The winter-spring racing season at Santa Anita Park started back in late December of 2025. A lot has happened in the world of thoroughbred racing since then, but things begin to come to an end starting on Thursday afternoon when the Great Race Place offers up the first of four cards to kick off closing week. Race 1 goes to post at 4 pm ET / 1 pm local time and includes a pair of $100,000 stakes. Here are the horses I plan to build my day around over the 9-race slate.
Race 5:
My first play comes in this MSW event for fillies and mares at one-mile over the grass where it appears relatively wide-open. 5-2-ML favorite #8 Cortina d’Amprezzo has had five chances already, including three in the States at 7-2 or lower and has failed to do better than third, while #7 Fire Ban is 0 for 10 despite 4 seconds. I do not trust them or the others that have competed in North America thus far, so I will turn to Irish-bred #5 Astronomically. The daughter of No Nay Never makes her first start since shipping overseas into the Paddy Gallagher barn. Gallagher is just 3 for 31 to start 2026, but the veteran trainer has meant business when he legs up jockey Juan Hernandez. This is evidenced by his 5 for 10-record over the last two years for a $9.52 ROI. Astronomically has to prove herself outside of Europe and on the move from synthetic-to-turf, but I like her chances to do just that against these.
Play: #5 Astronomically (4-1 ML)
Picks 5-1-7
Race 8: Affirmed
One of the two stakes on the special Thursday afternoon slate is this 1 1/16-mile event for 3YOs over the main track where it is likely to be wagered on like a two-horse race. #4 Decisive Win holds the pace advantage and a fast last race over this surface to break his maiden for complete fun, but #3 Secured Freedom holds the class edge. The Practical Joke colt was on the Triple Crown Trail in Southern California for trainer Tim Yakteen before opting to try the cutback in the Pat Day Mile (G2) on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Secured Freedom broke well that day and ran fine finishing fourth beaten seven lengths, but just happened to run into arguably the two best 3YO’s in the country. Crude Velocity won that day, but runner-up Englishman returned the favor last weekend with a massive win in the Woody Stephens (G1) at Saratoga. Yakteen takes the blinkers off Secured Freedom for the first time on Thursday, stretches him back out to a route of ground, and legs up Joel Rosario. He is a quality horse that has tackled better than he encounters here. I am expecting this colt’s to visit the winner’s circle for the first time since his maiden score.
Play: #3 Secured Freedom (8-5 ML)
Picks 3-4-1
Race 9:
My final play of the day comes in this state-bred first-level allowance over the Hillside Turf Course where there is a serious lack of early speed signed on. #1 Maker and Sons is the likely pacesetter, but breaks from the rail and has done all of his best running thus far on dirt. Therefore, I want a horse that can sit just off the pace, take control at the top of the lane, and take advantage of the probable race shape. I will hope it is #9 Sogno Di Vino. The son of Vino Rosso makes his first start since late September ’25 for Peter Miller. The 4YO gelding has done most of his running at two-turns and has had a number of chances over the grass, but never over this unique configuration. With the likelihood he is a bit keen off the layoff, I expect him to be sitting second or third early under Juan Hernandez. If he finds that spot, he should be in a perfect position to take advantage of favorites that could be up against it given race dynamics. The price should be right to take a swing in the finale.
Play: #9 Sogno Di Vino (12-1 ML)
Picks 9-10-8
.svg){kind=logo}
