Santa Anita Picks: Cal Cup Derby (1/17/2026)

Chris Adams

Written by: Chris Adams

Published: Sat Jan 17, 2026, 7:00 am ET

Read Time: 7 minutes

California Chrome wins the Kentucky Derby

horses

The racing action from Santa Anita on Saturday features the California Chrome Cal Cup Derby. @HandicappingT3 has all the Santa Anita picks for the entire card!

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Santa Anita Full Card Analysis

Santa Anita Picks: Cal Cup Derby (1/17/2026)

Santa Anita Picks: Cal Cup Derby (1/17/2026)

Santa Anita Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:30 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Turf; Field of 12 runners.

  • #8 BALAZA (7-2): Prime Win Player. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #12 TRAINING GOOD (8-1): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Can run with these.
  • #7 DANZING DAISY (10-1): Contender. Could wear these ones down late. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #6 UP FOR THE HUNT (12-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Solid turn of foot.

Selections: 8 – 12 – 7 – 6

The Plays

Win: #8 at 4-1

Exacta: 8 / 12,7,6

Santa Anita Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 1:00 PM PT; Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes $125k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 5 runners.

  • #5 MAN O ROSE (9-5): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #3 BIG CITY LIGHTS (2-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #4 SPEEDY WILSON (3-1): Contender. Speed figs match up nicely. Previous success in similar race types.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 4 –

The Plays

Win: #5 at 2-1

Exacta: 5 / 3,4

Santa Anita Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:30 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Turf; Field of 12 runners.

  • #11 STARS HOLLOW (2-1): Top pick. Should improve off the debut. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #7 TROISIEME ETOILE (9-2): Major Player. Well bred for this race. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
  • #8 RISKY PLEASURE (6-1): Major Player. Potential to kick home late. Top connections on the circuit with Herrera and Lewi.
  • #9 MERIDIAN MAE (10-1): Fringe Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 11 – 7 – 8 – 9

The Plays

Win: #11 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 11 / 7 / 8

Santa Anita Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 2:00 PM PT; Maiden Claiming $21k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #1 REMEMBER APRIL (5-2): Top pick. Solid breeding for this spot. Race sets up perfectly.
  • #8 SMOKIN HOT CHICK (8-1): Major Player. Likely to get forward position.
  • #9 SHE'S BACK (20-1): Contender. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #7 CALIFORNIA CAT (6-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 1 – 8 – 9 – 7

The Plays

Win: #1 at 3-1

Exacta: 1 / 8,9

Pick 3 (races 4-6): #1,8 with #3 with #3,6

Santa Anita Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:30 PM PT; Unusual Heat Turf Classic Stakes presented by City National Bank $175k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 8 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

  • #3 NONE ABOVE THE LAW (7-2): Best bet of the card. Solid closing kick. Bet today's best bet with industry leading rebates on BetOnline. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #2 MR. DISRESPECTFUL (4-1): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
  • #5 STOP DIGGING (30-1): Fringe Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #6 CALL ME SIR (6-1): Fringe Contender. Hernandez puts this one in with a chance. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 5 – 6

The Plays

Win: #3 at 7-2

Exacta: 3 / 2,5

Santa Anita Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 3:00 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #3 COACH CRONIN (5-2): Top pick. Hernandez puts this one in with a chance. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #6 TITANIC THOMPSON (8-5): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #10 RICH REWARD (10-1): Contender. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #4 MR. MACHUPICCHU (12-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 3 – 6 – 10 – 4

The Plays

Win: #3 at 3-1

Exacta: 3 / 6,10

Santa Anita Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:30 PM PT; Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks $175k; 1 M Turf; Field of 8 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #6 CECILIA STREET (6-1): Longshot play of the day. Races that could beat these. Barn has been solid. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #3 CEE DREW (4-1): Major Player. Can run with these. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
  • #7 CASHED (2-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #1 CRUNCHY (10-1): Underneath. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 7 – 1

The Plays

Win: #6 at 7-1

Exacta: 6 / 3,7

Santa Anita Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 4:00 PM PT; California Chrome Cal Cup Derby $175k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

  • #2 SAMMY DAVIS (3-1): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Barn has been solid.
  • #6 OCEAN BEAR (5-2): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Rispoli and Papaprodromou team up on this one.
  • #11 CRUISE HOME (12-1): Fringe Contender. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #3 START THE RIDE (30-1): Underneath. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 2 – 6 – 11 – 3

The Plays

Win: #2 at 7-2

Exacta: 2 / 6,11

Santa Anita Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:30 PM PT; Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes presented by John Deere $125k; About 6 1/2 F Downhill turf; Field of 9 runners.

  • #5 SNEAKER (6-1): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Stamina to outlast the competition.
  • #3 GRAND SLAM SMILE (9-5): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Should take a liking to the race shape.
  • #8 TAKE ANOTHER CARD (8-1): Major Player. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #6 TINA TURNER (10-1): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Could be griding down the competition late.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 8 – 6

The Plays

Win: #5 at 7-1

Exacta Box: 5 / 3 / 8

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Chris Adams
Chris Adams

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.

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