Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 2-Battle School (Race 4)
The Santa Anita Spring meet concludes today (a day later than scheduled due to the Thursday afternoon power-outage issues). There are mandatory payouts in all pools!
Race #1: Selections: 6-4-2
6-American Glory was outrun in both starts this campaign but takes a sizable class plunge this afternoon, dropping from starter allowance N3L to today’s $30k claiming tag, and has enough positional speed to get involved early on with Ayuso. A multiple winner over the track and distance, 4-Empire Classic drops back to the level he just missed when coming up a neck short, earning an (81) par grass Beyer. Trainer Mike Puype closes out a solid meet. 2-Dealers Special likely needed that last run off the seven-month freshening when a non-threatening fifth, but can move forward today on the class drop.
Race #2: Selections: 1-2-5
1-Dancing With Shari has shown some ability with a pair of late-closing thirds to start her career, and then finished a wide, non-threatening, well-beaten sixth in the last try on May 30. Today, she takes a sizable class drop from Maiden Claiming $50k down to today’s bottom $12,500 level, and this filly sports the field’s swiftest main-track Beyers. 2-Susie’s Loaded finishes a much-improved second at 34-1 with newfound early zip at this level on May 16, and she’s a logical win threat if she can repeat or improve upon that encouraging effort. 5-Howmanymoretimes goes turf to dirt while dropping in for a first-time tag in start number two, after breaking slowly and racing wide in her grass debut. The 3-year-old filly is by Grade 1 winner Graydar and should improve on dirt.
Race #3: Selections: 1-8-2
1-Big Vengeance is a nine-start maiden who exits a career-best finish and Beyer (67) with a much-improved third at 65-1. The gelding fits well if able to replicate that effort and should enjoy today’s better post after three straight outside draws. 8-No Joke Antares finished an even sixth off the nine-month layoff on May 25, but is likely to move forward today on the stretch-out, second off the bench, and this gelding ran well going this one-mile trip at Del Mar last August. 2-Throwthefirstpunch has run some Ok efforts at this level in the last pair for Team O’Neill, but was behind the top choice in the last.
Race #4: Selections: 2-7-4
2-Battle School was a voided claim at Churchill on debut back in June 2025, finishing third after a troubled trip; this 4-year-old gelding returns for Michael McCarthy at this $20k maiden-claiming level off a steady work tab. McCarthy is 10-for-28 (26%) with a positive ROI among sprint dirt returnees of >180 days over the past five years. The George Papaprodromou-trained 7-Cano for the Win makes career try number thirteen today, returning off a nine-month layoff, and lays over this field, as far as main track speed figures go, if ready to fire fresh. This barn is only 1-for-29 with horses returning off >180 days in dirt sprints the past four years, however. 4-Chapter One goes turf-to-dirt on the class drop, adding blinkers, looking for a form reversal for Team O’Neill. The gelded son of Yaupon has enough early zip to clear this field if sent by Jaramillo, who probably will do just that.
Race #5: Selections: 1-2-8
1-Bee Eye Gee had little stretch punch to offer in his most recent try, but drops in class this afternoon and has run some grass Beyers that match up well here. The 5-year-old gelding should get the right pocket trip behind the frontrunners today. Both of his grass tries to start his career were average, but 2-Day At the Track deserves another chance, returning to that surface today on a class drop and making his second try off a 10-month layoff. 8-Precision (GB) returns to turf after a disappointing main-track sprint try on May 9, still seeking his first Stateside win. The gelding continues to work well over the synthetic course and should get a better pace set-up this afternoon.
Race #6: Selections: 5-4-7
5-Decisive Win was a dominant 5 ½-length winner in start number two on the stretch-out for Team O’Neill with a lofty (90) Beyer and looks primed to tackle stakes competition in career start number three. The $600k Nyquist colt figures to go gate-to-wire again in here at a short number. 4-Secured Freedom drops out of three straight graded stakes into this softer spot today for conditioner Tim Yakteen, and the colt’s recent bullet five-furlong drill on June 5 catches the eye. Rosario on. 7-One More Freud was a troubled trip seventh after a slow start in the Pat Day Mile (G2) and now heads west for his first Southern California start. The Tonalist colt looked to have a bright future after a blowout 14 ½-length maiden score at Saratoga on debut and a short-priced Sapling S. score at Monmouth in start number two.
Race #7: Selections: 5-8-9
5-Hey Lil Lady was a game turf sprint winner when last seen back on Feb. 8 for trainer Bob Hess and has had plenty of recovery time for this afternoon’s return to action. The 4-year-old filly grabbed the lead early on in that event, something she hadn’t done in previous starts, but she may be best served sitting off today with Berrios in what’s projected to be a lively tempo. The D’Amato-trained 8-Nikolina kicked away to a decisive 3 ½-length win on April 19, and that event has since produced three next-out winners. The 4-year-old filly has been much-improved since switching to the sod and should sit another favorable stalking trip. The other Hess runner is 9-Miss Mandalay (GB), who returns off a 10-month layoff and has proven she can fire fresh. She lures Hernandez off the bench and has looked well in her a.m. morning drills.
Race #8: Selections: 7-2-1
Thanks for playing and following along this Spring meet! We’re back at it Friday, June 19, for opening day of the Los Al Thoroughbred meet, which runs to July 5.
The Mark Glatt-trained 7-Warm Sun and Brew has never been off the board in six lifetime starts (6-1-4-1) and is also shortening up in distance today while just falling short on April 4 in a race that’s produced three next-out winners. The gelding’s versatile running style gives Fresu plenty of options. 2-Frank Bullit got a better post with the race re-draw and is a logical fit in the Monday afternoon nightcap, exiting back-to-back close-up grass sprint second-place finishes at this level and co-topping the field’s best last-out turf Beyer. The 4-year-old gelding switches to red-hot Rosario. 1-Sogo Di Vino goes dirt to turf on the turnback for trainer Peter Miller, while returning off a nine-month freshening for a good layoff barn.
