Santa Anita Derby: Kentucky Derby Prep Season Continues

Saturday’s Card at Santa Anita Park features the Santa Anita Derby and Oaks. The winners will be guaranteed a spot in the gate on the first weekend in May.

Saturday Full Card Selections

Santa Anita Park- Race 1

Post: 12:00 PM PT; $72k Allowance going about 6 1/2 furlongs on downhill turf; Entries: 11

• #7 ANMER HALL (10-1) is a price horse and gets the top selection. He comes into the race in really good form.
• #9 SOUTHERN HORSE (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has to be respected going out for the combination of D'Amato and Hernandez. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #1 SUBSIDIZE (15-1) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. The post should allow for a ground saving trip.
• #3 DOITFORANDREW (4-1) projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 7 – 9 – 1 – 3

Santa Anita Park- Race 2

Post: 12:31 PM PT; $150k Evening Jewel S. going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 5

• #5 CEILING CRUSHER (6-5) is the top pick. She will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 6 1/2 furlong distance.
• #4 TOM'S REGRET (8-5) should be competitive in this spot. She has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #1 ABSOLUTELY ZERO (3-1) isn't without hope. She should have plenty of stamina to get the extended sprint. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 CHOLLY (6-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets but seems like one that could get up into the number.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 1 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 3

Post: 1:02 PM PT; $75k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 8

• #1 YENG AGAIN (7-2) looks best here. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #6 CASH EQUITY (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #8 YES THIS TIME (6-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #7 CARMELITA'S MAN (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 8 – 7

Santa Anita Park- Race 4

Post: 1:31 PM PT; $67k Maiden Special Weight going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #1 DILLINGER (4-5) gets the top selection. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 1/2 furlong distance. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #4 NAVY MAN (4-1) looks to be the class of the field. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #5 MYSTIFICATION (4-1) should improve off the first start. The foundation from the debut effort could serve him well here
• #6 CAVENDISH (3-1) debuts here and goes out for the Baffert barn and gets Velazquez in the irons. The morning line says this one is a threat.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 5 – 6

Santa Anita Park- Race 5

Post: 2:02 PM PT; $200k Charles Whittingham S. Presented by BetOnline TV going 1 1/4 miles on downhill turf; Entries: 7

• #2 DICEY MO CHARA (5-1) is the top pick. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #6 MASTEROFFOXHOUNDS (5-2) should be part of the early pace in this spot. This one stacks up well with the top pick but provides less value.
• #7 GOLD PHOENIX (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He looks to be the class of the field.
• #1 OPRY (4-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.

Selections: 2 – 6 – 7 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 6

Post: 2:43 PM PT; $750k RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 9

• #5 PRACTICAL MOVE (8-5) looks best here. He will look to make it 3 stakes in a row. This one does move from Baffert to Yakteen in order to collect Derby points but that hasn’t always worked out well for owners.
• #6 NATIONAL TREASURE (3-1) was at one point a major player in this division. Things have gone sideways since with a series of subpar finishes, but the competition was good so maybe that’s the difference.
• #3 GEAUX ROCKET RIDE (3-1) likes to get running early and will look to turn the tables on Practical Move. This one could be getting better at the right time.
• #7 SKINNER (4-1) isn't without hope. He has speed figures that fit here.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 3 – 7

Santa Anita Park- Race 7

Post: 3:20 PM PT; $150k Echo Eddie S. going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #2 KANGAROO COURT (6-5) gets the top selection. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one goes out for the Yakteen barn and gets Prat in the irons.
• #3 BUS BUZZ (5-2) could be in with a shot in this race. He comes into the race in really good form. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #5 LEFT HAND MAN (4-1) should improve off the first start and feels like a fringe contender in this spot. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #7 CLOUSEAU (6-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 5 – 7

Santa Anita Park- Race 8

Post: 3:51 PM PT; $72k Allowance going 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 11

• #8 COALINGA ROAD (4-1) is the top pick. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/8 mile distance. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #9 GENIUS JIMMY (15-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #5 RECKLESS SPIRIT (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one goes out for the D'Amato barn and gets Dettori in the irons.
• #3 SILVER SURFER (4-1)will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.

Selections: 8 – 9 – 5 – 3

Santa Anita Park- Race 9

Post: 4:22 PM PT; $40k Starter Allowance going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 9

• #3 MANITOWISH (5-1) looks best here based on speed figures.
• #4 TETON VALLEY (8-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #9 CLEM LABINE (3-1) looks to be the class of the field. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 6 1/2 furlong distance.
• #1 JOE DON LOONEY (4-1) has run numbers that put him right in the mix here.

Selections: 3 – 4 – 9 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 10

Post: 4:53 PM PT; $200k Monrovia S. going about 6 1/2 furlongs on downhill turf; Entries: 11

• #11 FREEDOM FLYER (6-1) gets the top selection. She goes out for the Powell barn and gets Dettori in the irons. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #10 LEGGS GALORE (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She goes out for the D'Amato barn and gets Gonzalez in the irons. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #9 BIG SUMMER (5-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #8 AMY C (7-2) goes out for the D'Amato barn and gets Rispoli in the irons.

Selections: 11- 10- 9 – 8

Santa Anita Park- Race 11

Post: 5:24 PM PT; $400k Santa Anita Oaks going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 9

• #5 FAIZA (9-5) is the top pick. She shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #8 AND TELL ME NOLIES (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 WINDOW SHOPPING (4-1) isn't without hope. She will likely be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire. This one has a solid record in similar races.
• #3 CLEARLY UNHINGED (4-1) should improve off the first start and may benefit from a hot pace up front. The morning line suggests the ability is there with this one.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 6 – 3

Santa Anita Park- Race 12

Post: 5:55 PM PT; $72k Allowance going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 13

• #8 SCARABEA (6-1) looks best here. She looks to be the class of the field. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #3 ANNAGHLASA (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #6 REBEL GIRL (20-1) is a price horse and will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #4 ULTIMATE HY (8-1) should be competitive in this spot. She should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.

Selections: 8 – 3 – 6 – 4