Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 2-On the Whim (Race 6)
Race #1: Selections: 7-4-2
The Monday Memorial Day holiday card program has three graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Gamely and Shoemaker Mile, and both are part of the late pick five.
The lightly raced 7-Septembersixtyfour rallied smartly to grab the place spot off a six-month layoff on April 25 over the downhill layout, and now returns to the straight course, second off the bench. The 4-year-old gelded son of Omaha Beach sports the field’s best last-out grass Beyer (87) and is a logical fit with a move forward this afternoon. The 7-time winning 4-Yacowlef (Ire) goes second off the Hector Palma claim and drops back down in class off an even fourth, facing better. 2-Shamrock Glitter (Fr) hasn’t been out in seven months and was a troubled trip eighth and last when stumbling at the start in his lone Stateside try last October. The 5-year-old was multiple stakes-placed in France, sprinting on turf, and lures Hernandez back off the bench.
Race #2: Selections: 6-2-1
6-Y’all Come just missed by a nose in a blanket finish as the odds-on choice in a short field on April 26, sporting the field’s best last-out main track Beyer (75). The 4-year-old gelding now goes first off the claim for trainer Jorge Farias, who has above-average stats with new barn acquisitions. The Mike Puype-trained 2-Fix It Quick goes two routes to a sprint on the class drop, while making his third start of the form cycle. Improvement is likely with Kimura getting the return mount. 1-Cupid’s Crusader shortens back up to a sprint today, exiting three consecutive third-place finishes at this level.
Race #3: Selections: 3-2-8
The Richard Baltas-trained 3-Manhattan Beauty finished a troubled trip eighth when running up on the heels of a rival when dropped to this level on April 26, and now adds blinkers this afternoon for her second try at this reduced $20k maiden claiming division. The daughter of Union Rags deserves another chance to break through today, for a red-hot barn. 2-Salty Sis ships in from Turf Paradise off three straight third-place finishes for conditioner Vann Belvoir and now drops in for a first-time tag for her initial try at Santa Anita. 8-Olivia (by War of Will) goes turf to dirt and drops again after a sharp runner-up when last seen back on Feb. 6 and goes second-time Lasix this afternoon. Some gaps in the gray filly’s work pattern are a little concerning, however.
Race #4: Selections: 7-4-3
The 1-for-18 class-dropping 7-Resolve has several sharp finishes underneath, but remains winless over the Santa Anita turf course. Perhaps the switch to Eclipse Award-winning pilot Flavien Prat can get the 4-year-old filly over the hump and back in the winner’s circle. 4-Going Deep was a game, gate-to-wire winner at this 1 1/8-mile trip back on March 27 when last seen and now steps back up in class off the Mark Glatt claim. The 4-year-old filly figures to get another favorable upfront-pressing trip. This barn is a strong 5-for-18 (28%) with newly acquired turf route purchases over the past five years. The Phil D’Amato-trained import 3-Lady in Paris (GB) makes her first Stateside try off an eight-month layoff, adds Lasix, and has trained well over the Santa Anita synthetic course in preparation for her U.S. unveiling. She’s likely to come out running for a barn that specializes in these types.
Race #5: Selections: 4-5-3
A proven dirt route runner, 4-Malarchuk ships in for his first Southern California stakes try for conditioner Michael McCarthy, exiting a sharp runner-up in the Casa Ford Sunland S. on April 5. Today marks his second try off the nine-month layoff, and the 5-year-old son of Nyquist has hit the board in 8 of 9 lifetime starts. He switches to Hernandez and projects to be on or close to the lead this afternoon. 5-British Isles returns to Santa Anita, where he took the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap two back, by an impressive 4 ½ lengths at this 1 ¼-mile trip, and picks up the red-hot Rosario, who has been rejuvenated since returning west. 3-Subsanador (Arg) is yet to get back to his Grade-1 winning form after two starts off the extended layoff, but makes his third try of the form cycle today for trainer Richard Mandella and is eligible to improve here after stumbling and losing all realistic chance in the Lake Ouachita S. at Oaklawn.
