img HORSE

SANTA ANITA Race #4

March 16, 2012
img2:30 PM Eastern
Premium Pick

Top pick: #1 (HIERRO) - He disappointed here when he ran "rank" and tired to finish last of five in the Sham Stakes (G3) here going a mile on Jan. 7. Highly thought of by the barn and trainer Steve Asmussen has him working every 7-8 days since then as he's freshened him up a bit. Colt from the first crop of "Hard Spun" cuts back to the distance of his impressive maiden win last November at Churchill.

2nd pick: #7 (Consulado) - Gelding by "More Than Ready" is (3-1-2-0) and has been bet heavily in all three starts. He tired to finish second after setting a very fast and pressured pace here at this level going a mile on Feb. 9 and has come back with a trio of blazing bullet works since then. Win candidate, and I almost put him on top.

3rd pick: #3 (Brigand) - One of two colts entered by trainer Bob Baffert and the pair will race uncoupled. He was competitive last out despite some traffic issues in the Baffle Stakes run on the grass Feb. 26. Race was his first since early August and he moves to real dirt for the first time.

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