Santa Anita Park Saturday (4/22) Stakes Analysis: Californian

Saturday’s feature from Santa Anita will feature a likely odds on favorite. Defunded is 4/5 on the morning line and could be shorter by post time.

Santa Anita Park Saturday Full Card Selections

Santa Anita Park- Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM PT; $65k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 7

• #4 PHENOM (3-1) gets the top selection. She looks to be the class of the field. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #5 WARRENS CANDY GIRL (5-2) should be competitive in this spot. She has run against some really good company as well. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #3 SWEETEST ANGEL (8-1) could be in with a shot in this race. She comes into the race in really good form.
• #6 TIK TOK FAMOUS (4-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She seems to fit well enough here on class.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 3 – 6

Santa Anita Park- Race 2

Post: 1:30 PM PT; $22k Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 6

• #5 ROMAN EMPRESS (5-1) is the top pick. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.
• #2 BONITA LEONA (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Knapp and Pereira.
• #1 A BROKEN BREEZE (5-2) should be competitive in this spot. She goes out for the combination of Harris and Frey and has run numbers that would get the job done here.
• #4 SHVERE ARBETER (3-1) could be in with a shot in this race. Herrera will get the leg up for the Morfin barn. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 1 – 4

Santa Anita Park- Race 3

Post: 1:59 PM PT; $35k Maiden Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #6 RHYTHEM ON STAGE (5-2) looks best here. He looks to be the class of the field. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #3 APPLE WARRIOR (2-1) debuts here and should be competitive in this spot. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Sadler and Hernandez.
• #5 WHISKEY VISION (15-1) isn't without hope. He is drawn well enough to make things interesting at fat price.
• #1 SAN JAC (3-1) debuts here and gets 3-1 on the morning line. There must be plenty of buzz on the back side and you don’t want to find yourself on the losing side of “they knew”.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 5 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 4

Post: 2:29 PM PT; $63k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 8

• #2 IN VRONSKY STYLE (5-2) gets the top selection. He 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.
• #4 SQUARE CAT (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has speed figures in the past performances that would win this race. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #7 EXCEED SPEED LIMIT (3-1) should play a role in the outcome of this race. He should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #3 SIX FEET (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one will look to get his position going forward.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 7 – 3

Santa Anita Park- Race 5

Post: 3:02 PM PT; $100k Kona Gold S. going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 BRICKYARD RIDE (6-5) is the top pick. He is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Lewis and Hernandez.
• #1 ANARCHIST (5-2) could be in with a shot in this race and may get the right setup in this race.
• #2 SUNRISE JOURNEY (4-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He may benefit from a hot pace up front. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #5 POSITIVITY (6-1) isn't without hope. He will want a little pace to run at, but there’s a decent chance that could happen. This one goes out for the O'Neill barn and gets Pereira in the irons.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 2 – 5

Santa Anita Park- Race 6

Post: 3:33 PM PT; $65k Allowance Optional Claiming going about 6 1/2 furlongs on downhill turf; Entries: 7

• #3 KITTY KITANA (2-1) looks best here. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #7 PAMMY'S READY (5-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #2 ONE SILK STOCKING (5-2) should be a big factor here. She goes out for the O'Neill barn and gets Pereira in the irons.
• #1 UNBRIDLED MARY (5-1) 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 and makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 3 – 7 – 2 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 7

Post: 4:05 PM PT; $22k Maiden Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #3 RUFA RED KNOT (12-1) is a price horse and gets the top selection. She goes out for the Craigmyle barn and gets Frey in the irons.
• #1 SUGAR SUGAR (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #7 SAPADILLA (4-1) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one is well bred for this spot.
• #2 GREY MAGIC (4-1) debuts here and should be competitive in this spot. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Sadler and Hernandez.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 7 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 8

Post: 4:36 PM PT; $36k Starter Optional Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 9

• #3 TOPOLINA (3-1) is the top pick. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #2 GOOD BOO JOO (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has speed figures that can win this race. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #4 PALEO'S PRINCESS (10-1) is a price horse and seems to fit well enough here. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #7 M IS FOR MAGIC (4-1) looks to be the class of the field. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 4 – 7

Santa Anita Park- Race 9

Post: 5:07 PM PT; $200k Californian S. going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 6

• #1 DEFUNDED (4-5) looks best here. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #6 ROYAL SHIP (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #5 PARNELLI (4-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He has run well enough of late and will likely be in the mix to hit the board.
• #2 KISS TODAY GOODBYE (15-1) may be the kind of horse that can make this race worth betting. He will need to outrun the odds, but he’s been running against solid horses. If the contenders get cooking up front maybe this one can dink into the exacta and boost payouts.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 5 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 10

Post: 5:38 PM PT; $61k Maiden Special Weight going 6 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 13

• #11 SINGLE TRACK MIND (5-1) gets the top selection. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #7 BOLT SUPREMACY (6-1) seems to fit well enough here. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #6 ACQUIRED CLASS (4-1) will likely have a say in the outcome of this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #9 GIOVINAZZO (12-1) is a solid value at 12-1. Although this group is lightly raced, this one comes into the race in top form and has speed figures that would win this contest here.

Selections: 11- 7 – 6 – 9

Watch and Wager on Horse Racing

Horse racing runs 365 days a year and has offerings across the globe. To watch and wager on the action check out affiliate betting sites including DRF Bets, TVG (BetOnline), and TwinSpires.

Betting News has several free tips and tools that can assist all levels of bettors in finding horses to build wagers around.