class. At least she’s been working well on dirt all the while. MOHAVEN looked super blasting similar in a dirt sprint stakes here last months, as the 3-5 favorite and looms the one to beat. She has tactical speed and versatility to give her rider options. TROISIEME ETOILE tries dirt for the first time after flashing talent on turf. She’s not only worked strongly on dirt, she’s bred for it as daddy won the G1 Ky. Derby and G1 Preakness.
Embed from Getty ImagesEighth Race
1. He’s a Knockout      
2. Unrivaled Time 
3. Ventry Strand
HE’S A KNOCKOUT has yet to be headed in two starts, both on turf. Sure, those came vs. lesser than these and sprinting (he routes today) so there are new hurdles, but he’s obviously got talent and that speed can have him out front from the start trying to play keep-away. Those two starts also sandwiched a long layoff. There’s no layoff this time, and he’s worked splendidly since. Still, the 9fs are a bit worrisome. UNRIVALED TIME is a proven commodity routing on turf, including being a G3 SW/SP. He’s yet to go this far, but the way he’s run hints he’ll handle it. VENTRY STRAND has shown turf ability, and while he’s another trying 9fs for the first time he has, like ‘TIME, finished up his races as if he’ll handle this longer trip.
Ninth Race
1. King’s Ride    
2. Cowboy Mike    
3. Majestic Palisades
KING’S RIDE dueled sprinting at this level here May 3 and paid the price late, tiring some to end up 3rd. Not only did he duel it was his first start vs. winners and just his third start overall. In other words, there’s ample room for growth, that speed on the stretchout make him dangerous, and he’s bred to go this far. COWBOY MIKE chased a hot pace here May 8 before hitting the brakes hard. In his defense, he not only used fuel early, he was facing tougher and making his first start in a couple months. He can benefit from that outing, and the move from open to state-bred ranks likely helps. MAJESTIC PALISADES has held good form since the fall. That includes three 2nds in races like this here, so he’s a proven solid fit with tactical speed and versatility to give his rider options.
Tenth Race
1. Robin Olds     
2. Flash of Lightning   
3. Gaines
ROBIN OLDS was a sharp 2nd in a race just like this here April 19, but he drifted out in the lane and was DQ’d to 4th. That was still a good run and shows course, trip and level suit. All three sibs are winners, two of them turf winners, including Tom Seaver (7-3-0-1, $143K, 5-3-0-1 on turf). FLASH OF LIGHTNING ran 4th (moved up to 3rd) in that same race as the top pick and was only narrowly behind him, so he fits. He gets blinkers and has worked well since, but got no help from the draw. He’s kin to five turf winners, including Bang for our Buck (23-2-4-5, $212K, 15-2-3-2 on turf, 1 SP on turf). GAINES set a pressured pace and stayed on gamely to be a sharp 2nd in his turf sprint debut here April 4, so he has speed, talent and handles turf. He’s asked to route but is bred for it. Two of his three sibs are winners, both turf winners, including Peppermint Flirt; (6-1-0-2, $56K, 5-1-0-2 on turf).
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