Santa Anita Picks: Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes (01/11/2026)

The racing action from Santa Anita on Sunday features the Las Cienegas 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 Las Cienegas Stakes (01/11/2026)

Santa Anita Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:00 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Turf; Field of 10 runners.

• #8 TIGER OF THE SEA (9-2): Prime Win Player. Decent form of late. Stamina to outlast the competition.
• #6 APPLE PIE (6-1): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #9 SYNTAX (6-1): Contender. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Not likely to be short in the stretch.
• #1 PURE CHAOS (5-1): Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 9 – 1

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-1

Exacta: 8 / 6,9,1

Santa Anita Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 12:30 PM PT; Claiming $20k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

• #4 MIGHTY KAI (6-1): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Races that could beat these.
• #6 DAMAZIO (5-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
• #1 MCGREGOR LAKE (15-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Speed figs match up nicely.
• #7 TOPPERS AT SEASIDE (9-2): Major Player. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 4 – 6 – 1 – 7

The Plays

Win: #4 at 7-1

Exacta Box: 4 / 6 / 1

Santa Anita Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:00 PM PT; Claiming $28k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #5 OUR CONSIGLIERE (5-1): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
• #6 BALLYHOOLIGAN (9-5): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Potentially cycling to a top performance.
• #4 MAXIMUS (10-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. Barn has been sending out runners.
• #8 SMILING TIZZY (15-1): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Competitive enough in recent efforts.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 4 – 8

The Plays

Win: #5 at 11-2

Exacta: 5 / 6,4

Santa Anita Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:30 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 6 F Turf; Field of 8 runners.

• #6 YOURS SINCERELY (2-1): Top pick. Races that could beat these. Should be able to work out a trip.
• #8 SOUTH BAY (15-1): Major Player. Running well of late.
• #4 BOURBON AND GINGER (9-2): Major Player. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Barn has been sending out runners.
• #1 EVA LEA (7-2): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.

Selections: 6 – 8 – 4 – 1

The Plays

Win: #6 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 6 / 8 / 4

Santa Anita Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:00 PM PT; Las Flores Stakes $100k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

• #3 MARGARITA GIRL (7-2): Top pick. Strong early pace figs. Looks good based on the 97 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
• #5 MAGNIFICAT (3-1): Major Player. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
• #2 THERMAL (9-5): Major Player. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
• #7 DONTTELLOURWIVES (30-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 2 – 7

The Plays

Win: #3 at 4-1

Exacta Box: 3 / 5 / 2

Santa Anita Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:30 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $71k; 1 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

• #3 GENIUS JIMMY (6-1): Longshot play of the day. Barn has been solid. Looks good based on the 92 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
• #1 WATSONVILLE (4-1): Contender. Productive recent form. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #8 SPYCATCHER (8-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Potential to kick home late.
• #11 SON OF A BIRCH (5-1): Fringe Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 8 – 11

The Plays

Win: #3 at 7-1

Exacta: 3 / 1,8

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

Santa Anita Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:00 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

• #4 OUR MOONLIGHT (7-2): Top pick. Looks good based on the 97 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Race may setup for this runner.
• #1 SHARED FUTURE (3-1): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Seems to be up against the right competition.
• #3 NO CAP (5-2): Fringe Contender. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Previous success in similar race types.
• #5 EMIRATES AFFAIR (5-1): Fringe Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 3 – 5

The Plays

Win: #4 at 4-1

Exacta: 4 / 1,3

Santa Anita Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:30 PM PT; Las Cienegas Stakes $100k; About 6 1/2 F Downhill turf; Field of 9 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

• #1 QUEEN MAXIMA (1-1): Best bet of the card. Race sets up perfectly. Barn has been solid. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #8 NAY V BELLE (4-1): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #4 SPICYBUG (8-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Gonzalez puts this one in with a chance.
• #5 OMNIPONTET (30-1): Fringe Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 1 – 8 – 4 – 5

The Plays

Win: #1 at 1-1

Exacta: 1 / 8,4

Santa Anita Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:00 PM PT; Maiden Claiming $26k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

• #2 PICK IT UP (8-1): Prime Win Player. Solid breeding for this spot. Barn has been solid.
• #3 SATURDAY (6-1): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Stamina to be in the mix late.
• #4 GOLDEN CHASER (10-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners.
• #9 BEAR'S BOARD (6-1): Contender. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 4 – 9

The Plays

Win: #2 at 9-1

Exacta: 2 / 3,4,9

Santa Anita Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 4:30 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Turf; Field of 14 runners.

• #8 YURAK (2-1): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Race sets up perfectly.
• #5 SURFIN' U. S. A. (12-1): Major Player. Ayuso and Powell team up on this one. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
• #7 ESSENTIAL LADY (8-1): Contender. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
• #12 VELVET DREAM (6-1): Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 8 – 5 – 7 – 12

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-2

Exacta: 8 / 5,7

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