Santa Anita Picks: Robert J Frankel Stakes (01/08/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Last Update: Thu Jan 08, 2026, 8:03 am ET
Read Time: 7 minutes
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The racing action from Santa Anita on Thursday features the Robert J. Frankel Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Santa Anita picks for the entire card!
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Santa Anita Full Card Analysis
Santa Anita Picks: Robert J Frankel Stakes (01/08/2026)
Santa Anita Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:00 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 1 M Turf; Field of 12 runners.
- #2 FRENCH MOONLIGHT (3-1): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Stamina to outlast the competition.
- #5 WARM RECEPTION (2-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
- #7 SUNTORY TIME (7-2): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Could wear these ones down late.
- #3 MPERFECTION (12-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.
Selections: 2 – 5 – 7 – 3
The Plays
Win: #2 at 7-2
Exacta: 2 / 5,7
Pick 3 (races 1-3): #2,5 with #8,2,5,7 with #2
Santa Anita Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 12:33 PM PT; Claiming $26k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
Longshot Play of the Day
- #6 TAISHAN (8-1): Longshot play of the day. Race may setup for this runner. Barn has been solid. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
- #2 BIG JUANITO (6-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
- #5 ELEGANT BOY (20-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Has experience at this level.
- #7 RESEMBLANCE (5-1): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. Fast enough on paper to compete.
Selections: 6 – 2 – 5 – 7
The Plays
Win: #6 at 9-1
Exacta Box: 6 / 2 / 5
Santa Anita Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:06 PM PT; Eddie Logan Stakes $100k; 1 M Turf; Field of 7 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
- #2 STARK CONTRAST (7-5): Best bet of the card. Solid closing kick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #5 PLUTARCH (2-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Comes home strong.
- #4 UNRIVALED TIME (6-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
- #7 THIRD BEER (10-1): Major Player. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.
Selections: 2 – 5 – 4 – 7
The Plays
Win: #2 at 7-5
Exacta Box: 2 / 5 / 4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 1:37 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #10 FRENCH BLUE (5-2): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #9 CHERRY CIDER (4-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #2 FEISTY RED HEAD (12-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
- #8 ETHEREAL QUALITY (20-1): Underneath. Race conditions fit this one well. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 10 – 9 – 2 – 8
The Plays
Win: #10 at 3-1
Exacta: 10 / 9,2
Santa Anita Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 2:09 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $71k; 6 F Turf; Field of 8 runners.
- #7 GRATEFULLY (9-5): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Races competitive with the top contenders.
- #5 BIT'S TIGER MAGIC (3-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #8 YOUNG LOVE (10-1): Major Player. May be able find the right setup. Previous success in similar race types.
- #3 IMABOUTAGO (6-1): Contender. Ran at this level last out.
Selections: 7 – 5 – 8 – 3
The Plays
Win: #7 at 2-1
Exacta Box: 7 / 5 / 8
Santa Anita Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 2:40 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $70k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #9 TOMMY NORRIS (5-2): Prime Win Player. Decent form of late. Race sets up perfectly.
- #6 JOKER WENT WILD (4-1): Contender. Can run with these. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #3 BENNY AND THE JET (5-1): Fringe Contender. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Previous success in similar race types.
- #1 MY BODACIOUS BOY (6-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 9 – 6 – 3 – 1
The Plays
Win: #9 at 3-1
Exacta: 9 / 6,3
Santa Anita Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 3:11 PM PT; Robert J. Frankel Stakes $100k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 8 runners.
- #1 PUBLIC ASSEMBLY (9-5): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Barn has been solid.
- #5 PARADISE LAKE (2-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Seems to be up against the right competition.
- #4 HANNAH BUCKLE (10-1): Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
- #7 STARRY NIGHT (15-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 1 – 5 – 4 – 7
The Plays
Win: #1 at 2-1
Exacta: 1 / 5,4
Santa Anita Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 3:42 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $70k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #8 DEL MAR JERRY (7-2): Prime Win Player. Proven competitor at this configuration. Race sets up perfectly.
- #9 KATONAH (5-1): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
- #2 COPP (15-1): Underneath. Could wear these ones down late. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
- #6 RUNAWAY CHARLIE (30-1): Underneath. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.
Selections: 8 – 9 – 2 – 6
The Plays
Win: #8 at 4-1
Exacta: 8 / 9,2
Santa Anita Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 4:14 PM PT; Maiden Claiming $35k; 1 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.
- #10 MUTAZ (2-1): Top pick. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #3 LORENZO BERNINI (5-2): Major Player. Rispoli and Papaprodromou team up on this one. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #2 SWEET ODYSSEY (3-1): Major Player. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
- #9 IRON (8-1): Major Player. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.
Selections: 10 – 3 – 2 – 9
The Plays
Win: #10 at 5-2
Exacta Box: 10 / 3 / 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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