Santa Anita Picks-Baffert Runners Out

There is a Kentucky Derby prep at Santa Anita this weekend. You can get our exclusive Santa Anita picks and analysis for the Robert B. Lewis here. However, that may not be the biggest news coming out of California on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Derby Plays Chicken and Loses

Horse racing’s most well known race was embroiled in a terrible controversy in 2021. Those watching and wagering watched Medina Spirit cross the line first and cashed their tickets. The next morning it was announced that the horse was disqualified for testing positive for a banned substance.

The end result was Mandaloun being crowned the unceremonious winner. Bettors who bet the horse were out of luck. Churchill Downs decided to send a message and banned the horse’s trainer, Bob Baffert. This included prohibiting his horse’s from earning Kentucky Derby points during the prep season.

Shadow Trainer

With owners wanting to have their horses run in the most recognizable race in the sport, many would wait until the final round of preps and quickly switch their trainer. Magically horses would end up with Tim Yakteen just in time to get the points and make the gate.

In 2024 Baffert remains banned. To curtail the late switch Churchill Downs ann0unced that this year any horses would need to be transferred by January 29. The date came and went last week and the owners stood behind the trainer, with 0 Derby contenders leaving his barn.

Superstar Sit Out

The result of Churchill Downs poorly calculated risk is the fact that viable Derby horses like Muth, Nysos, and Coach Prime will miss the first Saturday in May. While the target was the trainer, the real losers are the fans. The misstep is another in the long line of strategic decisions made by Churchill Downs Inc. that have angered horse players.

Full Card Analysis

Bet all of today’s selections with signup bonuses and promotions at BetDSI.

Santa Anita Picks- 1

Post: 12:15 PM PT; $67k Allowance going about 6 1/2 f on downhill turf; Entries: 8

• #6 ILLHAVEANOTHERKISS (6-1): Gets the top selection. She goes out for the O’Neill barn and gets Fresu in the irons. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #2 QUEEN OF POMPEII (3-1): Is a major player in this race. She has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #5 SONG OF SHADOWS (5-1): Is a major player in this race. She will run for the combination of Miyadi and Kimura. This one is the class of the field.
• #1 ISSA COURT (4-1): Will be competitive in this spot. She has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 5 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- 2

Post: 12:45 PM PT; $65k Maiden Special Weight going 6 1/2 f on turf; Entries: 7

• #2 ISLAND CRUISER (9-5): Gets the top selection. He shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. This one goes out for the Sadler barn and gets Berrios in the irons.
• #6 LAUGIER NIGHT (5-2): Should improve off the first start and has a shot in this race. He will run for the combination of Damato and Prat.
• #1 MR FABRICATOR (5-1): Is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #7 BARTHOLDY (5-2): Is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He will run for the combination of Callaghan and Dettori. This one runs races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 2 – 6 – 1 – 7

Santa Anita Picks- 3

Post: 1:22 PM PT; $25k Claiming going 1 m on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 HOTROD RIDE (6-1): Gets the top selection. He will likely get the right setup in this race. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #5 MONTANA (3-1): Is a major player in this race. He runs races good enough to beat this group.
• #6 DERECHO DANDY (5-2): Is a major player in this race. He runs races good enough to beat this group. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #4 CHICKASAW (7-2): Has a shot in this race. He will likely get the right setup in this race. This one makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 6 – 4

Santa Anita Picks- 4

Post: 1:52 PM PT; $100k Megahertz S. going 1 m on turf; Entries: 7

• #4 BELLABEL (3-1): Gets the top selection. She is likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 OAKHURST (6-1): Will be competitive in this spot. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has been running against decent company.
• #7 CLOSING REMARKS (5-2): Will be competitive in this spot. She has the top overall power rating in the group. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #1 MOUFFY (4-1): Isn’t without hope. She shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 7 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- 5

Post: 2:23 PM PT; $200k Robert B. Lewis S. going 1 m on dirt; Entries: 9

• #6 NYSOS (4-5): Gets the top selection. He will run for the combination of Baffert and Prat. This one runs races good enough to beat this group. Bet today’s best Best Bet at BetUS.
• #7 STRONGHOLD (6-1): Is a major player in this race. He shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #1 WINE ME UP (6-1): Is a major player in this race. He will run for the combination of Baffert and Hernandez. This one shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #5 COACH PRIME (5-1): Will be competitive in this spot. He goes out for the Baffert barn and gets Dettori in the irons. This one is likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.

