Santa Anita Picks: Final 100 Point Kentucky Prep Race (4/4/2026)

Published: Sat Apr 04, 2026, 11:00 am ET

Read Time: 8 minutes

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

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Santa Anita Full Card Analysis

Santa Anita Picks: Santa Anita Derby Picks (4/4/2026)

Santa Anita Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:00 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; About 6 1/2 F Downhill turf; Field of 8 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

#8 STRUCK BY HER (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Races competitive with the top contenders. Proven competitor at this configuration. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
#3 STILL UNWRITTEN (4-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Speed figures match this group well.
#6 WILL HAPPEN (8-1): Major Player. Has experience at this level.
#5 SOUTH BAY (15-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 8 – 3 – 6 – 5

The Plays

Win: #8 at 4-1

Exacta Box: 8,3

Santa Anita Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 12:33 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

#1 COMEDY TOWN (4-1): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Barn has been solid.
#6 SANTARENA (5-1): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
#7 MARCH OF TIME (9-5): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Hernandez and Baffert. Not likely to be short in the stretch.
#4 FOR ALL MANKIND (10-1): Major Player. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 7 – 4

The Plays

Win: #1 at 3-1

Exacta Box: 1,6,7

Santa Anita Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:05 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

#2 WINSTON AVE (3-2): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly.
#3 YAUTOWN (5-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
#4 CAPTAIN SHREVE (5-2): Major Player. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Geroux and Papaprodromou team up on this one.
#1 DUKE SILVER (5-1): Major Player. Kimura puts this one in with a chance. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 4 – 1

The Plays

Win: #2 at 2-1

Exacta Box: 2,3,4

Santa Anita Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:38 PM PT; Echo Eddie Stakes presented by Daily Racing Form $125k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

#5 SAMMY DAVIS (8-5): Top pick. Jaramillo puts this one in with a chance. Fits well with this group.
#4 THIRSTY REBEL (3-2): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Trainer is having a great meet.
#3 TOMMY NORRIS (6-1): Fringe Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
#2 FIONELLO (10-1): Underneath. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 3 – 2

The Plays

Win: #5 at 8-5

Exacta: 5 / 4

Santa Anita Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:10 PM PT; Claiming $35k; 1 M Turf; Field of 13 runners.

#4 ZALAMO (8-1): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Barn has been solid.
#9 HOTROCKET (8-1): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
#2 RUSSELLS HUSTLE (6-1): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Fresu and Glatt. Could wear these ones down late.
#5 JIMMY BLUE JEANS (9-2): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 4 – 9 – 2 – 5

The Plays

Win: #4 at 4-1

Exacta Box: 4,9,2

Santa Anita Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:42 PM PT; Santa Anita Oaks presented by Surfside $200k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

#5 MEANING (3-5): Top pick. Race may setup for this runner.
#1 FORCED ENTRY (4-1): Major Player. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch. Speed figures match this group well.
#3 FRENCH BLUE (5-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
#2 BANK SHOT (20-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 5 – 1 – 3 – 2

The Plays

Win: #5 at 6-5

Exacta: 5 / 1,3

Santa Anita Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:15 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 1/2 F Turf; Field of 10 runners.

#6 ORACLE OF PARADISE (5-2): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Favorable class relief in this spot.
#3 BOOKED CLUBHOUSE (4-1): Major Player. Frey puts this one in with a chance.
#5 EUGENE SLEDGE (3-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners.
#1 TIGHT DALLY (10-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 5 – 1

The Plays

Win: #6 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 6,3,5

Santa Anita Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:46 PM PT; Evening Jewel Stakes presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance $125k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

#7 MOHAVEN (1-1): Prime Win Player. Proven competitor at this configuration. Strong early pace figs.
#5 ANOTHER ZERO (3-1): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Good race flow for this runner.
#2 LINO'S ANGEL (20-1): Contender. Should sit a good trip. Has experience at this level.
#4 DONTTELLMEWHATTODO (20-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 7 – 5 – 2 – 4

The Plays

Win: #7 at 1-1

Exacta: 7 / 5

Santa Anita Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:16 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 1 M Turf; Field of 12 runners.

#7 WARM SUN AND BREW (9-2): Top pick. Fits well with this group. Fresu puts this one in with a chance.
#12 CALL ME SIR (7-2): Major Player. May be able to take advantage of the pace. Comes home strong.
#5 CULLEN J (12-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Could wear these ones down late.
#8 KING OF DRAGONS (4-1): Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Recent races are solid.

Selections: 7 – 12 – 5 – 8

The Plays

Win: #7 at 3-1

Exacta Box: 7,12,5

Pick 3 (races 9-11): #7,12 with #5,2,7,1 with #1

Santa Anita Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 4:46 PM PT; Santa Anita Derby $500k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

#5 SO HAPPY (7-2): Top pick. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance. Strong early pace figs.
#2 POTENTE (2-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
#7 INTREPIDO (7-2): Major Player. Morning Line suggests this one is all systems go for the first start. Previous success in similar race types.
#1 CHEROKEE NATION (5-2): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 7 – 1

The Plays

Win: #5 at 3-1

Exacta Box: 5,2,7

Santa Anita Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:18 PM PT; Monrovia Stakes presented by Don Julio $100k; About 6 1/2 F Downhill turf; Field of 7 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

#1 QUEEN MAXIMA (4-5): Best bet of the card. Top connections on the circuit with Hernandez and Mullins. Race may setup for this runner. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
#3 LOVE APPEALS (3-1): Contender. Running well of late. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
#6 PRINCESA MOCHE (8-1): Contender. Speed figs match up nicely. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
#2 TIRUPATI (6-1): Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 6 – 2

The Plays

Win: #1 at 1-1

Exacta: 1 / 3

Santa Anita Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 5:48 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 1/2 F Turf; Field of 14 runners.

#11 SOMERSET WEST (3-1): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Barn has been solid.
#4 HIGH SOCIETY U (5-2): Major Player. Likely to take a step forward. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
#1 CORTINA D'AMPREZZO (6-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
#12 MADDOG (10-1): Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.

Selections: 11 – 4 – 1 – 12

The Plays

Win: #11 at 3-1

Exacta Box: 11,4,1

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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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