Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 6-Stars Hallow (Race 5)
Race #1: Selections: 6-8-4
6-Miss Meagher (Ire) exits a best last-out and career-top Beyer (80) with her most recent second on Nov. 24 over a pair of today’s returning rivals and gets the tepid vote in the Thursday opener to kick off 2026. A voided claim back in mid-October, 8-Baela stretches out for the first time this afternoon for owner/trainer Team Baffert and has run par for this class level in multiple efforts sprinting. 4-Giggle Giggle steps up in class off the Nov. 14 claim for conditioner Wayne Baker and has run well routing over this grass course. The 4-year-old daughter of Practical Joke projects to get a live race flow to close into and owns the field’s best last pace figure.
Race #2: Selections: 3-2-1
3-It’s Time drops in class for this afternoon’s all-important third career try for trainer Ryan Hanson, with the addition of Lasix, and projects to be on or close to the lead this afternoon. 2-Another Juanito goes route to sprint, second off the bench, and also adds Lasix today for conditioner Victor Garcia. The 3-year-old gelding was second when facing this caliber two-back at Los Al and is a logical fit here. 1-Trail Blaze was trounced in his lone try over this main track but adds Lasix off a recent runner-up at Los Al two weeks ago, and a repeat of something resembling that (53) Beyer would probably be quick enough to win this weak $32k maiden claimer.
Race #3: Selections: 2-6-5
2-Vicky Lynn was hard to load, hopped at the start, and finished a non-threatening sixth in her well-backed Nov. 7 unveiling. The Grazen filly adds Lasix today for start number two and is eligible to move forward in start number two. 6-Cash in Toknight has run well enough in all three career tries for Team O’Neill and adds Lasix today for the initial try over the Santa Anita turf course. 5-Marla Hooch (by Om) also debuts with Lasix for the D’Amato barn off a series of steady synthetic drills. This barn is below-average 5 for 54 (9%) but with a positive $2.06 ROI with turf sprint first-time starters at Santa Anita the past five years.
Race #4: Selections: 5-6-7
Plagued by layoff lines throughout his limited career, the speedy 7-year-old gelding 5-Handsome Ticket has not been out in 11 months and returns for a reduced $10k tag today for trainer Mark Glatt. He’s tough to trust at short odds, but has run well off extended breaks in the past. 6-White Mountain returns off a seven-month freshening for trainer Ryan Hanson for a career-low claiming tag, and both of his dirt starts at Santa Anita resulted in a win and a second-place finish—albeit going one mile. The Andy Mathis-trained 7-No More Ding Dongs is a logical fit based on his two most recent main track sprint Beyers (75,71).
Race #5: Selections: 6-9-4
6-Stars Hallow was no match for Libel Proof in her Nov. 7 unveiling for trainer Dan Blacker, but held the place spot in a solid debut effort. The sophomore daughter of Clubhouse Ride adds Lasix for career try number two and should prove tough on or close to the lead with any normal second-out progression. A beaten favorite in last, 9-Balaza is slowly improving for Mullins, and makes the all-important third career start this afternoon with the addition of Lasix. 4-Long Range Pursuit rallied belatedly for fifth and now tries turf for start number two.
Race #6: Selections: 2-1-6
Class dropping 2-Rousing Jewel goes second off the claim for trainer George Lopez and just missed by a nose at Los Al when last trying this level two back. The 6-year-old mare stretches out today and projects to fall into a cozy front-end trip. Two sprints to a route 1-Big Celebration drops in for a career-low claiming tag today, making the third start of the form cycle, and has run well over the Santa Anita main track for Mullins, evidenced by her (6-2-2-0) mark. 6-Ryan’s Girl rounds out a logical top three for the Papaprodromou barn on the class plunge, removal of blinkers, and stretch out. The 4-year-old filly is reunited with Kimura and figures to fall into a favorable stalking trip.
Race #7: Selections: 4-8-2
East Coast invader 4-Gratefully is 3-for-3 to start her career, including a game nose win with a lofty (89) Beyer in her most recent try Oct. 26 at Aqueduct. This 4-year-old filly should prove tough in her first Southern California appearance if able to transform her top efforts out here. The addition of Rispoli is a positive sign. The blinkers come back on for 8-Bit’s Tiger Magic, who has only been off the board once in seven lifetime starts (7-4-1-1) for trainer Peter Miller and returns today off a 2 ½-month mini-freshening. 2-Donttellourwives was beaten by double-digits in both grass sprint tries, but the first race came on debut and the second in the G3 John. C. Harris back in late September. Both are forgiving efforts for the 4-year-old filly, who returns off the three-month freshening for trainer Leonard Powell, off a sharp work tab, and lures Hernandez off the bench.
Race #8: Selections: 3-5-4
3-Dial a Friend ships in off a series of 1,000-yard tries under the lights at Los Al and looks fast enough to clear this field from the get-go for trainer Jesus Mendoza. Buried deep in the past performances is a solid win in his sole try over this main track, and I’m encouraged to see Berrios take the call this afternoon. 5-She’s Splendid steps back up in class off a strong four-length romp at Los Al on Dec. 7, where she earned the field’s best last-out Beyer (67). Kimura is back for the return mount. 4-Empress of Grace goes for her third straight win this afternoon for trainer Steve Knapp, dropping from a $25k tag to today’s $10,000 level.
Race #9: Selections: 2-11-9
A six-time winner over this turf course, the 10-year-old veteran gelding 2-Jetovator is in super form, exiting a recent win and runner-up effort over this strip two back. The Peter Eurton-trained gray shows no signs of slowing down, and this is the horse to beat off that far-superior best last-out (90) Beyer. A multiple winner over the track and distance, 11-Grazed goes dirt to turf for Miller and has run far better races on grass over his career. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo gets the mount, recently moving his tack from Florida to Southern California. 9-Jaguar Jon was not nearly as sharp in both his turf tries, but his fourth-place finish two-back was better than it looks on paper when facing a trio of today’s returning rivals. He has good gate speed to coincide with today’s outside draw and may offer some value this afternoon.
