Santa Anita Picks- 2024 San Felipe: Kentucky Derby Prep

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02 March 2024

Santa Anita Picks- 2024 San Felipe: Kentucky Derby Prep

The California road to the Kentucky Derby continues Saturday with the grade 2 San Felipe. Check out our free Santa Anita picks for the entire card!

Quirky Derby Prep

Although sharing top billing with the Santa Anita Handicap, also known as “The Big Cap”, most of the attention will be on the San Felipe which is offering Kentucky Derby points… well, sort of. Most of the field is trained by Bob Baffert. His horses are still ineligible to win Derby points as a lingering punishment from the 2021 disqualification of Medina Spirit.

Full Card Analysis

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Santa Anita Picks- Race 1

Post: 12:30 PM PT; $67k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 m on turf; Entries: 8

#4 SUSHI STICKS (3-1): Takes the top selection. Will run for the combination of McCarthy and Prat. Makes sense on speed figures.
#5 ASADA FRIES (5-2): A major player. Really solid in recent starts and should be ready for a big performance. Goes out for the Lewis barn and gets Hernandez in the irons.
#7 SAFA (4-1): A major player with the top overall power rating in the group. Makes sense on speed figures.
#8 LORETTA LYNN (2-1): Not without hope. Runs races good enough to beat this group. May benefit from a hot pace up front.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 7 – 8

Santa Anita Picks- Race 2

Post: 1:03 PM PT; $40k Starter Optional Claiming going 6 1/2 f on dirt; Entries: 7

#6 TOP GUN TOMMY (8-5): Takes the top selection. Runs races good enough to beat this group and has the top overall power rating. Bet today’s best Best Bet at BetUS.
#3 PRINCIP (4-1): Will be competitive, makes sense on speed figures. The class of the field.
#5 DISCO BALL (9-5): Has a shot, runs evenly, and will get a fair pace scenario.
#7 ESTABLISHED (10-1): A price horse with a shot. Runs really consistent pace figures, suitable for a moderately paced race.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 5 – 7

Santa Anita Picks- Race 3

Post: 1:32 PM PT; $65k Maiden Special Weight going 1 m on turf; Entries: 8

#6 DEN OF INIQUITY (5-2): Takes the top selection. Expected to sit in the second tier of runners and make a well-timed run.
#7 LADY CLAYPOOLE (5-1): A major player, the class of the field. Dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
#4 NO NO NO NEVER (4-1): Not without hope. (Additional information missing)
#1 WELL FUNDED (6-1): Probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Expected to improve off the first start.

Selections: 6 – 7 – 4 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- Race 4

Post: 2:02 PM PT; $25k Claiming going 1 m on dirt; Entries: 9

#5 SHIP AND SCAM (4-1): Takes the top selection. May benefit from a hot pace up front. Goes out for the O’Neill barn and gets Maldonado in the irons.
#3 BENDETTIJOE (5-2): A major player. Runs races good enough to beat this group. Tactical speed for a stalk and pounce trip.
#6 TAKE ACTION (7-2): Probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Goes out for the Mandella barn and gets Kimura in the irons.
#7 FIFTY CINCO (6-1): Probably best to put underneath. Likely to be part of the early pace and proven to handle these conditions.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 6 – 7

Santa Anita Picks- Race 5

Post: 2:32 PM PT; $67k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 m on turf; Entries: 9

#8 TRULY QUALITY (4-1): Takes the top selection. Solid early pace figures in a race lacking a ton of front-running speed. Runs races good enough to beat this group.
#6 GENIUS JIMMY (8-1): A major player, makes sense on speed figures. Will run for the combination of McCarthy and Prat.
#5 CROSBY BEACH (8-5): Will be competitive, runs for the combination of Glatt and Dettori.
#7 SEVEN WONDERS (6-1): Feels like a fringe contender. Solid early pace figures in a race lacking front-running speed.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 5 – 7

Santa Anita Picks- Race 6

Post: 3:02 PM PT; $300k DK Horse San Felipe S. going 1 1/16 m on dirt; Entries: 5

#3 NYSOS (1-5): Takes the top selection. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Runs races good enough to beat this group. NYSOS has been scratched and will not run.
#2 WINE ME UP (8-1): Feels like a fringe contender. Likely to be part of the early pace.
#5 IMAGINATION (6-1): Probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Goes out for the Baffert barn and gets Dettori in the irons.
#1 SCATIFY (6-1): Likely running for the minor placings. Goes out for the Sadler barn and gets Berrios in the irons.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 5 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- Race 7

Post: 3:32 PM PT; $300k Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. going 1 m on turf; Entries: 9

#2 EASTER (9-5): Takes the top selection. Running against decent company, solid in recent starts, and ready for a big one.
#6 DU JOUR (3-1): A major player, will run for the combination of Baffert and Prat. Solid in recent starts and ready for a big one.
#3 DANDY MAN SHINES (8-1): Has a shot, may benefit from a hot pace. Projects to sit mid-pack and come with one run.
#1 PRINCE ABAMA (6-1): Feels like a fringe contender. The class of the field, likely in the first flight of runners.

Selections: 2 – 6 – 3 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- Race 8

Post: 4:02 PM PT; $400k Santa Anita H. presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino going 1 1/4 m on dirt; Entries: 7

#7 NEWGRANGE (5-2): Takes the top selection. The class of the field.
#1 REINCARNATE (8-1): A major player. Goes out for the Baffert barn and gets Hernandez in the irons. Likely to get the right setup.
#5 NEWGATE (4-1): A major player. Runs races good enough to beat this group. May benefit from a hot pace.
#2 HIGHLAND FALLS (3-1): Will be competitive, makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 5 – 2

Santa Anita Picks- Race 9

Post: 4:32 PM PT; $67k Allowance going about 6 1/2 f on downhill turf; Entries: 13

#1 REAL FIRE (6-1): Takes the top selection. Will be rolling late and has a good closing kick. Bet the longshot play of the card at BetOnline.
#2 SUNSHINE BABE (15-1): A price horse and a major player. Likely to have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.
#3 PLEASANT WAVE (12-1): A price horse and a major player. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Runs evenly and will get a very fair pace scenario.
#9 JUST NAILS (12-1): A price horse and a major player. Goes out for the O’Neill barn and gets Berrios in the irons.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 3 – 9

Santa Anita Picks- Race 10

Post: 5:02 PM PT; $200k Buena Vista S. going 1 m on turf; Entries: 11

#6 RUBY NELL (7-2): Takes the top selection. The class of the field. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
#4 BELLABEL (4-1): A major player. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Will run for the combination of Damato and Prat.
#8 CLOSING REMARKS (5-1): A major player. Will be rolling late and has a good closing kick.
#11 MOUFFY (5-1): Will be competitive. Really solid in recent starts and ready to run a big one. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.

Selections: 6 – 4 – 8 – 11