Santa Anita Picks: Opening Day, Malibu Analysis- Tuesday December 26

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25 December 2023

Santa Anita Picks: Opening Day, Malibu Analysis- Tuesday December 26

Santa Anita returns Tuesday with a loaded card featuring multiple stakes races. Check out our Santa Anita picks for the entire Malibu Stakes card in this comprehensive analysis.

Full Card Analysis

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Santa Anita Picks- Race 1

$67k Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 m on turf; Post: 11:00 AM PT; Entries: 9

#1 BILLY’S BET (8-1): A major contender, displaying consistent form in recent outings and poised for a significant performance. Bet the longshot play of the day on BetOnline.
#9 LUKA GRAZIE (5-1): Claims the top spot, well-suited for the distance and boasting the partnership of Miller and Hernandez.
#5 BIGOFROMFRESNO (5-2): In the mix for contention, expected to play a role in the early pace, presenting a formidable challenge.
#8 BARELY FUNCTIONAL (10-1): A dark horse worth considering, with a history of races good enough to surpass the competition. Plans to unleash a strong late surge.

Selections: 1 – 9 – 5 – 8

Santa Anita Picks- Race 2

$65k Maiden Special Weight, 6 f on dirt; Post: 11:30 AM PT; Entries: 7

#6 URBAN LEGEND (3-1): Secures the spotlight as a potential front-runner entering the race in peak form. Provides a threat on the lead.
#2 ALL THAT GLORY (3-1): Positioned for improvement, displaying consistency in recent outings. Gears up for a competitive performance, demonstrating the capability to handle the distance.
#5 NEW KING (5-2): A debutant to watch, entering with intrigue and backed by the formidable combination of Baffert and Hernandez.
#3 COLORADO CRUISER (5-1): Adds depth to the field, projecting as a contender with a history of good form and class dominance.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 5 – 3

Santa Anita Picks- Race 3

$200k San Gabriel S., 1 1/8 m on turf; Post: 12:00 PM PT; Entries: 6

#2 EASTER (8-5): Gets the top selection, having been running against decent company.
#3 WAR AT SEA (4-1): Feels like a fringe contender, likely to be in the first flight of runners and in with a chance late. Solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
#5 TIO MAGICO (3-1): Another fringe contender, projecting to sit mid-pack and come with one run. A dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
#4 MISSED THE CUT (5-1): Yet another fringe contender, projecting to sit mid-pack and come with one run. Will run for the combination of Sadler and Ortiz.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 5 – 4

Santa Anita Picks- Race 4

$65k Maiden Special Weight, 7 f on dirt; Post: 12:30 PM PT; Entries: 7

#5 JUDGE MILLER (7-5): Should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. Goes out for the Glatt barn and gets Prat in the irons. Comes into the race in really good form.
#2 UNCLE REG (5-1): A major player in this race, not expected to have trouble with the distance. The class of the field.
#4 HEY BROTHER (5-2): Another contender, projecting to sit mid-pack and come with one run. Well bred for this spot.
#3 CAVENDISH (4-1): Should improve off the first start and probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. Runs really consistent pace figures. Comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 4 – 3

Santa Anita Picks- Race 5

$300k American Oaks, 1 1/4 m on downhill turf; Post: 1:00 PM PT; Entries: 7

#2 ANISETTE (8-5): Gets the top selection, being the class of the field. Will be rolling late with a good closing kick. Bet today’s best bet on BetUS.
#4 ELOUNDA QUEEN (5-1): Another contender, running for the minor placings. Runs for the combination of D’amato and Hernandez.
#6 BE YOUR BEST (7-2): Yet another contender, making sense on speed figures.
#1 KHINJANI (4-1): A shot in this race, running for the combination of Glatt and Dettori. Seems to be running for the minor placings.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 6 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- Race 6

$200k San Antonio S., 1 1/16 m on dirt; Post: 1:30 PM PT; Entries: 6

#3 BRICKYARD RIDE (6-1): Gets the top selection, making sense on speed figures. Proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.
#1 STILLETO BOY (4-1): A major player in this race, running races good enough to beat this group. Goes out for the Moger barn and gets Hernandez in the irons.
#4 NEWGRANGE (3-1): Another major player, proven to handle these conditions in previous starts. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and in with a chance late.
#2 SALESMAN (5-2): Not without hope, having the top overall power rating in the group.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 4 – 2

Santa Anita Picks- Race 7

$67k Allowance, about 6 1/2 f on downhill turf; Post: 2:00 PM PT; Entries: 10

#7 BOOK SMART (3-1): Gets the top selection, likely to be out on or near the lead. A dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
#6 KING APOLLO (4-1): Another contender, having been running against decent company.
#10 CATALINA EDDY (15-1): A price horse, yet a fringe contender, likely to be in the first flight of runners and in with a chance late. Goes out for the Lewis barn and gets Kimura in the irons.
#2 MANITOWISH (12-1): A price horse, not without hope. The class of the field.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 10 – 2

Santa Anita Picks- Race 8

$300k Malibu S., 7 f on dirt; Post: 2:30 PM PT; Entries: 8

#3 SPEED BOAT BEACH (5-2): Gets the top selection, goes out for the Baffert barn and gets Prat in the irons. The top overall power rating in the group.
#7 HEJAZI (3-1): A major player in this race, having been really solid in recent starts. Runs really consistent pace figures.
#2 FORT BRAGG (3-1): Another contender, likely to be competitive with tactical speed and a stalk and pounce trip.
#1 GIANT MISCHIEF (5-1): A shot in this race, running evenly and getting a very fair pace scenario. Makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 3 – 7 – 2 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- Race 9

$200k Santa Anita Mathis Mile S., 1 m on turf; Post: 3:00 PM PT; Entries: 7

#7 WATSONVILLE (5-2): Gets the top selection, running for the combination of Glatt and Fresu.
#4 ALMENDARES (2-1): Another major player, likely to be competitive. Goes out for the D’amato barn and gets Prat in the irons.
#2 PANIC ALARM (5-1): Another contender, going out for the Sadler barn and getting Berrios in the irons.
#1 REIQUIST (12-1): A price horse, not without hope. Comes into the race in really good form. A dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.

Selections: 7 – 4 – 2 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- Race 10

$300k La Brea S., 7 f on dirt; Post: 3:30 PM PT; Entries: 10

#9 CLEARLY UNHINGED (3-1): Gets the top selection, being the class of the field. Runs races good enough to beat this group.
#3 HOWL (4-1): Another contender, likely to be competitive. Runs evenly and gets a very fair pace scenario.
#4 BIG POND (5-1): Another contender, likely to be competitive. Likely to be out on or near the lead.
#5 ROYAL SPA (6-1): A shot in this race, going out for the Brisset barn and getting Ortiz in the irons.

Selections: 9 – 3 – 4 – 5

Santa Anita Picks- Race 11

$65k Maiden Special Weight, 1 m on turf; Post: 4:00 PM PT; Entries: 12

#10 SEA DANCER (6-1): Gets the top selection, having proven to handle these conditions in previous starts. The class of the field.
#2 AURATIUM (8-1): Another major player, making sense on speed figures. Having proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.
#8 FLIGHT TO QUALITY (5-1): Another contender, likely to have a lot to do in the lane but could get up with a competitive run. Running for the combination of Damato and Ortiz.
#3 GERWIG (6-1): Another contender, having solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.

Selections: 10 – 2 – 8 – 3