Weekend Plays: Call Taishan's number in the Sham Stakes

How handicappers view Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park may depend on the version of past performances used.

On the DRF and Brisnet scales, the rail entry Authentic holds the speed figure advantage entering. TimeformUS rates Richard Baltas-trained Taishan as the fastest horse on paper based on numbers.

Speed figure makers do not always agree, and that can create some value even in a small field. That kicks off these five Saturday selections. 

Santa Anita Race 5: Sham Stakes (G3)

As stated above, Taishan holds the high number on the TimeformUS scale, which is a 103 earned while breaking his maiden locally on Nov. 3. With the win, Taishan successfully stretched out to a two-turn mile and defeated an emerging colt in Tizamagician by a length after a minor battle.

Tizamagician returned on New Year's Day to break his maiden by making an early move and sustaining in the stretch, taking the race by 2 ½ lengths. Most observers believe Tizamagician will appear on the Derby trail, too.

That one race gives Taishan at least three positives: He owns the highest speed figure, proved he could route and beat a quality field.

The Sham's morning line favorite, Authentic, is trained by Bob Baffert. But he broke his maiden in a 5 ½-furlong sprint and now stretches out to one mile.

As for Azul Coast, he is the more interesting entry from Baffert's barn considering he proved his routing ability at Los Alamitos. But he undoubtedly faced weaker competition at the track.

Given Taishan is trained by Baltas, he shouldn't be bet down too far. So long as the 5-2 price sticks, he gets the nod here.

Santa Anita Race 8: San Gabriel Stakes (G2)

About half of this field is overmatched at first glance.

Cleopatra's Strike is a contender, but will become overbet off his John Henry Turf Championship (G2) win and fourth in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2).

The rail horse Desert Stone is tied for second choice at 3-1. He is coming off a 222-day layoff though and will need to prove he is in top form.

Majestic Eagle, the other 3-1 shot, is interesting. He owns enough tactical speed to stay within range of the leaders without contesting the pace. According to TimeformUS' Pace Projector, he is supposed to sit off North County Guy and Acker in the early stages, which is a perfect spot.

Plus, there is some proven class with Majestic Eagle, as he did win the local American Stakes (G3) last summer over Law Abidin Citizen and Sharp Samurai. He then finished sixth in the Del Mar Mile (G2) and fifth in the Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs. But throw out the latter effort because Kentucky Downs features a quirky speed-biased turf course.

When Majestic Eagle returned on Nov. 30 off a 91-day layoff, he finished a decent fourth, beaten by two lengths in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G3).

It is a bonus that Rafael Bejarano decides to stay on board. The two of them will get first strike once the pace horses call it quits.

As long as he isn't bet down to favoritism, Majestic Eagle is a wise play.

Santa Anita Race 9: Allowance Optional Claiming

With two double-digit margin losses in three starts, the case for Sigalert is not as strong. There are positives to point out, though.

For one, trainer John Sadler thought highly enough of Sigalert to throw him into the 2018 Del Mar Futurity (G1) and American Pharoah Stakes (G1). While he finished fourth and fifth, respectively, he faced better horses in those races.

In Sigalert's career debut, he mowed down a decent runner in Extra Hope by half a length in a 5 ½-furlong sprint. After unsuccessful attempts at seven furlongs and 1 1/16 miles in those Grade 1 races, Sigalert might enjoy cutting back to 6 ½ furlongs here, especially because his dam, Ouchy Night, was a sprinter.

Only two of Sigalert's late 2018 works are on XBTV, but he gave a good impression in the Nov. 25 drill by leaving Amalfi Queen in the dust.

At 8-1, Sigalert is worth taking a shot.

Gulfstream Race 6: Limehouse Stakes

At least four speed horses are lined up in this six-furlong stakes race, including Shivaree, Ricki Ticki Taffi, Cajun Cassanova and Zaino Boyz. Unless some of those speedballs scratch or change tactics, the race is supposed to set up for a stalker or closer.

The options left are Peruvian Boy and Uncaptured King.

Uncaptured King is outclassed on paper. He lost at the maiden claiming level twice before breaking his maiden for a $25,000 tag on Nov. 29.

Peruvian Boy graduated in a five-furlong synthetic sprint at Arlington Park. He then got thrown into the Saratoga Special (G2) and finished fourth to good horses in Green Light Go, Scabbard and Tuggle.

After a third-place finish on synthetic again in the Arlington-Washington Futurity and a fifth to future Street Sense Stakes winner South Bend in a Keeneland optional claimer, he switched barns to Antonio Sano.

Sano tried to stretch him out in the one-mile Smooth Air. But Peruvian Boy faded to fifth after an early move, indicating sprinting is his game. He cuts back to six furlongs now and may win with a fast pace.

Gulfstream Race 8: Glitter Woman Stakes

The morning line favorite Spanish Point and second choice Sound Machine are not that talented on paper. The former broke her maiden for a $50,000 tag at Belmont, while the latter filly won her career debut in a Florida-bred restricted maiden race locally.

The two of them finished 1-2 in the House Party Stakes due to a weak field.

Lady Anna is an interesting new player at 4-1.

She only won her career debut by a neck but faced open maiden company and experienced some notable traffic problems at the top of the stretch. After tipping out of a wall of horses, she dug in and held off a late-charging Testimonial on the outside.

In this spot, TimeformUS' Pace Projector expects Lady Anna in third early, right off the two favorites Spanish Point and Sound Machine.

Given Lady Anna's dam, Race Hunter, is a half-sister to Paid Up Subscriber, the pedigree is there for Lady Anna to develop into a nice runner.

As long as she is not favored, she is the choice.