In addition to the great stakes action in Northern Kentucky and Louisiana this afternoon, the racing continues at 1PM local time at the Great Race Place. The Santa Anita Saturday slate is 9-races headlined by the San Luis Rey (G3) at 10-furlongs over the grass. Here are a few horses I like most today in Arcadia. The Sunset 6, matching the final 3 races at Gulfstream and Santa Anita today, has a $10,767 carryover and includes a pair of my key plays on the card.
Race 1
The opener is a MSW for 3YO fillies at 1 1/8-miles over the Santa Anita turf and I have quite a bit of interest in second-time starter #1 Mass. The Not This Time filly did not do any real running on debut going a route of ground over the main track, but took noticeable public support throughout the wagering. It is not as if Whitey sports strong numbers debuting horses in two-turn dirt races, so I made note. Now, McCarthy moves this $610k FTS August ’24 purchase to the grass and legs up Juan Hernandez. Her pedigree suggests a move forward could certainly come on the surface switch and she draws favorably along the inside for her second career start. Hopefully we get at least the ML offering.
Play: #1 Mass (5-2 ML)
Race 8
#3 Code Duello has proven to be a cool horse throughout his 37-race career. Not only has he won 5 of 16 over the turf, but he has won at night at Los Alamitos in an 870-yard contest, as well as at one mile over the Fair Grounds lawn. He has certainly proven versatile over the years and last time almost did so again when he opted to stalk off the pace, instead of go to the front like he did in his most recent victory in mid-January. I thought he ran well to finish third beaten less than a neck versus better going 6.5-furlongs on February 21 and now moves back to the main track. Hector Berrios stays onboard and should be able to find a perfect stalking spot just off a contentious early pace. I will take my chances he gets back to his best on surface switch.
Play: #3 Code Duello (3-1 ML)
Race 9: San Luis Rey (G3)
The aforementioned feature at 1 1/2-miles over the lawn has a noticeable lack of early speed enters. There is a chance that leads to a bunched field early and sprint to the wire late that benefits those with strong closing kicks, but I will take my chances in a horse that might be able to steal it on the front end. #8 Watsonville (pictured) makes his third start off the bench for trainer Mark Glatt after a pair of solid runs going a mile over this course to start 2026. Glatt sheds the blinkers and legs up Hall of Famer Mike Smith on the 2-time winner of this course. I am hopeful and fairly confident Smith will notice that lack of speed to his inside and give this gelding an aggressive ride early much like he has with Cabo Spirit throughout the last few years in shorter races. Hopefully, he has the stamina to get the marathon distance. The value should be there to gamble.
Play: #8 Watsonville (12-1 ML)
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