Santa Anita Picks: Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes (01/31/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Sat Jan 31, 2026, 7:00 am ET
Read Time: 6 minutes
horses
The racing action from Santa Anita on Saturday features the San Pasqual Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Santa Anita picks for the entire card!
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Santa Anita Full Card Analysis
Santa Anita Picks: Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes (01/31/2026)
Santa Anita Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:30 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Turf; Field of 8 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
- #1 BIG BILL (5-2): Best bet of the card. Solid breeding for this spot. Barn has been solid. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #7 MAURY WILLS (9-5): Fringe Contender. Comes home strong. Stamina to be in the mix late.
- #8 HIGH KING (12-1): Underneath. Has been running well enough recently.
- #6 JUST A GRAZE (5-1): Underneath. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Competitive enough in recent efforts.
Selections: 1 – 7 – 8 – 6
The Plays
Win: #1 at 5-2
Exacta: 1 / 7,8
Pick 3 (races 1-3): #1 with #5,3 with #3,2,4,5
Santa Anita Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:03 PM PT; Claiming $20k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
- #5 CAPTAIN SPARROW (9-5): Top pick. Gonzalez puts this one in with a chance. Barn has been solid.
- #3 HORIZON WILDCAT (2-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Good race flow for this runner.
- #4 BROADWAY UNIONS (4-1): Fringe Contender. Pereira and Palma team up on this one. Previous success in similar race types.
- #2 CUPID'S CRUSADER (12-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.
Selections: 5 – 3 – 4 – 2
The Plays
Win: #5 at 2-1
Exacta: 5 / 3,4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:36 PM PT; Claiming $28k; 1 M Turf; Field of 6 runners.
- #3 SAKURA FLAVOR (5-2): Top pick. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Looks good based on the 85 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
- #2 WITH LOVE (8-5): Major Player. Running well of late. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
- #4 CHURCH LADY (10-1): Major Player. Could wear these ones down late.
- #5 TRUE PATRIOT (9-2): Major Player. Solid turn of foot.
Selections: 3 – 2 – 4 – 5
The Plays
Win: #3 at 3-1
Exacta Box: 3 / 2 / 4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:09 PM PT; San Pasqual Stakes $200k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
- #1 MIDNIGHT MAMMOTH (9-2): Top pick. Ayuso and Dollase team up on this one. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
- #4 BARTHOLDY (4-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Good race flow for this runner.
- #6 WESTWOOD (8-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
- #5 PONY EXPRESS (9-5): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 1 – 4 – 6 – 5
The Plays
Win: #1 at 5-1
Exacta Box: 1 / 4 / 6
Santa Anita Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 2:39 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 1 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #5 MAYACAMA (5-2): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Race sets up perfectly.
- #4 SHE'S A JOKER (4-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Speed figures match this group well.
- #6 NANCI GRIFFITH (8-1): Major Player. Should sit a good trip. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
- #8 QUANTUM INNERGY (8-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 5 – 4 – 6 – 8
The Plays
Win: #5 at 3-1
Exacta Box: 5 / 4 / 6
Santa Anita Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:12 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #7 POTENTE (7-2): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #3 CRUDE VELOCITY (5-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
- #8 CAPTAIN SHREVE (3-1): Major Player. Likely in the mix early. The 88 speed rating is among the best in the field.
- #6 RULER OF LAW (4-1): Fringe Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 7 – 3 – 8 – 6
The Plays
Win: #7 at 4-1
Exacta Box: 7 / 3 / 8
Santa Anita Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 3:43 PM PT; Megahertz Stakes $100k; 1 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #2 PUBLIC ASSEMBLY (5-2): Top pick. Berrios and Damato team up on this one. Looks good based on the 94 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
- #4 WILL THEN (4-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
- #3 PRINCESA MOCHE (5-1): Major Player. Has experience at this level. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
- #7 VIBEZ (9-2): Major Player. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.
Selections: 2 – 4 – 3 – 7
The Plays
Win: #2 at 3-1
Exacta Box: 2 / 4 / 3
Santa Anita Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:14 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #5 CORNUCOPIAN (6-5): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #9 SEE THROUGH IT (10-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #2 RED FLAG (6-1): Contender. Has experience at this level. Previous success in similar race types.
- #7 SIMPLE SONG (5-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 5 – 9 – 2 – 7
The Plays
Win: #5 at 6-5
Exacta: 5 / 9,2,7
Santa Anita Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 4:44 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 1/2 F Turf; Field of 14 runners.
- #11 COUNTERBALANCE (7-2): Prime Win Player. Solid closing kick. Barn has been solid.
- #9 SHE'S LIMITLESS (6-1): Contender. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
- #8 MO SASHA (8-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
- #5 SOUL SISTER (10-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 11 – 9 – 8 – 5
The Plays
Win: #11 at 4-1
Exacta: 11 / 9,8,5
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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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