After an early start to the racing week in Arcadia, CA, they are back it at again on Friday afternoon at Santa Anita Park for a 9-race card that kicks off at 4PM eastern/1PM local time. The slate features five turf events, including the $3 All-Turf Pick 3, which kicks off in Race 5. Here are a few horses I plan to lean on later today at The Great Race Place.

Race 3:
My first play comes in this $71,000 allowance that looks a lot like a Grade 3 over the grass where I like #3 Cabo Spirit. The 7YO gelding drops out of graded stakes company after a pair of speed and fade efforts to kick off his 2026 season. It is usually pretty simple with this George Papaprodromou trainee. If he makes the lead and can control the early tempo against a realistic group, he is tough to catch. That should be the case against this bunch that has a lack of early zip outside of my top choice. Look for Hall of Famer Mike Smith to aggressively get him to the front, attempt to back down the second quarter, and have enough left late to get to the wire first.

Play: #3 Cabo Spriit (4-1 ML)


Race 7:
This state-bred MSW event for fillies and mares over the grass kicks off the $3 Late Pick 3, which of course has a 15% takeout. I will build my late Pick 3 around #2 Jennys Wine Girl. The daughter of Richard’s Kid makes her third consecutive start at this surface/distance/level for trainer Richard Baltas. She draws favorably along the inside this start after an outside post last time led to a different voyage than I expect from the 4YO filly later today. Either jockey Edwin Maldonado gets aggressive and tries to take it to this bunch or lets #7 All in the Game go and opts to sit a favorable trip just off a horse trying a route of ground for the first time. If Maldonado plays it right, it should lead to this gal’s first lifetime score.

Play: #2 Jennys Wine Girl (3-1 ML)


Race 9:
With #1 Joint Venture looking like a likely winner in the eighth, it looks like a very hittable late Pick 3 heading into this allowance event down the hill. I will try to close it out cold with #5 Proof He Rides. The son of Idiot Proof makes his third start off the claim for trainer Jeff Mullins. Mullins claimed the 8YO gelding for $50k at Del Mar in early November and the transaction has paid dividends already. Hopefully, jockey Kyle Frey can angle him outside of likely speed #8 Virat, stalk that one intently early, and make a similar move to the one he did in late February. If so, they are running for second.

Play: #5 Proof He Rides (4-1 ML)