The first full racing week of 2026 concludes at Santa Anita Park on Sunday afternoon with a slate that gets started at the normal 3 pm ET / noon local time. The 10-race card is headlined by a pair of Grade 3 events for the ladies. Here are a few horses I am building my Sunday around at the Great Race Place.


Race 5: Las Flores (G3)

The first of the two stakes races on the Sunday agenda is this 6-furlong dash over the main track for older fillies and mares. #2 Thermal was made the 9-5-ML favorite on the Horse Racing Nation morning line, but I am hopeful she has things a bit more difficult on the front end than she did last out against lesser when cruised to an easy lead at Del Mar and never looked back. With #3 Margarita Girl likely to press Thermal, I expect #5 Magnificat to work out a perfect trip under regular jockey Mirco Demuro. The Spendthrift Farm homebred has done little wrong thus far putting in a solid run on debut for a barn that rarely has their runners cranked at first asking before showing some grit in his two victories since moving to the dirt. The outside draw in this compact group should do her well. Look for the Richard Mandella trainee to make it 3 in a row in her first start of 2026.

Play: #5 Magnificat (3-1 ML)


Race 6:

Trainer Mark Glatt came into the Classic Meet on a bit of a cold streak, but the veteran Southern California conditioner has picked things up of late. In fact, he has won with 5 of 15 starters over the last ten days with 13 of those runners having finished in the money. Glatt sends out #1 Watsonville in this second-level allowance over the grass that kicks off the late Pick 5, as well as the All-Turf Pick 3. The Jack Milton gelding has been freshened up by Glatt after chasing the pace early and grinding away third in the $80,000 Lure on October 18. Jockey Umberto Rispoli takes over riding duties for the first time. He should be able to work out a perfect stalking trip from his inside draw. From there, the $288k career earner hopefully can relax along the inside and out finish this group. I like his chances to earn his first victory since the Mathis Mile (G2) on Opening Day of the 2023-2024 Classic Meeting.

Play: #1 Watsonville (4-1 ML)


Race 7:

Up next is this first-level allowance at 6.5-furlongs over the main track where there should be an honest pace at the very least. There will need to be for my top choice #1 Shared Future to have a big chance on the cutback for trainer Mark Rheinford. The 7YO mare has been given a couple of months after a head defeat versus similar at Del Mar going one-mile over their main track. The 7-time winner takes on a field of horses where 4 of the 7 competitors have just one victory on their resume. The experience edge and success over this racetrack should allow the daughter of Twirling Candy to settle early in the back under regular rider Armando Aguilar and come with a strong run late. There is one thing for sure. Shared Future is the best finisher in this group, so if he gets the setup he should be rolling late.

Play: #1 Shared Future (3-1 ML)