After an outstanding Opening Day card at Santa Anita Park, they are back at it this afternoon for Day 2 of the Classic Meet at the Great Race Place. The nine-race card kicks off at 3PM eastern/12 PM local time and is headlined by the $200,000 Joe Hernandez (G2) down the Hillside Turf Course. The featured event goes as Race 7 on the agenda, which means it is included in both the $3 minimum/15% takeout Late Pick 3, as well as the $3 All-Turf Pick 3. Here are a few horses I like most on the Monday slate.


Race 3: Blue Norther

The first stakes race of the afternoon is this one-mile event for 2YO fillies traveling one mile over the Santa Anita lawn. The compact group lacks a ton of early pace, which should benefit #6 Latte Luv. The Constitution filly was not ridden for speed last time out in the Jimmy Durante (G3) given plenty of other early zip signed on in that 11-horse field at Del Mar, but the race shape in this spot should be much different. This should allow Hector Berrios to take this Doug O’Neill trainee right to the front, control the tempo, and have plenty left late to earn her first stakes score.

Play: #6 Latte Luv (5-2 ML)



Race 7: Joe Hernandez (G2)

The pace is likely to be honest, but not overly chaotic in the Monday feature down the hill. #6 Motorious was understandably made the 3-1-ML favorite with first-time turfer #1 Imagination the 7-2-second choice. Of the two, I much prefer Motorious, but he is always a tough horse to take a short price on since he needs things to go his way from off the pace to get to the wire first. I will try to get the jump on him with #5 Yellow Card. The Lost Treasure colt makes his second start off the bench after being part of a blanket finish in the Stormy Lure at Del Mar on November 30. Two-back in the Eddie D (G2), in his first try over this unique configuration, the 4YO showed an affinity for the course stalking just off the early pace, putting away the other speed, but just not having enough to hold off the talented Reef Runner. Jockey Kazushi Kimura has been aboard this guy in his last four starts and should have him in a favorable stalking position early. Hopefully, he has enough left late to seal the deal at a solid price.

Play: #5 Yellow Card (12-1 ML)


Race 9:

The finale is a MSW for 2YOs around two turns on the sod and I am not in love with the common race many of these colts exit on November 30 at Del Mar. The race was won in dominant fashion by favorite Plutarch with a blanket finish for the minor awards. #4 Rio Grande was never a factor on the win end, but got up late for second and was made the 2-1-ML favorite to close the card. I am against him and the others exiting that 11/30 race in San Diego County. I will try the fresh face #5 Charlie’s Curlin. The son of Curlin moves into the Jeff Mullins barn after a pair of sprints to kick off his career. The second one came over the sod when he raced against the flow, but finished well over the Del Mar grass to earn fourth. The $225k OBS March 2025 purchase is bred to love more ground and gets a positive rider upgrade to Hector Berrios. I like his chances to close the Monday proceedings.

Play: #5 Charlie’s Curlin (4-1 ML)