Few sensible handicappers would compile a list of horses to bet on regardless of when and where those horses run. And it was never Daily Racing Form’s intention to publish horses-to-watch lists that would supersede fundamental handicapping. And though DRF’s weekly HTW lists this year at Santa Anita might lead one to believe it is an easy game, everyone knows it is not. HTW lists have been part of the California scene for decades. Some lists are better than others. Pace guru Tom Brohamer once provided the shrewdest list on the circuit, based mostly on pace. Brohamer recently paused his service, while other lists are referred to as “Fit and Ready” or “Black Book.” :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analysis, and expert picks. DRF’s weekly Santa Anita list includes horses who delivered noteworthy performances, regardless of finish position. Maybe it was a bad trip, like Whisper Not on Dec. 26. The HTW comment: “Blocked on rail most of final quarter-mile . . .” Whisper Not lost his next start, then won his next two, including the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile. Others are compromised by a poor takeoff, such as She’s a Dime on Jan. 9. The comment read: “Broke dead last in statebred allowance, trailed field, finished willingly . . . sprinter can win this condition with clean takeoff.” She’s a Dime won next out at $14.80. Some horses are in tough, like Shimmer Me Timbers on Jan. 16. The comment read: “. . . over his conditions in Cal-bred N1X, he dueled and cracked at long odds. . . . speedster can drop in class and wire the field.” Shimmer Me Timbers dropped in class and paid $15.40 next out. Occasional HTWs are less insight and more documentation, such as a first-time starter Jan. 1. The comment read: “. . . Candy Ride colt won maiden turf sprint impressively. Pressed pace, kicked to lead, plenty left late, excellent debut.” He was Rock Your World, subsequent winner of the Pasadena Stakes and Santa Anita Derby. It is fun to cherry-pick successes, though next-out losers outnumber winners. Through May 16, some 90 HTW listees ran back – 26 won next out and 64 lost. A win bet on all 90 runbacks produced a flat-bet profit even when the highest-odds winner is discounted. But the list is not intended to be automatic bet-backs. One cannot be sure where or when the horse will run next. The feature does identify horses whose performances were noteworthy. Maybe they are worth backing next out, maybe not. At very least, they merit consideration. Every horseplayer should consider compiling a personal HTW list. The exercise keeps a handicapper on his toes, and requires diligent study of video replays. The list does not supersede basic handicapping, but maybe it should. The suggestion is tongue in cheek, even after what transpired last week. A maiden turf sprinter made the list after finishing third April 25. The comment read: “. . . broke from rail, pulled while unsettled, steadied midway on turn, re-rallied. . . . Could have given winner a run for his money with better trip.” Ferrariano stretched to a mile May 14, skipped a condition as a maiden facing winners, and won the California-bred allowance by a neck. He paid $52.80. Cinema Stakes Three of the five in the Cinema Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds on Sunday at Santa Anita, were winter HTWs. Sword Zorro won his second U.S. start at $7. Airman made the list after his runner-up finish March 20; he paid $8.80. Hudson Ridge lost both starts after making the list. Although stakes winner Sword Zorro is the only Cinema entrant with more than a maiden win, the choice is Hubris, the only runner who has raced beyond a mile. He won a nine-furlong maiden race by six lengths. His runner-up finish last out was validated when winner Du Jour returned to win the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs. Hubris can press his way to victory in a Cinema light on pace. But value is elusive in a five-horse field on Sunday at Santa Anita where six of the nine races have five entrants. Alcatraz Stakes Ten entered the Alcatraz Stakes, a mile turf race for 3-year-olds on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields, including Silky Sullivan Stakes winner None Above the Law. The only Southern California-based runner in the field, None Above the Law is the 5-2 favorite by track linemaker Steve Martinelli. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances - the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures Based on closing fractions in mile turf races, a proper gamble is the only filly in the field. Lightly raced Ida Claire, listed at 10-1, is the only starter who has uncorked a sub-24-second final quarter this year on turf. With a five-pound gender allowance, look for Ida Claire to outrun her price. Red-board review The May 9 selections in this column were forgettable. Roderick, sent off at 1.60-1, stumbled and unseated his rider in the Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont Park. Warren’s Showtime, 7-10 in the four-runner field, finished second in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita. The key runners in the mandatory-payout pick six on May 16 at Santa Anita included race-6 selection Beyond Brilliant. He ran super at 3.70-1, finishing runner-up in the maiden route while more than nine lengths clear of third. Next time, perhaps. Race-7 selection Fantail broke slowly, was hard held, and fizzled at 2.20-1. Call it inconclusive.