Scott Shapiro: Santa Anita Sunday Spot Plays
March 22, 2026
The racing week at Santa Anita Park concludes on Sunday afternoon with a 9-race card that commences at 1PM local time. The slate is headlined by the $100,000 Sensational Star for older Cal-breds down the Hillside Turf Course where I am on a price. Hopefully, I can get at least one of my three longshot plays home to close the week.
Race 1:
Most of the field in this state-bred MSW for Cal-breds at one-mile over the Santa Anita lawn has been exposed. That is not the case with #1 Throwin Heat. The Sir Prancealot gelding debuted last May for trainer Librado Barocio and did no running against a full field of 12 going one-turn over this same turf course. Throwin Heat has been given time since by Barocio, who brings the 4YO back off a steady series of local drills. I am going to trust this Barocio to have this guy ready for big improvement off the bench since he has had an outstanding winter. In fact, Barocio and his team have won with 3 of 6 in March and come into the day clicking at nearly 40% at the stand. Throwin Heat will not have to be much to make an impression against this group. Kyle Frey jumps aboard. The price should be right to gamble.
Play: #1 Throwin Heat (10-1 ML)
Race 3: Sensational Star
The aforementioned feature drew a compact group of five led by even-money favorite #3 Man O Rose. The Jeff Mullins trainee enters his first turf race of 2026 on a 5-race winning streak dating back to last September. He is the clear one to beat, but is simply faster on the dirt making him worth taking a swing against on the surface switch. I will do so with the longest shot on the board #2 Drop Um. The Far From Over colt moved back to the sod last out against an open company field of second-level allowance foes and ran huge all things considered chasing another Mullins horse to the wire at odds of 33-1. Admittedly, like the opener, this is a free swing on a Sunday Funday, but the value should be there on this Felix Rondan trainee.
Play: #2 Drop Um (15-1 ML)
Race 5:
This state-bred first-level allowance at 6.5-furlongs over the grass is one of the more wide-open races on the Sunday agenda. I will give a look to #8 Fibonaccis Ride. The Clubhouse Ride filly tried the lawn for the first time on February 27 in a two-turn race for trainer Antonio Garcia and ran a sneaky good fourth at odds of nearly 35-1. Garcia has been on a good run winning with 3 of 12 for a $3.43 ROI over the last 30 days and this gal should appreciate the cutback to one-turn. I am hopeful she puts it altogether and earns her first victory since her dominant debut score over the Los Alamitos main track in Sept ’24.
Play: #8 Fibonaccis Ride (12-1 ML)
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