Santa Anita Picks: Santa Margarita Stakes (5/30/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Sat May 30, 2026, 10:00 am ET
Read Time: 6 minutes
horses
The racing action from Santa Anita on Saturday features the Santa Margarita Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Santa Anita picks for the entire card!
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Santa Anita Full Card Analysis
Santa Anita Picks: Santa Margarita Stakes (5/30/2026)
Santa Anita Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 1:00 PM PT; Starter Optional Claiming $35k; 6 1/2 F Turf; Field of 8 runners.
- #4 SCENE BY ME (5-2): Top Pick. Fits well with this group. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #1 DECAPO (2-1): Major Player. Comes home strong. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
- #7 GREY'S BOY (9-2): Contender. Ayuso and Cerin team up on this one.
- #2 STEAK FRIES (4-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 4 – 1 – 7 – 2
The Plays
Win: #4 at 2-1
Exacta: 4 / 1,2
Pick 3 (Races 1-3): #4,1 with #6 with #2,4,6,1
Santa Anita Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:30 PM PT; Claiming $15k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
- #6 MORELLO (6-5): Best Bet of the Card. Looks good based on the 84 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Barn has been solid. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #5 UPSTART YANKEE (6-1): Fringe Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Lezcano and Mclean team up on this one.
- #3 WICKLOW HILLS (15-1): Underneath. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Could wear these ones down late.
- #2 NORTHERN QUEST (8-1): Underneath. Competitive enough in recent efforts.
Selections: 6 – 5 – 3 – 2
The Plays
Win: #6 at 1-1
Exacta: 6 / 5,2
Santa Anita Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 2:00 PM PT; Allowance Optional Claiming $67k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
- #2 DANZING FLYER (9-5): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Fits well with this group.
- #4 STAY IN LINE (4-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #6 TEQUILAANDTHERAPY (5-2): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #1 TIMEKEEPER'S CHARM (15-1): Major Player. Could be ready to hit a peak performance. Kimura puts this one in with a chance.
Selections: 2 – 4 – 6 – 1
The Plays
Win: #2 at 6-5
Exacta: 2 / 4,1
Santa Anita Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:33 PM PT; Maiden Claiming $35k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #8 TURKEY BIRD (5-2): Top Pick. Barn has been solid. Strong early pace figs.
- #9 DANCING WITH SHARI (9-2): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Pereira and Mccanna team up on this one.
- #1 VEGAS NIGHTCLUB (6-1): Contender. May be able to find the right setup. Previous success in similar race types.
- #2 GRAPE JUICE TOO (20-1): Contender. Should still have enough in the reserves if there in the final furlong. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 8 – 9 – 1 – 2
The Plays
Win: #8 at 2-1
Exacta: 8 / 9,1,2
Santa Anita Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 3:04 PM PT; Claiming $35k; 1 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #9 JIMMY BLUE JEANS (3-1): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Races competitive with the top contenders.
- #4 CAISSON (5-1): Major Player. Comes home strong.
- #5 KAWAZAKI (6-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #8 HACKING IT UP (5-1): Major Player. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Fresu puts this one in with a chance.
Selections: 9 – 4 – 5 – 8
The Plays
Win: #9 at 5-2
Exacta: 9 / 4,5,8
Santa Anita Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:37 PM PT; Claiming $18k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #1 LOVELY MEDAGLIA (9-5): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Race sets up perfectly.
- #6 TATE BATZ (4-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Can run with these.
- #3 BOBS HONEY (6-1): Major Player. Has experience at this level. Hard to argue with the recent races.
- #5 CLOUDY ROSE (9-2): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. Should still have enough in the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 1 – 6 – 3 – 5
The Plays
Win: #1 at 7-5
Exacta: 1 / 6,3,5
Santa Anita Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 4:07 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $65k; 1 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #1 POST GAME (9-2): Prime Win Player. Solid breeding for this spot.
- #9 TRIBALISM (4-1): Fringe Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #7 DIVISIBLE BY (8-1): Fringe Contender. Potential to kick home late. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
- #6 PLAGARIST (12-1): Underneath. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.
Selections: 1 – 9 – 7 – 6
The Plays
Win: #1 at 3-1
Exacta: 1 / 9,7,6
Santa Anita Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:37 PM PT; Santa Margarita Stakes $200k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 5 runners.
- #3 SEISMIC BEAUTY (2-5): Top Pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Top connections on the circuit with Hernandez and Baffert.
- #4 SIMPLY JOKING (3-1): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #1 OM N JOY (5-1): Fringe Contender. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Previous success in similar race types.
- #5 LAVENDER LOVE (10-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 3 – 4 – 1 – 5
The Plays
Win: #3 at 1-1
Exacta: 3 / 4,1
Santa Anita Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 5:07 PM PT; Maiden Special Weight $65k; 1 M Turf; Field of 12 runners.
- #9 PENTLE BAY (7-2): Top Pick. Comes in with solid form. Barn has been solid.
- #10 SILKIE SEVEI (8-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #11 DATS MS. BLAME (30-1): Major Player. The 86 speed rating is among the best in the field.
- #2 SOUL SISTER (9-2): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 9 – 10 – 11 – 2
The Plays
Win: #9 at 3-1
Exacta: 9 / 10,11,2
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Sunday Analysis
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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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