The 5-day racing week at the Great Race Place continues on Friday after some challenging results on Thursday afternoon led to a carryover of over $20k in the $2 Pick 6. The sequence gets started in Race 3 at 4:35 PM eastern/1:35 PM local time and concludes as always with the finale. Here are a few horses I like most within the sequence.

Race 4:

There is a noticeable lack of early speed signed on in this $10k claimer for non-winners of two lifetime at one mile over the main track. This should benefit #1 Typhoon Tommy. The Sir Prancealot gelding moves from turf-to-dirt in his second start off the claim for low profile conditioner Edwin Alvarez. Alvarez tried two turns on the grass against slightly better in the first start for his new barn just a week ago, but the 4YO did not make the lead at odds of 13-1. He returns quickly, drops to the bottom, and should control the pace in this one under regular rider Armando Ayuso. Gate-to-wire in the second leg of the Pick 6 and to kick off the late Pick 5.

Play: #1 Typhoon Tommy (3-1 ML)

Race 5:

A starter allowance for older fillies and mares at one-mile over the grass is up next where #1 Miss Meagher is the runner I like most. The daughter of Galileo Gold comes in off a tough beat at Del Mar in late November when she was run down in the final strides by 2-1-favorite Willa T. The 5YO mare stays at the same level and draws inside once again, which should give jockey Hector Berrrios options. He could get aggressive and try to get Miss Meagher to the lead, but it is more likely the savvy turf rider allows her to settle just off the early pace once again. Either way, she should be tough to beat with a similar trip to the one she had last out in San Diego County.

Play: #1 Miss Meagher (7-2 ML)

Race 8:

The card concludes with this open $25k claimer at 6-furlongs over the Santa Anita sod where I am hopeful the pace is not overly contentious. #2 Code Duello has the speed from the inside to make the lead, but has not raced on the grass in over a year, so we shall see if his early zip still translates to the lawn. Either way, #5 Please Focus should find a favorable prominent spot early in his first start off the claim for trainer Steve Knapp. Knapp claimed the son of Mrazek from low percentage trainer George Lopez in mid-December for $16k and moves him back to the turf after a pair of underneath finishes during the Los Alamitos day program to end his 2025 campaign. His last two efforts on the green are better than they appear because Please Focus was up against it from a race shape perspective both times. He gets back to a course he has earned 3 of his 4 career victories over and draws outside the other potential speed. I like his chances to put forth a big one in his first start of 2026.

Play: #5 Please Focus (8-1 ML)