Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 2-My Perfect Wave (Race 1)
Race #1: Selections: 2-3-6
2-My Perfect Wave lost all realistic chance of winning after stumbling badly at the start in her most recent try on April 30 and now takes a substantial class drop, second off the bench. The daughter of American Pharoah faced graded-stakes types this past winter and can bounce back this afternoon in this softer spot with a clean getaway. The obvious knock is the short price. 3-Sakura Flavor (Ire) has run back-to-back close-up seconds at this level in her last pair and is an obvious fit again this afternoon. 6-Newport Dreamz has run consistently well since moving to turf and exits a game win versus softer May 31. She’ll be forwardly placed.
Race #2: Selections: 1-3-6
1-Miz Clubcali drew off to a convincing win over a pair of today’s returning rivals (including Eltonsingsanother) and is now offered at a $10k tag for trainer Gary Stute. The 5-year-old mare posted a (72) main track Beyer in victory, which is above par for this class level. The additional real estate this afternoon only helps. 3-Eltonsingsanother has sharp positional speed but is 0-for-11 going six panels and usually gets leg-weary the last half-furlong. 6-Perfect Life ran well for the win off the May 9 claim, posting a lifetime best speed figure. Another move forward gives this filly a big chance this afternoon.
Race #3: Selections: 5-3-7
The Carla Gaines-trained 5-First Light (by Liam’s Map) showed solid early zip on debut before tiring late to finish third and should be a handful today with any normal second-out progression. Hernandez takes over for Rosario. Her stablemate 3-Hot Day Girl improved her Beyer by 40 points with the stretch-out in start number two despite breaking a step slow and rallying late to just miss the show spot. The daughter of Grade 1 winner Halladay should be all set for a top effort today in her third lifetime try. 7-Impressionistic finished a non-threatening fifth on debut but adds blinkers this afternoon on the stretch-out and can improve for Rosario and Powell.
Race #4: Selections: 2-4-1
If the Timeform pace projection proves correct, things should set up nicely for the race closers. 2-Mperfection has never run on dirt in 11 starts but is by Richard’s Kid (14% dirt routes), so one would think she’d handle the surface switch. If she does, she’ll be a big threat in the late stages of this main track route. 4-Clubhouse Bride goes two sprints to a route on the stretch-out today after finishing second off the April 24 claim for Ian Kruljac. The 5-year-old mare may fall into a favorable stalking trip behind the speed. The 2-for-35 1-Dorie Miller usually prefers to finish underneath, as evidenced by her (35-2-11-7) mark, but should be rallying strongly through the lane.
Race #5: Selections: 3-1-2
A multiple winner over the track and distance, 3-Grandisimo has finished second in back-to-back tries at this level and now goes first off the claim for conditioner Andy Mathis. This barn has above-average stats with new acquisition, and he figures to get another favorable stalking journey. 1-Mic’s Express was pounded by double-digit lengths in the last pair, but that was against considerably better rivals. Claimed for $2ok two back, the gelding is now in for $10,000 and switches to Rosario. 2-Mongolian Altai hasn’t been out since August of last year but has good gate speed and was a game winner before hitting the sidelines. The 6-year-old gelding has trained steadily for today’s return to action, but the barn is only 1-for-25 with horses returning off >180 days the past four years
Race #6: Selections: 1-7-3
1-Raging Inferno finished a much-improved second when returning off a six-month freshening for trainer Dan Blacker, a solid runner-up at this level on May 17 with the addition of Lasix, and figures to move forward off that try, second off the bench. 7-Divisible By was a non-factor on a wide trip seventh on May 30, but that was coming off a 500-plus-day break, and now drops in for a first-time tag, switching to Rosario. The 5-year-old maiden needs some pace to run into. 3-Fausto is hard to trust making career try number 11 this afternoon, with several close-up finishes on the resume, but has the turf route Beyers that match up well here, including a second at the one-mile trip two-back.
Race #7: Selections: 3-7-4
3-Lease Instead should appreciate moving further off the rail after breaking awkwardly from the fence on a well-backed May 24 debut for Team O’Neill. The daughter of Pavel returned to fire a sharp three-furlong gate drill on June 6, and this barn is above-average with second-time dirt starters. Rosario sticks for career start number two. 7-I’m Smoken Hot finished behind Thirsty Caitlin but adds blinkers today, moves from the rail to the far outside, and ran on determinedly through the stretch drive in an encouraging unveiling. Improvement likely. 4-Thirsty Caitlin is a logical fit, based on back-to-back seconds to start her career and a just-missed effort in the most recent try on May 23, when the race winner Free Closer came from dead last to nail her at the line despite missing the break by several lengths.
