Santa Anita Picks: Grade 3 American Stakes (04/18/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:00 am ET
Read Time: 7 minutes
horses
The racing action from Santa Anita on Saturday features the American 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 3 American Stakes (04/18/2026)
Santa Anita Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 1:00 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $65k; 6 1/2 F Turf; Field of 8 runners.
- #3 SHE'S NO QUANT (2-1): Top pick. Should still have something in the tank late. Solid closing kick.
- #8 MELBA MONTGOMERY (6-1): Major Player. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
- #6 CHRISTA MCAULIFFE (5-1): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
- #7 RISKY PLEASURE (6-1): Major Player. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong. Top connections on the circuit with Hernandez and Lewi.
Selections: 3 – 8 – 6 – 7
The Plays
Win: #3 at 3-1
Exacta Box: 3,8
Santa Anita Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:32 PM PT; Starter Optional Claiming $30k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
- #3 TESSUTO (4-1): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Pereira puts this one in with a chance.
- #4 CODY BOY (7-2): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Running well of late.
- #1 KID DYNASTY (8-1): Major Player. Could wear these ones down late. Kimura and Yakteen team up on this one.
- #7 TAPALO (5-1): Major Player. Could be griding down the competition late. Ran at this level last out.
Selections: 3 – 4 – 1 – 7
The Plays
Win: #3 at 3-1
Exacta: 3/ 4,1
Santa Anita Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 2:04 PM PT; John Shear Stakes $100k; About 6 1/2 F Downhill turf; Field of 5 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
- #3 LATER THAN PLANNED (9-5): Best bet of the card. Comes in with solid form. Proven competitor at this configuration. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #1 IRISEACH (2-1): Contender. Running well of late.
- #5 TRACK TIGER (8-5): Fringe Contender. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
- #2 CARO BUONO (8-1): Fringe Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.
Selections: 3 – 1 – 5 – 2
The Plays
Win: #3 at 1-1
Exacta: 3/ 1
Pick 3 (races 3-5): #3 with #6,7 with #6,8
Santa Anita Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:36 PM PT; Starter Optional Claiming $21k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #6 RYAN'S GIRL (4-1): Top pick. Fits well with this group. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #7 THERESASILVERLININ (9-5): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Seems to be up against the right competition.
- #3 LOVE OUR FAMILY (6-1): Contender. Should sit a good trip. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #4 ROUSING JEWEL (8-1): Contender. Top connections on the circuit with Fresu and Knapp. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 6 – 7 – 3 – 4
The Plays
Win: #6 at 5-2
Exacta Box: 6,7
Santa Anita Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 3:05 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $65k; 6 1/2 F Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #6 MARLA HOOCH (5-2): Top pick. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Favorable class relief in this spot.
- #8 THE LOAN EXCHANGE (7-2): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #7 IMPRESSIONISTIC (6-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
- #1 JACKLYN LUCAS (4-1): Underneath. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 6 – 8 – 7 – 1
The Plays
Win: #6 at 2-1
Exacta: 6/ 8,7
Santa Anita Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:35 PM PT; Maiden Claiming $16k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 13 runners.
- #1 TWISTED HUMOR (9-5): Prime Win Player. Maldonado puts this one in with a chance.
- #10 VRONAWAY (10-1): Fringe Contender. Stamina to be in the mix late. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #12 BITTER TRUTH (7-2): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Pedigree fits in this spot.
- #11 PLAY FOR ME (6-1): Underneath. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 1 – 10 – 12 – 11
The Plays
Win: #1 at 8-5
Exacta: 1/ 10,12
Santa Anita Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 4:05 PM PT; American Stakes $100k; 1 M Turf; Field of 7 runners.
- #5 ALMENDARES (2-1): Top pick. Fits well with this group. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #2 SUMTER (5-2): Major Player. Running well of late. Good race flow for this runner.
- #3 KING OF GOSFORD (7-2): Major Player. Speed figs match up nicely. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
- #6 SEAL TEAM (5-1): Major Player. Race shape gives this one an edge. Berrios puts this one in with a chance.
Selections: 5 – 2 – 3 – 6
The Plays
Win: #5 at 2-1
Exacta Box: 5,2
Santa Anita Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:35 PM PT; Claiming $18k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #2 IRISH ELEMENT (5-2): Top pick. Fits well with this group. Race may setup for this runner.
- #1 TYPHOON TOMMY (7-2): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
- #5 ALOHA CHROME (6-1): Contender. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous. Previous success in similar race types.
- #3 AUDIBLE SILENCE (8-1): Contender. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 2 – 1 – 5 – 3
The Plays
Win: #2 at 2-1
Exacta: 2/ 1,5
Santa Anita Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 5:05 PM PT; Allowance $67k; About 6 1/2 F Downhill turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #1 ANDIAMO RAGAZZA (5-1): Top pick. Should be able to work out a trip.
- #7 MARIAN CROSS (5-1): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Seems to be up against the right competition.
- #9 TEQUILAANDTHERAPY (6-1): Major Player. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
- #2 YOGA MASTER (6-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Could be ready to hit a peak performance.
Selections: 1 – 7 – 9 – 2
The Plays
Win: #1 at 3-1
Exacta Box: 1,7
Santa Anita Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 5:35 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $65k; 6 F Turf; Field of 10 runners.
Longshot Play of the Day
- #9 BRIGHT EYE BUNGLE (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Solid closing kick. Races competitive with the top contenders. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
- #6 LEGAL HEIR (3-1): Major Player. Well bred for this race. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #3 DIAGHILEV (5-1): Contender. Potentially ready to hit a top number. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
- #8 CONQUER WE MUST (20-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 9 – 6 – 3 – 8
The Plays
Win: #9 at 4-1
Exacta: 9/ 6,3
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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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