Race #6: Selections: 7-5-4
7-Rashmi returned off a year’s layoff to go gate-to-wire in the Grade 3 Wilshire when last seen back at the end of March and has trained well in the interim for conditioner Jonathan Thomas. The 5-year-old daughter of Oscar Performance stretches out an additional eighth of a mile, and figures to get another upfront-pressing journey with Kimura. The multiple Grade 2-winning 5-Thought Process is 6-for-9 lifetime (and a perfect 3-for-3 over the Santa Anita lawn) for D’Amato and exits a career-best grass Beyer (90) when last seen winning the Buena Vista (G2) over next-out winner Grand Slam Smile. A sharp five-furlong drill in :58.4 on May 18 indicates this filly is ready to roll off the mini-freshening. The streaking 4-Take A Breath (GB) exits back-to-back Grade 3 wins for Glatt but will likely need to find another 2 or 3 lengths for the threepeat.
Race #7: Selections: 1-3-2
The 11-time winning 1-Atomic Drop was trounced in the Kendrick Inaugural at SunRay Park in his most recent try on April 11, but drops back down in class this afternoon with his return to Santa Anita, where he ran well three and four back. 3-One Smokin Dude drops in class (second off the claim) after rallying for the place spot while earning the field’s best last-out Beyer (76) on April 24. Trainer Librado Barocio is 5-for-19 (26%) with a $3.16 ROI with dirt sprint second off the claim runners at Santa Anita the past five years. A winner of two of his last three starts, 2-The Big Cheeseola looked visually impressive kicking away in his most recent score, May 10
Race #8: Selections: 2-3-8
A beaten tepid favorite in last year’s edition, 2-Formidable Man returns in this competitive spot to kick off his 2026 campaign for conditioner Michael McCarthy after a decisive runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile before hitting the sidelines. The 5-year-old earned a career-best (100) Beyer to close out the year and is working like his 5-year-old season could potentially be even better. Prat is back aboard and guided this multiple Grade 1 winner to his debut maiden score way back in September 2023. Last year’s victor, 3-King of Gosford (GB), likely needed his last start when returning off an eight-month layoff while finishing third behind several of these. A likely move forward is forthcoming for the 7-time winner based on his most recent :59.2 synthetic five-furlong drill. The scratch of El Potente is likely to benefit the lightly-raced frontrunner 8-Call Me Cory, who steps into the deep waters, having won two straight grass routes for trainer Ryan Hanson, but will get a significant class test.
Race #9: Selections: 3-4-2
The lightly raced 3-Scene by Me (by Sir Prancealot) has never tried dirt but has shown solid early zip in his last pair of starts this 2026 campaign for trainer Mark Glatt and has looked fine working over the morning track in a.m. drills. The veteran 9-year-old gelding, 4-See Through It, is a 14-time winner and returns to Southern California after a trip to Oaklawn and Turf Paradise for trainer Peter Miller. He takes a sizable class drop this afternoon, switches to Rosario, and looks like a good fit at this level in this later portion of his career. 2-Refocus has proven to be equally effective on dirt and turf, and exits a game grass sprint win on April 17 for Team O’Neill.
Race #10: Selections: 4-9-8
4-Big Bill makes career start number 10 today, but was second in half of those grass starts for trainer Mark Glatt, exiting three consecutive runner-up finishes at this level. The 4-year-old gelding finished in front of three next-out winners in both of his last two starts. 9-Royal Rumor finished a much-improved second with better speed in start number two (when facing a trio of today’s returning rivals), and now makes the all-important third career try for conditioner Carla Gaines. The Palace Malice gelding returned to fire a “best of 101” four-furlong bullet in :46.2 on May 17. 8-Going Nowhere finished second at 9-1 versus similar on April 24, with a competitive turf Beyer for this class level and figures to get a favorable staking journey.
