Jeff Siegel's Prime Picks for Sunday, March 22 at Santa Anita

We’ll begin our action in today’s 2nd race, using #1 Dancing Erin and #5 Chalula One in an exacta box. Dancing Erin seems like the quickest of the quick and if she breaks running from the rail she could be hard to catch. Chalula One seems a bit better than shown for Mandella, continues to work well, and looks primed for her best effort. The 3rd race, a state bred abbreviated sprint, has three main contenders, including #7 Raise the River; 8 Ribald; and #10 Charlie and Chris. Raise the River has been beaten as the favorite in five of six career starts and certainly isn’t one to trust, but he’s a solid fit on numbers, has winning connections, and figures to participate in the exacta or trifecta. Ribald faces Calbreds today and seems sure to improve in this easier spot with a race under his belt following a long layoff. Charlie and Chris has improving numbers, gets a comfortable outside post and is the likely choice and one to beat. #6 Kruger Park seems well spotted for a win in the 4th race. The Gallagher-trained gelding has proven winning form over this course, exits a tough race and should be on or near the lead throughout. The 5th race boils down to #5 Trilliant and #8 Topper Shopper. Trilliant exits a hot race up north and should fit very well in this high priced claimer restricted to 4-year-olds. Bejarano should have him pressing the pace throughout. Topper Shopper should enjoy a good pace prompting trip outside, has sharp recent speed figures and knows how to win (6-for-16). The 6th race is a typical turf grab bag and if you’re playing any of the rolling exotics we’d use as many as you can afford to. Top to bottom a chance. The 7th race is a straight maiden affair and is begging to be won by a newcomer, as the known element isn’t inspiring. #10 She’s Borracho makes her debut for Mullins and has trained in sharp style to appear fit and ready. The barn doesn’t win all that often with first timers, but this daughter of Tale of Cat might prove to be an exception in a field lacking in depth. She’s definitely worth using at 8-1 on the morning line. We’ll double the feature race, the Santa Ana Handicap, using #3 Sharp Susan and #6 Visit. The latter is the likely choice and one to beat for Frankel based on her excellent third place effort in the Matriarch last fall, but Sharp Susan has trained in exceptional fashion for Drysdale following her recent comeback and seems primed and ready for her best effort. She’s 6-1 on the morning line and is a “must use.” The ninth race, a modest maiden claimer, figures to be won by either #1 Astoria Renter; #4 Barney Bass, or #6 Jimmy Two Times. Astoria Renter must overcome the rail but is improving with each outing and with another forward move today could be very tough. Barney Bass shortens up, retains Rosario, and is another who figures very tough in a soft field. Jimmy Two Times, a speed and fade play coupled with a class drop in his second lifetime start, seems sure to move forward considerably for Spawr and deserves his morning line 5/2 favoritism.