Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 1:00 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $55k; 1 M Turf; Field of 8 runners.

• #2 KING APOLLO (7-2): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
• #8 ZIO JO (5-2): Major Player. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch. Should take a liking to the race shape.
• #6 CODE DUELLO (3-1): Worth a look. Has experience at this level. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
• #5 EXPLAIN THIS AUDIT (6-1): Fringe Contender. Solid turn of foot.

Selections: 2 – 8 – 6 – 5

Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 1:30 PM PT; Claiming $21k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

• #6 FROST ALERT (7-2): Top pick. Shouldn’t have trouble getting the distance.
• #3 POP D’ORO (6-1): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #4 LEGITIFY (4-1): Major Player.
• #1 PICKING IT UP (5-1): Major Player. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Competitive enough in recent efforts.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 4 – 1

Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 2:00 PM PT; Oak Leaf Stakes presented by Oak Tree $200k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

• #3 TENMA (5-2): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Stamina to outlast the competition.
• #8 NON COMPLIANT (2-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
• #4 NOONI (3-1): Contender. Has experience at this level. Previous success in similar race types.
• #5 IN THE AIR TONIGHT (5-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 3 – 8 – 4 – 5

Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 2:30 PM PT; Speakeasy Stakes $100k; 5 F Turf; Field of 8 runners.

• #5 DREAMAWAY (6-5): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Race sets up perfectly.
• #8 TIZ HAPPY (20-1): Contender. Good race flow for this runner. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #2 KALE’S ANGEL (6-1): Worth a look. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
• #3 PALI KITTEN (20-1): Fringe Contender. Ran at this level last out. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 2 – 3

Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 3:00 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $55k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #8 PILOT COMMANDER (7-5): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Proven competitor at this configuration.
• #1 VLAHOS (8-5): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #4 ALL THAT GLORY (15-1): Worth a look. Has experience at this level. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
• #7 WENDELSSOHN (12-1): Fringe Contender. Ran at this level last out. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 8 – 1 – 4 – 7

Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 3:30 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $54k; 1 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.

• #10 MIZZYAAN (5-2): Top pick. Races that could beat these. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
• #9 BOLT’S BROAD (30-1): Major Player.
• #7 WELL FUNDED (6-1): Major Player. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Potential to kick home late.
• #1 SHE’Z THE LAW (7-2): Major Player. Race shape gives this one an edge. Could be ready to hit a peak performance.

Selections: 10 – 9 – 7 – 1

Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 4:00 PM PT; Chillingworth Stakes $100k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

• #3 SWEET AZTECA (3-2): Best bet of the card. Stamina to outlast the competition. Race sets up perfectly. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #5 ONE MAGIC PHILLY (5-1): Contender. Seems to be up against the right competition. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #2 HOPE ROAD (4-1): Contender. Potentially ready to hit a top number. May be able to find the right setup.
• #6 KIRSTENBOSCH (10-1): Fringe Contender. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 2 – 6

Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 4:30 PM PT; Rodeo Drive Stakes $200k; 1 1/4 M Downhill turf; Field of 7 runners.

• #7 ASPEN GROVE (4-1): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration.
• #4 ISCREAMUSCREAM (8-5): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #6 HANG THE MOON (6-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types.
• #1 LUCKY GIRL (10-1): Fringe Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Should still have enough reserves in the final furlong.

Selections: 7 – 4 – 6 – 1

Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 5:00 PM PT; American Pharoah Stakes Presented by DK Horse $300k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

• #1 MCKINZIE STREET (9-5): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Stamina to outlast the competition.
• #7 GETAWAY CAR (2-1): Major Player. May be able to take advantage of the pace.
• #3 CITIZEN BULL (5-2): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. May be able to find the right setup.
• #5 EMERALD BAY (6-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 1 – 7 – 3 – 5

Santa Anita Park Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 5:30 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $54k; 1 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

• #1 CURVINO (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Solid closing kick. Race may set up for this runner. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
• #5 FARLEY HALL (30-1): Major Player. Running well of late.
• #4 KING’S ROAD (4-5): Major Player. The 80-speed rating is among the best in the field. Previous success in similar race types.
• #11 UNCLE DUDE (6-1): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 4 – 11

Betting News Horse Racing Coverage

Don’t miss all the horse racing action covered by Betting News each and every week. Coverage includes free handicapping tools, comprehensive guides, and in-depth analysis of the week’s biggest cards. Check out our full card analysis for this week’s upcoming big races:

Friday

• Keeneland picks featuring the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes plus two additional Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifiers

Saturday

Sunday