Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 2-Otto’s Magic (Race 5)
Race #1: Selections: 6-5-2
6-Church Lady (Ire) rallied strongly for the place spot despite clipping heels mid-stretch when in tight, and now makes her second start off the mini-freshening for D’Amato. 5-Newport Dreamz goes two sprints to a route this afternoon for trainer Tim Yakteen and figures to be situated on or close to the lead today on the stretch out. The 4-year-old daughter of Danzing Candy sports the field’s best last-out grass Beyer (69). A beaten favorite in her last three tries, 2-With Love (GB) goes second off the claim for the Papaprodromou barn this afternoon, stretching back out, after rounding out the superfecta when breaking a step slowly on Feb. 13. These connections are a strong 6-for-18 (33%) with a $2.93 ROI the past four years with this claiming angle in grass routes.
Race #2: Selections: 1-3-2
1-Gilchrist was a solid third on debut on Jan. 15 with a (58) Beyer (when behind Milbo Baggins) and is a logical threat with any normal second-out progression. Trainer Monty Meier is 5-for-16 (31%) with a lofty $6.35 ROI with second-time starters. He’ll need to negotiate the tricky rail, draw, however. 3-Milbo Baggins just missed by a nose on the switch to dirt on the turnback and class drop on Jan. 15. The 4-year-old gelded son of Sir Prancealot makes his second start off the eight-month layoff and figures to be a handful, making his second try at the $50k maiden claiming level. 2-Hungover (by G1 winner Halladay) has trained well for today’s unveiling for conditioner Ryan Hanson and lures Kimura at first-asking.
Race #3: Selections: 3-5-6
Two sprints to a route 3-Issa Court exits a sharp second on Feb. 14 and returns to the one-mile trip this afternoon, where she sports a career 8-3-1-2 mark at the distance. The 8-year-old mare shows no signs of slowing down for trainer Bob Hess and should prove tough to reel in late. The Paddy Gallagher-trained 5-Sakura Flavor (Ire) has run well in his last two turf routes, exiting a game win on Jan. 31. The 6-year-old mare is a potential repeat candidate with a similar upfront-pressing stalking trip. 6-Crossanna goes dirt to turf on the class drop today for trainer Ron Ellis, and his turf Beyers (75,76) two and three back against starter allowance rivals match up well here.
Race #4: Selections: 1-5-4
1-Uffda kicked clear to a decisive 4 ¼-length win on Jan. 24 with the return to this 5 ½-furlong trip over the Santa Anita course. This mare’s career-best (88) Beyer is clearly tops in this field, and anything resembling that last gate-to-wire score makes her the horse to beat again. She figures to be hustled along from the fence by apprentice Alfredo Bautista. The main threat to the top choice is likely 5-Sensational Z Z, who has hit the board in her last five tries, winning two of her last three starts for trainer Francisco Rodriguez. The filly returns to Santa Anita after a sharp 870-yard score under the lights at Los Al on Feb. 22. The ultra-consistent 4-Auditory has hit the board in eight consecutive races and sports a strong 6-3-2-0 mark over this course and 5-3-2-0 record at today’s 5 ½-furlong trip. The 5-year-old mare was runner-up to the top choice in last.
Race #5: Selections: 2-1-4
2-Otto’s Magic goes dirt to turf in start number four for trainer Phil D’Amato after finishing second in two of three career tries, including a recent second in an off-the-turf six-furlong effort back on Jan. 2. This juvenile is by Grazen (16% turf sprints) and should be ultra-tough this afternoon with formidable early zip on the surface switch. A “best of 27” bullet five-furlong synthetic work in :59.2 on Feb. 22, since that last sharp performance, adds to the appeal. 1-Little Raymond just missed when third in a blanket finish when closing stoutly while wide late on the switch back to grass on Jan. 31. The gelded son of Sir Prancealot must negotiate today’s rail draw, but switches to Kimura and figures to work out a favorable ground-saving journey. 4-Scene by Me returns off an eight-month layoff for Glatt after showing solid promise in his June 7 turf runner-up sprint debut over this course. He returns as a gelding today for the first try off the bench for a good layoff barn.
Race #6: Selections: 7-4-2
7-Billy Jo Shaver was trounced in his last allowance sprint try when eased and walked off the course, but gets back on dirt today, drops to a career-low $10k claiming level, and adds blinkers for the third try of the form cycle. 4-Tee N Off goes first off the claim for conditioner George Lopez after flashing speed and tiring going longer on Feb. 8. This barn is a solid 3-for-10 (30%) with a lofty $3.98 ROI the past three years with new barn acquisitions, and Kimura has been aboard for both career victories. 2-Binging returns to the main track this afternoon after facing much classier foes the last several starts and has never been offered this cheaply.
Race #7: Selections: 1-2-4
The 5-for-8 multiple stakes-winning 1-Thought Process returns off a six-month freshening for trainer Phil D’Amato and has proven she can fire fresh. This 4-year-old daughter of Collected is 5-for-6 at today’s one-mile trip, figures to grab the lead from the rail draw, and is reunited with winning pilot Hector Berrios. 2-Grand Slam Smile has never been off the board in 17 tries (10-6-1) but has never scored at the graded stakes level (albeit in her defense, she’s only tried once). This super talented daughter of Smiling Tiger sports the field’s best last-out (86) turf Beyer after a nice winning downhill sprint stakes win to start the 2026 season in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint S. The 12-time winning 4-Princesa Moche (Per) has won three of her last four starts, including a win in the G3 Jan. 31 Megahertz.
Race #8: Selections: 8-1-4
8-Dakota’s Shadow trounced maiden claimers by 7 ¼ lengths in career start number two on Jan. 9 for Mullins with a field’s best (68) Beyer with the addition of Lasix, and is a good fit for today’s first crack against winners at this $25k level. Her stablemate, 1-Darlin Sugaree, has a win and back-to-back runner-up finishes since switching to dirt. The Maximus Mischief filly makes her second try off the mini-freshening today and her second time with Lasix. 4-Tammy Baby broke through in career start number six on Jan. 23 when defeating 50k maiden claimers for Bonde and has fired back-to-back four-furlong synthetic bullets on Feb. 11 and 19 since that last win.
Race #9: Selections: 1-5-4-2
1-Novita Dominga’s pre-race antics when tossing her rider in the tunnel may have left this well-bet filly with too much to do when a well-beaten eight on debut Jan. 31. She has trained well since then for Sadler and is eligible to improve quickly with that racing experience behind her on today’s stretch out. The daughter of top sire Not This Time must negotiate the rail draw again, however. Her stablemate, 5-Red Cherry, goes two sprints to a route today after flashing good speed in both local tries (on dirt and turf). She’s by G1 winner Rock Your World and should relish two turns. 4-Nerida (Fr) is an interesting import for conditioner Leonard Powell. The 3-year-old filly is by G1 winner Zelzal and finished 3rd of 14 at 61-1 in her debut five months ago overseas and has trained sharply for her U.S. unveiling over the Santa Anita synthetic course. Lasix on. The Richard Mandella-trained 2-Lerios (by Into Mischief) stretches out today for her second grass try, exiting the same race as the top choice, and is another filly that can improve with the additional real estate.
