It is a huge weekend at Santa Anita Park that kicks off with a Pick 6 carryover on Friday, includes the biggest 3YO race of the year in California as part of a massive 12-race card on Saturday, and offers up mandatory payouts in all pools on Sunday!

To celebrate the stakes-laden slate on Saturday, 1/ST BET and Xpressbet have added Hit & Split opportunities throughout the day. Two million 1/ST Rewards Points in the early Pick 5, one million in the middle sequence, and two million more in the late Pick 5 that includes the feature. To take advantage it is as simple as just registering on the new promotional landing page. Here is I plan to attack the Late Pick 5.


Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.


Race 8:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 4 Silver I Am; 7 Beer Buzz
Backups: 8 Non Domicile; 12 Gemini Buzz; 1 Oakley’s Smile

Forecast: The sequence kicks off with a CA-bred MSW event at 6-furlongs over the main track where #7 Beer Buzz is the clear one to beat. The Stay Thirsty gelding tried hard to the wire chasing a 4-5-lone speed horse on debut and gets blinkers for his second career start. If he moves forward, he will be very tough for this group to beat, but I am not totally in love with the equipment change after such a promising first effort.

I made #4 Silver I Am my top choice. The Kantharos gelding was caught wide throughout in his debut over the grass in mid-February for Phil D’Amato. D’Amato is 3 for his last 16 with second-time starters moving from turf-to-dirt and this guy had absolutely no chance over the sod last out. I will include a pair of first-time starters that could offer immediate separation in the sequence as backups in #1 Oakley’s Smile and #8 Non Domicile, as well as second-time starter #12 Gemini Buzz, who gets blinkers this time from trainer Ryan Hanson.




Race 9:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 10 Private Gem
Backups: None

Forecast: Despite the large field, this appears to be a two-horse race between 3-1-morning line favorite #4 Uncle Chilly and 7-2-second choice #10 Private Gem. Uncle Chilly is likelier to hit the board, but has lacked a will to win throughout his career with his only victory coming at 1 to 5 against just 4 rivals. On the other hand, #10 Private Gem has won 2 of 3 to start his career and finds a turf sprint where there is not that much speed signed on. Hopefully, Umberto Rispoli gets him out of the gate in good order once again. If so, he has a big shot to make it a perfect 2 for 2 over the grass.




Race 10: Santa Anita Derby (G1)
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 1 Journalism
Backups: 4 Barnes

Forecast: The field for this year’s Santa Anita Derby is compact, but very strong nonetheless. Not only does it include two of Bob Baffert’s best chances in this year’s Kentucky Derby, but also the consensus top choice heading into Saturday, #1 Journalism. The $825k son of Curlin was very good as a 2YO and then took his game to a new level last month off the layoff with his win in the San Felipe (G2). #4 Barnes was not really stopping that day, but instead it was Journalism going and getting his rival. The added ground should only benefit the Michael McCarthy trainee.

Most consider #2 Citizen Bull Baffert’s best chance in this race and in the Kentucky Derby next month, but I am not ready to give up on Barnes. Sure, he was beaten by Journalism last out with no excuse, but it was his first start going two-turns. I will include him as a backup since I expect him to get somewhat overlooked with most leaning one of the two top choices on the morning line. Remember, he is the one that needs to the points to get into the gates on the first Saturday in May.




Race 11:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 5 Miss Roberts; 1 Montjicav
Backups: 10 Nene Diamond; 11 Shocking Grey

Forecast: The pace should be contentious in this first-level allowance event down the hill, so I will lean on a couple of horses that hopefully can take advantage at nice prices. #5 Miss Roberts fits the bill. The 4YO filly is just 1 for 18 in her career making her tough to fully trust, but this is just her third start in the Jeff Mullins barn. Her gate issues have been a big problem leaving her with too much to do late, but I am hopeful Hector Berrios can avoid a terrible start and time things perfectly. #1 Montjica also intrigues, especially at her 15-1-morning line price. The Mark Glatt trainee has raced three times in the States with all coming at a route of ground. This may just be a prep since she has not raced since November, but do not be surprised if the cutback benefits her quite a bit.
#10 Nene Diamond is the deserving morning line favorite, but failed to take advantage of a very favorable trip last out. She should be there at the wire once again, but the extra half furlong may not be to her benefit. I will also use #11 Shocking Grey as backup. The Grazen mare has won three starts over this course and should be rolling late if the pace is hot.




Race 12:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 10 City Exile; 9 Cathal
Backups: None

Forecast: The Santa Anita Derby Day finale is at one-mile over the lawn and also has enough speed signed on to hopefully set things up for those from off the pace. #10 City Exile should rebound in a big way after a poor effort off the layoff on March 2. Juan Hernandez takes the call once again on the 5YO gelding, who has hit the board in 3 of 5 over this course and should find a favorable mid-pack spot in the early stages. I also like #9 Cathal. The No Nay Never colt may create his on trouble, but he has not had things his way in his two first two starts of 2025. I am willing to include him in here given the likely race shape.