Wednesday's Best Bet: Texas Wedge can crush rivals in Joe Hernandez

Wednesday's 8th race from Santa Anita Park is the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes for 4-year-olds and up dashing five and one-half furlongs on the turf course (Post Time 6:00 p.m. ET).

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#4 TEXAS WEDGE (6-1) finished 1st or 2nd in his last three starts in Kentucky. Flavien Prat rides for Peter Miller and I like his running style versatility.

#7 Captain Scotty (5-1) is a surface switcher for Peter Miller, and he should show speed under Joel Rosario.

#6 True Valour (7-2) won an overseas grade three turf sprint in 2018, and a pair of flat mile graded races at Santa Anita in 2019. He turns back after finishing 10th in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

Downhill specialist #9 Blitzkrieg (3-1) makes his first start in 7+ months. I like his tactical speed.

#8 Legends of War (6-1) owns early-pressing versatility. The competent turf sprinter was overmatched in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 2.

#2 Double Touch (8-1) is one to consider if the pace heats up. He ran out of ground in the Eddie D (G2) at five furlongs on turf, and was a head away from 3rd that day. He won a downhill sprint February 2018, and John Sadler still likes his $40k claim.

Wagers: 

#4 to win

Exacta 4/6-7-9

Exacta 6-7-9/4

Trifecta 4-7/4-6-7-9/2-4-6-7-8-9

December 2019 Best Bet Winners