Santa Anita (Friday-10/30/2026) By Dean Keppler

Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner

BEST BET: 8-Proof He Goes (Race 5)

Race #1: Selections: 5-4-3

A wide-open $50k maiden claiming turf sprint for 3- and 4-year-old fillies kicks off the Friday afternoon early pick five, with multiple directions one could potentially go. None of these gals jumping up and winning would come as a shocker. We’ll start with 5-Awesome Olga, who shortens up to a sprint today after flashing some speed and tiring going longer, against similar and sports the field’s best last-out (58) grass Beyer. 4-Sissy Girl was trounced on dirt in her most recent try Sept. 25 but did have one good grass runner-up sprint effort over this course on debut back in June, which would make her a definitive win candidate against this suspect group. A vet scratch on Aug. 3.,3-Tropical Rain Day returns off an extended layoff for trainer Victor Garcia as a 12-start maiden with some speed and a handful of close-up finishes sprinting over the main track.

Race #2: Selections: 6-2-3

6-Clouseau is a 9-time winner and holds a double Beyer advantage over the rest of this field for conditioner George Papaprodromou. The 6-year-old gelding has hit the board in all four starts this current campaign and stretches back out to a mile today, where he earned a (99) Beyer two-back and a (101) Beyer 4-back at the distance. The Knapp-trained 2-Mega Moon goes two sprints to a route this afternoon and was a 3 ¼-length winner the last time he went the distance at Del Mar three-back. The son of Frosted is expected to lead here. His stablemate, 3-Joint Venture, is first off the claim and steps up in class after running a sharp second on Oct. 2, sandwiched between Mighty Kai and Majestic Palisades, both back today.

Race #3: Selections: 1-5-6

First off the claim, 1-Sogno Di Vino shortens up an eighth of a mile off an odds-on score Oct. 9, with a field’s best last-out (80) grass Beyer. A repeat well within reach for trainer Gary Stute, who has had a solid autumn meet from limited opportunities. 5-Miss Jo’s Curlin adds blinkers today after flashing good solid early zip and settling for second on Sept. 27. A multiple winner over the track and distance, 6-Jimmy Blue Jeans drops in class, second off the bench for the new barn.

Race #4: Selections: 5-4-1

5-Ahrens has won two straight for Sadler but has scratched twice since Aug. 1. The lightly raced son of Modernist has worked steadily in recent weeks and figures to be forwardly placed. His stablemate 4-Captivator has been off the board only once, stumbling in the Grade 2 Los Al Futurity, and drops out of the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx into this softer spot today, returning to the Santa Anita strip where he’s run well in both tries. 1-Gun Runner Charlie returns to Southern California after roughly six months off for Miller, but has proven he can fire fresh for a good layoff barn, and his six-furlong a.m. stamina drills indicate he’s ready to go.

Race #5: Selections: 8-1-7

8-Proof He Goes should sit a nice stalking trip behind likely Los Al speedster Chapter One for trainer George Papaprodromou and potentially take his third straight today, shortening up to five panels. The lightly raced son of Idiot Proof has proven to be effective on dirt and turf. 1-Prime Artist rallied for the place spot to best a pair of today’s returning rivals in last, earning the field’s best last-out turf Beyer (89) and figures to work out a ground-saving journey from the fence. Third behind Prime Artist in last, 7-Henry Adams adds blinkers back on today for owner-trainer Steve Knapp.

Race #6: Selections: 3-4-9

3-Zayda At the Spa closed well up the fence and galloped past the race winner in her first start over the Santa Anita strip on Oct. 16 at this $20k maiden claiming level for trainer Steve Knapp, and is this filly to beat here despite the less-inspiring (30) dirt Beyer she was assigned for that effort. 4-Icecream Ontheside has yet to hit the board in five starts for Miyadi but moves back to the main track today, drops in for a first-time tag, and is eligible to improve with the class relief. 9-Main Impact (by Epicenter) goes dirt to turf and drops in for a first-time tag for trainer Ryan Hanson. The juvenile filly projects to be forwardly placed today despite the outside draw.

Race #7: Selections: 1-3-5

1-Street Swindler drove clear for the 10-1 maiden win when switched to the turf in start number three for Glatt by 2 ¼ lengths with a lofty (84) Beyer, and now takes the next logical step up the class ladder looking for the handy repeat. 3-Delightful Laura can’t seem to hang on to any of her early leads and has surrendered the front in her last five straight for trainer Peter Eurton. The 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo makes her second try off the eight-month layoff today, and figures to be much tighter this afternoon, second off the bench. 5-Miss Meagher (Ire) goes second off the claim for trainer Wayne Baker and sports the best late pace figure in the field. The 5-year-old mare is a late threat on the turnback.

Race #8: Selections: 3-5-4

A half-dozen of these fillies exit the same Oct. 2 6 ½-furlong main track sprint. 3-Taking a Joy Ride was finishing best when runner-up and just coming up short for trainer Craig Lewis and should get another live race flow to close into this afternoon. The daughter of Clubhouse Ride switches to the more-than-capable Hector Berrios. 5-Redheaded Reba rallied for third behind the top choice as the tepid favorite on the turnback and surface change and will be making up ground again late. 4-Famous Forza goes turf-to-dirt off back-to-back close-up turf sprint finishes and should be able to make headway from the back if the quick projected race flow comes to fruition.

Race #9: Selections: 5-6-7

5-Character was a much-improved third, with a Beyer boost of over 30 points when switched to turf in start number two for trainer Peter Miller on Oct. 11, rallying for the third slot, and will now stretch out today for the first time. By Cyberknife (23% Turf Routes), the juvenile gelding has worked twice since that improved try and can move forward again with the additional real estate. 6-Federation is another colt who sprang to life when he hit the grass in start number two for Michael McCarthy, with a good second at 14-1 on Oct. 2. MyRacehorse and the Baffert-trained 7-Absolution finished third behind Federation in the aforementioned Oct. 3 event when closing up the fence. Another progressive forward move puts the juvenile colt right there.