Santa Anita Picks: San Luis Rey Stakes (3/21/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Sat Mar 21, 2026, 7:00 am ET
Read Time: 6 minutes
horses
The racing action from Santa Anita on Saturday features the San Luis Rey Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Santa Anita picks for the entire card!
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Santa Anita Full Card Analysis
Santa Anita Picks: San Luis Rey Stakes (3/21/2026)
Santa Anita Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 1:00 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 6 runners.
- #6 DARYA (8-5): Prime Win Player. Favorable class relief in this spot.
- #5 PHOTOGENIC (6-1): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
- #2 NERIDA (7-2): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Hard to argue with the recent races.
- #4 EGYPTIAN MISTRESS (15-1): Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge. Could be ready to hit a peak performance.
Selections: 6 – 5 – 2 – 4
The Plays
Win: #6 at 9-5
Exacta: 6/ 5,2,4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:33 PM PT; Maiden Claiming $21k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 5 runners.
- #5 LORENZO BERNINI (7-5): Prime Win Player. Barn has been solid.
- #2 REDIAL (4-5): Contender. Good race flow for this runner. Pereira and Eurton team up on this one.
- #4 BOSSING MO (6-1): Fringe Contender. Jaramillo puts this one in with a chance. Previous success in similar race types.
- #3 AUDIBLE SILENCE (10-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 5 – 2 – 4 – 3
The Plays
Win: #5 at 8-5
Exacta: 5/ 2,4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 2:05 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 5 runners.
- #3 COACH CRONIN (6-5): Prime Win Player. Fits well with this group. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #2 REFOCUS (2-1): Contender. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch. Seems to be up against the right competition.
- #4 MICI'S EXPRESS (4-1): Fringe Contender. Previous success in similar race types.
- #5 FIX IT QUICK (8-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. Could be griding down the competition late.
Selections: 3 – 2 – 4 – 5
The Plays
Win: #3 at 6-5
Exacta: 3/ 2,4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:37 PM PT; Maiden Claiming $26k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
- #4 ANOTHER JUANITO (5-2): Top pick. Should be able to work out a trip.
- #5 TEXAS WILDCAT (3-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Frey and Oviedo team up on this one.
- #2 MAP ME SEXY (2-1): Fringe Contender. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
- #1 TESS OF HEMET (9-2): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 4 – 5 – 2 – 1
The Plays
Win: #4 at 3-1
Exacta: 4/ 5,2
Santa Anita Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 3:09 PM PT; Starter Allowance $29k; 1 M Turf; Field of 6 runners.
- #1 SHE'S SPLENDID (2-1): Top pick. Top connections on the circuit with Hernandez and Galvin.
- #6 CATALINA COCKTAIL (7-2): Major Player. Berrios puts this one in with a chance. Comes home strong.
- #5 THIRSTY TRICKSTER (5-2): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #2 THERESASILVERLININ (3-1): Underneath. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 1 – 6 – 5 – 2
The Plays
Win: #1 at 5-2
Exacta: 1/ 6,5
Pick 3 (races 5-7): #1,6 with #5 with #1
Santa Anita Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:40 PM PT; Maiden Claiming $35k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
- #5 METTLER (2-1): Prime Win Player. Solid breeding for this spot. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #1 SURPRISE D' ORO (6-1): Fringe Contender. Running well of late. Stamina to be in the mix late.
- #2 LYNDEE'S DREAM (9-5): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
- #4 TINA'S PRINCESS (10-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.
Selections: 5 – 1 – 2 – 4
The Plays
Win: #5 at 5-2
Exacta: 5/ 1,2
Santa Anita Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 4:10 PM PT; Irish O'Brien Stakes $100k; About 6 1/2 F Downhill turf; Field of 6 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
- #1 GRAND SLAM SMILE (6-5): Best bet of the card. Antongeorgi and Mccarthy team up on this one. Barn has been solid. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #5 PRANCINGTHRUPARIS (5-2): Major Player. Running well of late. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #4 TAKE ANOTHER CARD (5-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
- #3 YOUNG LOVE (7-2): Fringe Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.
Selections: 1 – 5 – 4 – 3
The Plays
Win: #1 at 1-1
Exacta: 1/ 5,4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:40 PM PT; Starter Optional Claiming $37k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
- #6 MBAGNICK (8-5): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition.
- #5 HARD TO FIGURE (3-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
- #1 BALADI (8-1): Major Player. Should sit a good trip. The 94 speed rating is among the best in the field.
- #2 CHASIN MUNNY (20-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 6 – 5 – 1 – 2
The Plays
Win: #6 at 9-5
Exacta Box: 6,5,1
Santa Anita Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 5:10 PM PT; San Luis Rey Stakes $100k; 1 1/2 M Downhill turf; Field of 8 runners.
- #4 GOLD PHOENIX (7-5): Top pick. Berrios and Damato team up on this one. Fits well with this group.
- #2 TRULY QUALITY (5-2): Major Player. Running well of late. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #3 BALNIKHOV (9-2): Contender. Hernandez puts this one in with a chance.
- #5 MONDEGO (6-1): Contender. Recent races are solid.
Selections: 4 – 2 – 3 – 5
The Plays
Win: #4 at 8-5
Exacta: 4/ 2,3
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Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.
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