Selections: 6 – 7 – 1 – 5

Santa Anita Picks- 6

Post: 3:00 PM PT; $67k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 f on turf; Entries: 10

• #8 SHE’S GOT A WAY (6-1): Gets the top selection. She is a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end. This one is the class of the field.
• #7 REAL FIRE (6-1): Is a major player in this race. She has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #9 DON’T JU FORGET (4-1): Is a major player in this race. She has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #10 MISS LIZZY (5-1): Is a major player in this race. She will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here. This one goes out for the O’Neill barn and gets Fresu in the irons.

Selections: 8 – 7 – 9 – 10

Santa Anita Picks- 7

Post: 3:30 PM PT; $25k Claiming going 1 m on dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 TOKAMAK (5-2): Gets the top selection. He runs races good enough to beat this group. This one will likely get the right setup in this race.
• #7 ARREST (2-1): Will be competitive in this spot. He is likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one goes out for the Dollase barn and gets Herrera in the irons.
• #2 TAHOE SECRETS (8-1): Has a shot in this race. He will likely get the right setup in this race.
• #6 TAKE CHARGE CURLY (6-1): Isn’t without hope. He runs races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 2 – 6

Santa Anita Picks- 8

Post: 4:00 PM PT; $100k Thunder Road S. going 1 m on turf; Entries: 8

• #3 BALNIKHOV (8-1): Gets the top selection. He runs really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race. This one shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Bet the longshot play of the card at BetOnline.
• #2 PRINCE ABAMA (4-1): Is a major player in this race. He makes sense on speed figures. This one is likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #5 TIO MAGICO (5-2): Is a major player in this race. He runs really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #4 DANDY MAN SHINES (3-1): Has a shot in this race. He goes out for the Mullins barn and gets Rispoli in the irons.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 5 – 4

Santa Anita Picks- 9

Post: 4:30 PM PT; $200k Santa Monica S. going 7 f on dirt; Entries: 6

• #2 KIRSTENBOSCH (5-2): Gets the top selection. She shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #3 THREE WITCHES (9-5): Is a major player in this race. She has been running against decent company. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #6 HOT PEPPERS (5-2): Is a major player in this race. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #5 CHISMOSA (6-1): Will be competitive in this spot. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 6 – 5

Santa Anita Picks- 10

Post: 5:00 PM PT; $67k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 m on turf; Entries: 14

• #7 TRULY QUALITY (6-1): Gets the top selection. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #14 VANTASTIC (5-1): Is a major player in this race. He has been running against decent company. This one shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #13 MALIBU COAST (6-1): Isn’t without hope. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #12 HULA CANDY (8-1): Isn’t without hope. He is likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 7 – 14 – 13 – 12

Betting News Horse Racing Coverage

Betting News provides AI generated handicapping tools for all of the major tracks around the country each and every day.

In addition, Betting News will continue to provide in depth analysis of select racing cards throughout the week.

Saturday

• Oaklawn Park picks featuring the Grade 3 Southwest 
• Gulfstream Park picks featuring the current Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness in the Grade 3 Holy Bull
• Aqueduct picks featuring the Grade 3 Withers
• Santa Anita picks featuring the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis

*Denotes Kentucky Derby Prep 

Sunday

• Santa Anita picks featuring the Grade 3 Las Virgenes (Kentucky Oaks Prep)

Kentucky Derby Future Prop

Bet on your favorite horse to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby today. Also, check out our analysis of the top of the market in the Derby futures wagers. Bet the Kentucky Derby future pool on Bovada.

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