Santa Anita Picks: Grade 1 Big Cap (03/07/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Fri Mar 06, 2026, 7:00 am ET
Read Time: 8 minutes
horses
The racing action from Santa Anita on Saturday features the Santa Anita Handicap aka "The Big Cap". @HandicappingT3 has all the Santa Anita picks for the entire card!
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Santa Anita Full Card Analysis
Santa Anita Picks: Grade 1 Big Cap (03/07/2026)
Santa Anita Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:00 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Turf; Field of 10 runners.
- #3 BOOKED CLUBHOUSE (3-1): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
- #4 SIRNAMI (6-1): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Running well of late.
- #10 PARNELLI JONES (7-2): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
- #6 TAKE ANOTHER SWING (15-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 3 – 4 – 10 – 6
The Plays
Win: #3 at 7-2
Exacta Box: 3,4,10
Santa Anita Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 12:30 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
Longshot Play of the Day
- #5 COMEDY TOWN (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Barn has been solid. Races competitive with the top contenders. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
- #6 RED FLAG (5-2): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #7 SIMPLE SONG (7-2): Major Player. Has experience at this level. Speed figs match up nicely.
- #1 FOR ALL MANKIND (6-1): Contender. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 5 – 6 – 7 – 1
The Plays
Win: #5 at 4-1
Exacta Box: 5,6,7
Santa Anita Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:02 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 6 F Turf; Field of 6 runners.
- #1 UMBRALLE (5-2): Prime Win Player. Could be ready for a top effort. Solid closing kick.
- #2 WILL HAPPEN (9-5): Contender. Good race flow for this runner. Stamina to be in the mix late.
- #5 BOURBON AND GINGER (7-2): Contender. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Has experience at this level.
- #3 SURFIN' U. S. A. (6-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 1 – 2 – 5 – 3
The Plays
Win: #1 at 3-1
Exacta: 1/ 2,5,3
Santa Anita Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 1:34 PM PT; B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile Stakes presented by FanDuel $300k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
- #4 SPLENDORA (4-5): Prime Win Player. Fits well with this group. Race sets up perfectly.
- #1 OM N JOY (5-1): Contender. Top connections on the circuit with Desormeaux and Ordonez. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #3 DAZZLING MOVE (8-1): Contender. Likely in the mix early.
- #5 BLESS THE BROKEN (6-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 4 – 1 – 3 – 5
The Plays
Win: #4 at 6-5
Exacta: 4/ 1,3
Santa Anita Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 2:05 PM PT; Starter Allowance $37k; 1 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #6 JIMMY BLUE JEANS (3-1): Top pick. Looks good based on the 94 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
- #9 CATHAL (9-2): Major Player. Comes home strong. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #5 DAKOTA COUNTRY (15-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Potential to kick home late.
- #8 ONE OF THESE DAYS (10-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 6 – 9 – 5 – 8
The Plays
Win: #6 at 7-2
Exacta Box: 6,9,5
Santa Anita Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 2:36 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #9 MEMORY (2-1): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #10 CAPTAIN SHREVE (5-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Good race flow for this runner.
- #2 CIVIL LIBERTY (4-1): Contender. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
- #6 DEEP TRACKS (8-1): Contender. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 9 – 10 – 2 – 6
The Plays
Win: #9 at 5-2
Exacta Box: 9,10
Pick 3 (races 6-8): #9, 10, with #1 with #4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 3:09 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Turf; Field of 13 runners.
- #1 MO SASHA (2-1): Prime Win Player. Solid closing kick. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #3 PROVE YOUR POINT (15-1): Underneath. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #4 DECISIVE DECEPTION (12-1): Underneath. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #7 EVERYTHING GOOD (12-1): Underneath. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 1 – 3 – 4 – 7
The Plays
Win: #1 at 5-2
Exacta: 1/ 3,4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 3:41 PM PT; San Felipe Stakes presented by DK Horse $200k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
- #4 BRANT (1-1): Best bet of the card. Looks good based on the 102 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Stamina to outlast the competition. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #6 SO HAPPY (2-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #3 SECURED FREEDOM (8-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Kimura and Yakteen team up on this one.
- #5 POTENTE (9-2): Underneath. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 4 – 6 – 3 – 5
The Plays
Win: #4 at 1-1
Exacta: 4/ 6,3
Santa Anita Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 4:12 PM PT; Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes $200k; 1 M Turf; Field of 8 runners.
- #3 EL POTENTE (5-2): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Fits well with this group.
- #4 GAS ME UP (7-2): Major Player. May be able to take advantage of the pace. Seems to be up against the right competition.
- #2 ALMENDARES (9-2): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #5 CABO SPIRIT (10-1): Major Player. Ran at this level last out. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 3 – 4 – 2 – 5
The Plays
Win: #3 at 3-1
Exacta Box: 3,4,2
Santa Anita Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 4:43 PM PT; Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel $300k; 1 1/4 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
- #3 JUST A TOUCH (3-2): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Race sets up perfectly.
- #1 MIDNIGHT MAMMOTH (8-1): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
- #7 WESTWOOD (7-2): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #6 BRITISH ISLES (6-1): Major Player. Could be ready to hit a peak performance.
Selections: 3 – 1 – 7 – 6
The Plays
Win: #3 at 2-1
Exacta Box: 3,1,7
Santa Anita Picks – Race 11
Post Time: 5:13 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 1 M Turf; Field of 10 runners.
- #1 WARM SUN AND BREW (3-1): Top pick. Odds suggest this one is ready to fire on debut. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
- #9 KING OF DRAGONS (7-2): Major Player. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #2 GOLD COUNCIL (10-1): Major Player. Has been running well enough recently. The 93 speed rating is among the best in the field.
- #6 PRINCE DOLCE (8-1): Contender. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 1 – 9 – 2 – 6
The Plays
Win: #1 at 7-2
Exacta Box: 1,9,2
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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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