The racing action from Santa Anita on Saturday features the American Pharoah Stakes Presented by DK Horse. @HandicappingT3 has all the Santa Anita picks for the entire card!
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Santa Anita Full Card Analysis
Santa Anita Picks: Saturday American Pharoah Stakes (10/05/2025)
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Santa Anita Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 1:00 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $61k; 6 F Turf; Field of 12 runners.
- #5 GLORIOUS LIFE (7-2): Prime Win Player. Barn has been solid. Solid closing kick.
- #4 ANDTHEOMOFTHEBRAVE (6-1): Contender. Comes home strong.
- #9 CULLEN J (8-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Could wear these ones down late.
- #12 CHECK’S ON THE WAY (5-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer’s horses have been running.
Selections: 5 – 4 – 9 – 12
The Plays
Win: #5 at 3-1
Exacta: 5/ 4,12
Santa Anita Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:30 PM PT; Chillingworth Stakes $100k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 5 runners.
- #2 SILENT LAW (3-1): Top pick. Races competitive with the top contenders. Race sets up perfectly.
- #3 TAMARA (1-1): Major Player. May be able to take advantage of the pace. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
- #4 CHISMOSA (7-2): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Has experience at this level.
- #1 BAELA (4-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.
Selections: 2 – 3 – 4 – 1
The Plays
Win: #2 at 5-2
Exacta: 2/ 3,4
Pick 3 (race 2-4): #2,3,4 with #1 with #2,5
Santa Anita Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 2:03 PM PT; American Pharoah Stakes Presented by DK Horse $300k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
- #1 DESERT GATE (3-2): Best bet of the card. Proven competitor at this configuration. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #6 KRISTOFFERSON (9-5): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Speed figures match this group well.
- #5 BALBOA (8-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #4 CIVIL LIBERTY (5-1): Contender. Fresu and O’Neill team up on this one. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 1 – 6 – 5 – 4
The Plays
Win: #1 at 1-1
Exacta: 1/ 6,4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:34 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $61k; 1 M Turf; Field of 10 runners.
- #2 CUBAN CONFUSION (3-1): Top pick. Looks good based on the 96 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Stamina to outlast the competition.
- #5 SUCHET (7-2): Major Player. Running well of late. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #8 YACOWLEF (12-1): Contender. Has experience at this level. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #9 KANSAS CAT (5-1): Contender. Gonzalez puts this one in with a chance. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 2 – 5 – 8 – 9
The Plays
Win: #2 at 5-2
Exacta: 2/ 5,9
Santa Anita Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 3:06 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $60k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #4 TOMMY NORRIS (4-1): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Favorable class relief in this spot.
- #5 MY BODACIOUS BOY (5-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #6 SOUTHERN MELODEE (3-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. May be able find the right setup.
- #9 TAMARANDO BEACH (9-2): Major Player. May be a better effort in the 2nd start. Top connections on the circuit with Pereira and Pederson.
Selections: 4 – 5 – 6 – 9
The Plays
Win: #4 at 3-1
Exacta Box: 4,5,6
Santa Anita Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:38 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $60k; 1 M Turf; Field of 13 runners.
- #5 HONEY’S CHOICE (4-1): Top pick. Races that could beat these. Barn has been solid.
- #12 KEAGMAN (30-1): Major Player. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #4 MEDICI (5-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race.
- #10 HERE’S SOME MORE (10-1): Major Player. Trainer’s horses have been running. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.
Selections: 5 – 12 – 4 – 10
The Plays
Win: #5 at 3-1
Exacta: 5/ 4,10
Santa Anita Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 4:08 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $61k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #3 OCEAN BEAR (5-2): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Should be able to work out a trip.
- #6 SAUL ELLIOTT (9-2): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #1 CAN’T HELP MYSELF (3-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
- #2 PAVLOVIAN (6-1): Major Player. Trainer’s horses have been running. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.
Selections: 3 – 6 – 1 – 2
The Plays
Win: #3 at 5-2
Exacta Box: 3,6,1
Santa Anita Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:38 PM PT; Rodeo Drive Stakes $200k; 1 1/4 M Downhill turf; Field of 8 runners.
Longshot Play of the Day
- #5 MISSION OF JOY (6-1): Longshot play of the day. Barn has been solid. Should be able to work out a trip. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
- #2 STARRY HEAVENS (10-1): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #7 AMBER CASCADE (5-2): Major Player. This one’s a fighter in the late stages. Previous success in similar race types.
- #8 ALPHA BELLA (4-1): Major Player. Recent races are solid. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.
Selections: 5 – 2 – 7 – 8
The Plays
Win: #5 at 5-1
Trifecta: 5/ 7,8/ 2,7,8
Santa Anita Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 5:08 PM PT; Oak Leaf Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association $200k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
- #4 HIMIKA (3-1): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Fits well with this group.
- #6 EXPLORA (4-5): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Hernandez and Baffert. Good race flow for this runner.
- #3 LA WALLY (4-1): Contender. May be able find the right setup. Fresu puts this one in with a chance.
- #5 HEAVEN’S BOLT (5-1): Underneath. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.
Selections: 4 – 6 – 3 – 5
The Plays
Win: #4 at 5-2
Exacta: 4/ 6,3
Santa Anita Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 5:38 PM PT; Speakeasy Stakes $100k; 5 F Turf; Field of 13 runners.
- #11 BRIGANTE (8-1): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Should be able to work out a trip.
- #10 ARKADELPHIA (20-1): Major Player. Comes home strong. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #2 TWILIGHT DELIGHT (3-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. May be able find the right setup.
- #5 LATER THAN PLANNED (10-1): Major Player. Ran at this level last out. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 11 – 10 – 2 – 5
The Plays
Win: #11 at 5-2
Exacta Box: 11,2,5
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