This week’s Stronach 5 includes two races from Santa Anita. Race 4 is the opening leg of the 12-percent takeout wager; race 5 is the penultimate leg. The sequence includes Gulfstream Park West, Laurel and Golden Gate. Post time for Santa Anita race 4 is 1:53 PT/4:53 ET. A look at the Santa Anita races ….

Santa Anita, race 4 (five and half furlongs, Cal-bred $50,000 maiden 2yo fillies)

Top choice Superhotamolly (3) ran okay last time; she pressed a relatively fast pace while wide before tiring to fourth. She worked well since and benefits by the turnback from six furlongs to five and a half. Superhotamolly, the favorite, meets a mishmash bunch.

First-time starter Reds Sacred Appeal (5) reportedly struggled in her first workout over the Santa Anita surface, but the work is not a major worry. After all, these are state-bred maiden-claiming juveniles, not Breeders’ Cup contenders. Reds Sacred Appeal is a new face in a weak race, listed at 8-1. Imminent (4) is another slow worker, making her first start since May and dropping from state-bred maiden special-weight.

Summary: Superhotamolly (3) and Reds Sacred Appeal (5) are must-use contenders, while Immiment (4), Spicy Curry (8) and Derby Royalty (9) are marginal contenders in a messy race.

Santa Anita, race 5 (mile turf, $25,000 claiming fillies & mares, non-winners two races)

Top choice Copper Fever (10) did not handle dirt last time; she finished fourth as the favorite and was claimed.  Although she drew the outside post, she merits horse-to-beat status returning to turf and making her first start for Peter Miller. Copper Fever is the fastest turf horse in the field based on figures.

Contenders include droppers Quinnie (2) and Miss Unusual (1); National Turf workout analyst Andy Harrington reports that 20-1 Just Kathy (4) has trained particularly well since she was claimed by Doug O’Neill.

Summary: This is a spread race, except for trusting bettors confident that Copper Fever (10) can overcome the outside post. Stronach 5 tickets probably should include Quinnie (2) and Miss Unusual (1), with  bombs-away consideration to Just Kathy (4) based on the Harrington workout report.

Post time for Santa Anita race 4, the first leg of the Stronach 5, is 1:53 PT/4:53 ET (between BC Juvenile Fillies and BC Juvenile Turf).