Race #8: Selections: 4-8-12
The Grade 2-winning 4-First Peace did little running in both starts in 2025, but is back training like his former self this campaign for conditioner Mark Glatt, and the course specialist can fire off the layoff. Although not a stakes winner, 8-Anmer Hall has been on a tear since Kentucky Downs last September, finishing first or second in four of five turf sprint starts, with the lone defeat coming when hitting the rail and pulled up. The 7-year-old gelding has run well over the downhill course, makes his second start off the mini-freshening, and has the turf figures to run with these. 12-Sumter must overcome the outside draw but was a winner of the Grade 3 San Simeon two back and then had major traffic issues in the American (G3), when blocked in heavy traffic in deep stretch. Three consecutive (92) Beyers make this 7-year-old gelding one of the top win candidates.
Race #9: Selections: 4-6-5
Not a huge fan of this $50k optional claiming sprint where I don’t necessarily feel confident with any of these gals. 4-Crazy Cami may be 1-for-20, but is a logical fit based on her last two dirt Beyers (66, 78) and sports the best late-pace figure of the group. If the second and third choice hook up early, she may be the beneficiary of the pace duel. 6-Surfin the Coast (by multiple Grade 1 winner West Coast) was a game 5-1 winner on debut May 2 for trainer Jeff Mullins and should get a favorable upfront-pressing trip for her first crack against winners. She’ll need to improve Beyer-wise, however. 5-Lady Gambita had no real excuse in her most recent try on May 10 when an even fifth. Rosario on.
Race #10: Selections: 1-3-6
1-King of Clubs is the price play here for trainer Mark Glatt. The 5-year-old gelding did little running when returning from an 11-month hiatus on May 16 but stretches back out to a 1 1/8 miles today, the distance he’s won at before, and will likely be sent from the rail. He is fast enough to dictate the flow of the race with Kimura if sent. 3-None Above the Law is winless since June 2024 and 0-for-16 on the Santa Anita sod, but lands in a pace-less affair for trainer Peter Miller and figures for a much closer, more up-front trip than he’s gotten in recent tries. The previously Chad Brown-trained colt 6-Atomic Age makes his first start for the D’Amato barn off an eight-month layoff and was a 12-1 maiden-breaking winner at Aqueduct when last seen last October. The Justify colt has trained sharply locally.
Race #11: Selections: 1-7-6
1-Mizumi was a sharp winner on debut for Team Baffert, and this daughter of Justify figures to be even better with this afternoon’s stakes-route assignment. The sophomore filly figures to be hustled along from the rail for position, switching to the barn’s go-to rider, Juan Hernandez. 7-Marjoram is undoubtedly more seasoned than the top pick, returning to dirt after a pair of turf sprints to start her 2026 campaign, but she will be coming from further back and may be a bit pace compromised. The Grade 3 Senorita winner won over the sloppy going on debut at Churchill and is also bred for two turns over the main track. The multiple graded-stakes placed 6-Bank Shot returns off the mini-freshening after a well-beaten third in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) but fired a “best of 40” five furlongs in :58.2 on June 6, indicating she remains in good form.
Race #12: Selections: 9-8-4
9-Butterfly Beach is on the improve exiting a runner-up finish at this level on May 8 and now makes the third try of the form cycle for trainer Neil Drysdale. Rosario takes over the riding assignment and has finished no worse than fourth in all 12 starts for this barn. 8-Vegas Nightclub broke slowly on debut after some gate antics in a well-backed main track sprint debut on May 2 and finished up fifth. The 5-year-old mare switches to turf today, adds blinkers, and figures to improve for excellent grass barn. 4-Sissy Girl is a 4-year-old firster by Smiling Tiger who debuts for trainer Paul Aguirre. Although it’s a small sample, this outfit has won with a 54/1 and 10/1 turf firster in the past five years and finished second at 18-1, holding a lofty $19.31 ROI. She has some decent a.m. drills on the resume.
