Saturday is Gold Rush Day at Santa Anita Park and that means a celebration of the California-bred over the 10-race card. The slate that kicks off at 1PM local time features five state-bred stakes events and a late Pick 5 sequence that includes 4 of them. And don't forget the Friday through holiday Monday $3,000 Late Pick 4 Hit & Split promotion for Santa Anita with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Let’s dive in.
Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.
Race 6: Fran’s Valentine
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 1 Sneaker; 2 Cornelia Fort
Backups: None
Forecast: The sequence gets rolling with this $100,000 one-mile event for the ladies over the lawn where #3 Prancingthruparis was made the 2-1-morning line favorite. The 4YO filly comes in off a pair of victories to start her 2025 campaign and makes plenty of sense, but it is tough to swallow a short price after seeing her cross the wire first at 38-1 and 11-1. She can win, but I prefer a pair of gals who should be a bit higher on the tote.
#1 Sneaker makes her third start of the form cycle for trainer George Papaprodromou after two third-place efforts to get her season started. She should appreciate getting back into the Cal-bred ranks after posting a career best effort against Grade 3 foes in the Royal Heroine. The inside draw adds to her case. I will also use #2 Cornelia Fort. The Grazen mare gets a sign of confidence from new trainer Andy Mathis. Mathis claimed her for $20k three weeks ago and moves her immediately back into the stake ranks. Antonio Fresu should fit her well.
Race 7: Melair
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 5 Sunset Grazen; 3 Om N Joy
Backups: 2 In the Air Tonight
Forecast: The first dirt race of the sequence is a bit tricky since it is at two-turns over the main track, but features mostly fillies that have been at their best sprinting or competing over the grass. Horses are capable of being fast on both surfaces, but it is more the exception than the rule. This makes it hard to get to 3-1-second choice #7 Miso Phansy. She brings the best resume in, but has no proven form over the dirt. The same is true of #1 Lady Mendelssohn, but she is a much bigger price. I still do not love her chances of moving up on the surface switch though.
The filly I trust the most to finish with energy is #5 Sunset Grazen. The Blaine Wright trainee won two races over the dirt at Pleasanton this summer and has proven she fits class wise at Santa Anita Park. She is the understandable 5-2-choice. #3 Om N Joy is the filly coming in with the best dirt form. The question is can she translate it to a route of ground. If she can, she probably wins.
Race 8: Crystal Water
Grade: X
Main Ticket: 4 Kings River Knight
Backups: None
Forecast: #4 Kings River Knight has won this race in back-to-back years for trainer John Sadler. He made his first start since last year’s victory in late March and got caught up in a three-horse duel going 6.5-furlongs. The Acclamation gelding failed to hit the board that afternoon, but shook off the rust setting himself up for a big effort second off the bench. The 10-time winner looks like a standout once again in this year’s Crystal Water.
Race 9:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 1 Sharp Ride
Backups: None
Forecast: The lone non-stake within the sequence is a 6-furlong dash for first-level allowance foes where 11-time winner #7 Lady Gregory is understandably listed as the significant 7-5-ML choice. The Jeff Mullins trainee struggled to find room along the inside last out over this course and missed by a nose when all was said and done. She merits serious respect, but I prefer #1 Sharp Ride. The Harris Farms’ homebred has been a better horse since trainer Dean Pederson added blinkers this winter. She got caught very wide on the turn in her return race at Los Alamitos before rattling off two impressive wins over this surface. She tried the grass last out, but moves back to her preferred surface and should be rolling late under Tiago Pereira.
Race 10: Snow Chief
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 5 Bro Bro; 7 Got Soul
Backups: None
Forecast: I will try to separate from the public in the final leg after with a pair of runners who have proven to appreciate going a route of ground thus far and should offer decent value.
#5 Bro Bro went to the lead last out and won for fun at odds-on, but he the son of Nyquist does not seem like a need the lead type. Umberto Rispoli will be back aboard and hopefully opts to sit just off the likely honest early pace. #7 Got Soul gets a class test, but ran better than looks in his win on April 4. The Sir Prancealot colt got stuck in a tough spot along the inside waiting for room and finally found it before it was too late. His margin of victory does not tell the entire story. Hopefully, he handles the increase in competition.
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