Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 10-Little Opal (Race 9)
Race #1: Selections: 8-2-7
8-Heroic Dose comes off a pair of runner-up turf route finishes at this level for Mullins and is likely to be set for his best, third try of the current form cycle. 2-Dr. Filkins ran a better-than-looks sixth last time after a troubled journey in multiple spots and has had a handful of efforts that give him a chance today, second off the bench. 7-Doing Time has had many chances and makes career start number 15 today, but drops in for a first-time tag and gets a rider boost with Rispoli.
Race #2: Selections: 1-5-3
A perfect 2-for-2 over this course, 1-Piper’s Causeway returns to dirt this afternoon on the class plunge for the Uranga barn and projects to get a favorable trip on or close to the lead today. A beaten favorite fourth in last 5-Gypsy Tears goes second off the claim today and can also improve with the change of venue. If this 7-year-old can run back to that solid score three-back on Aug. 2 when he earned an (82) Beyer and defeated multiple next-out winners, he’d be very tough in this spot. 3-Mic’s Express shortens up to a sprint and goes second off the Antonio Garcia claim.
Race #3: Selections: 2-6-4
The multiple Grade 3-winning 2-El Potente looks like he might get first jump on the confirmed closers and is 6-for-10 over the Santa Anita lawn for conditioner Dan Blacker. The hard-hitting 7-year-old was right there in the blanket finish in the Aug. 22 Del Mar Derby (G2) with several of these and can perhaps turn the tables with a better draw, second off the bench. 6-King of Gosford (GB) has won two straight, including the aforementioned Del Mar Derby, topping his career earnings at $1 million. A (9-5-1-2) mark over the SA turf makes this 5-year-old the horse to beat again. Juddmonte’s 4-Detain (Ire) has improved Beyer-wise in every start since arriving Stateside for trainer Michael McCarthy, and another progressive move forward could land him his first graded stakes score.
Race #4: Selections: 1-4-6
1-Liam Smith sped clear to a dominating 12-length romp and a (107) main-track Beyer on Aug. 27 at Del Mar going 6 ½ furlongs and was claimed that afternoon by the Miller barn. The lightly-raced sophomore colt has won 3-of-5 lifetime starts and should take another here at short odds. 4-Clouseau looks like the main threat to the top choice, returning to his favorite venue where he’s 6-for-14 lifetime. The 6-year-old gelding has never been better and comes off two career-best efforts this campaign. 6-San Saba hasn’t been out since January 2025 but is a pricey $725k son of Justify from the Baffert barn who broke his maiden in start number two and has been sidelined since. The 4-year-old colt has trained well for his return to action.
Race #5: Selections: 3-8-9
The Mark Glatt-trained 3-Freedom’s Not Free has not run well in his last two starts, but both those efforts were at Del Mar routing. The 4-year-old colt is back sprinting today at his preferred venue (where he’s 4-for-5 over the lawn), and the son of Omaha Beach is likely to bounce back, reuniting with winning pilot Juan Hernandez. His stablemate is the Grade 2 winner 8-First Peace, who shortens back up in distance and is certainly capable of winning this with the right trip and setup. Rosario could prove to be the perfect fit. Don’t ignore. 9-Virat has good speed to coincide with his outside draw and may prove tough to reel in with an alert break. The question is whether 6 ½ furlongs proves to be too far against this caliber of competition.
Race #6: Selections: 3-9-5
3-Not So Merry Mary was a much-improved second moving to dirt in start number two for trainer Tim Yakteen when finishing in front of several of these and is a logical threat right back with another progressive move forward. 9-Savvy Tiger flashed speed and tired badly on debut for D’Amato but now switches to the main track for start number two and figures to be much tighter and improved in start number two. 5-Runaround Sue rallied for fifth at 36-1 behind the top choice on debut Aug. 30 and can improve this afternoon for a barn that’s 25 for 109 (23%) overall, $2.01 ROI, the past three years with second-time starters.
Race #7: Selections: 7-1-8
7-Atitlan rallied strongly from far back to just miss, finishing in front of several of these in the Aug. 29 Del Mar H. (G2), and should prove tough today, making the third start of the form cycle for conditioner Richard Mandella. 1-Mondego (GB) had no choice but to make a premature move into a sluggish pace in last and paid the price when tiring late to finish fifth (but only beaten a length) in the aforementioned Del Mar H. A multiple winner over the track and distance, the 6-year-old gelding can improve today moving back inside, switching to Hernandez, and likely getting a better trip. 8-Twirling Point restores blinkers this afternoon, and if he can get closer to the pace than in his last few starts, he has a decent chance of hitting the board at a big number.
Race #8: Selections: 9-8-1
Grade 1 Goodwood winner 9-Nevada Beach has not been seen since his disappointing, stumbling start in the Saudi Cup (G1) for Team Baffert, but has since regrouped, is training well, and should get the right pace setup to flatter his late closing kick with winning pilot Juan Hernandez back aboard. The 4-year-old colt has never been worse than first or second in four career starts at Santa Anita. 8-Caldera may look a bit over his head for Saffie, but he comes in here in top form, having won three straight at Colonial Downs by a combined 12 lengths with Beyers that have improved with each subsequent try this campaign. The other Baffert 1-Taif gets a stiff class test, but expectations were high for this 5-year-old Arrogate son, who cost $1.45 million at April 2023 OBS and finally got on track with a recent turf maiden win after excessive layoff disruptions.
Race #9: Selections: 10-4-3
The undefeated 10-Little Opal has looked solid in both career grass sprint wins for trainer Doug O’Neill and has backed up those visual performances with lofty turf Beyers (94,90) that are simply faster than anyone else in this field. A threepeat is well within reach, stretching out to 6 ½ furlongs. 4-Yours Sincerely (Ire) exits a sharp five-furlong allowance score at Del Mar on Aug. 2 for D’Amato and a career-best Beyer. She has had a trio of close-up finishes at the Grade 3 level as one of the most experienced fillies in this field and is dangerous here with a move forward. Spendthrift’s 3-Brave Deb returns off an 11-month layoff for Mandella and was nowhere to be found in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) when last seen. The G3 winner has since regrouped and will likely come back running, with Rosario taking the call on the daughter of Authentic.
Race #10: Selections: 3-10-5
The 5-year-old mare 3-Zuzu’s Classic Gal has run above par for this level in two of three career grass starts for Glatt and shortens back up to a sprint where she’s run second twice. A logical threat again. The Sadler-trained 10-Acclaim Perfection goes dirt to turf off a well-backed, non-threatening ninth and last on debut, breaking a step slow and racing wide thereafter. This daughter of Acclamation shows two decent synthetic drills since that unveiling and is likely to move forward today. 5-Helping Hand shortens back up to a sprint this afternoon, making the third start off the bench.
