There are just two days remaining to get involved at Santa Anita Park with tomorrow being closing day due to the power issues that forced cancellation of the second half of Thursday’s card. Today’s 12-race slate at the “Great Race Place” has a number of high-quality wagering opportunities. Here are a few horses I will be keying in on in hopes of taking advantage.


Race 1:
The day kicks off with a wide-open state-bred MSW at 6-furlongs over the sod. Of those that have competed in the afternoons I like #4 Come On Om best. The Harris Farm homebred ran too good to lose at double-digit odds in her debut last month and will be tough to beat if she moves forward off that first run. However, the value is likely to be good to pass on first-time starter #1 Rousing Rhythm. The Mr. & Mrs Larry D. Williams homebred is out of a mare that has produced 2 first-out winners and a runner-up with her first four foals. Trainer Dean Pederson does not have sparkling numbers with debut turf sprinters, but certainly has proven capable over the years. I will gamble this gal is live at first asking.

Play: #1 Rousing Rhythm (8-1 ML)
Picks: 1-4-10


Race 5:
I am less creative in this second-level allowance at 6-furlongs over the grass where #5 Can’t Sleep appears to be better than these. Trainer Carla Gaines brings back this Harris Farms homebred for her first start of 2026 after a win against first-level allowance foes at Del Mar to conclude her 4YO campaign. She has not been great out of the gate in some of her starts, but otherwise has done little wrong through 6 starts. Gaines sports a positive ROI off a 72-race recent sample of runners returning off 90+ day breaks and Can’t Sleep won on debut and ran well last summer on the dirt in her return race. Therefore, my concerns off of her not being ready off the bench are minimal. Her talent should be good enough to handle this field.

Play: #5 Can’t Sleep (5-2 ML)
Picks: 5-4-2


Race 11:
My final play of the day comes in this first-level allowance down the Hillside Turf Course where #6 No Cap should be loose on the lead. The Dad’s Caps mare has done most of her running on dirt, but when she has run on turf she has been solid. She has a win in five starts and a good third at odds of 51-1 in a similar spot in February. The difference in this race is not only the quality of the competition, but the fact she was not ridden for speed that day by Armando Ayuso. I would be shocked though if Emisael Jaramillo is not cognizant of the lack of overall speed signed on. Expect him to send the 5YO aggressively to the front and have enough left late to earn her fourth career victory.

Play: #6 No Cap (4-1 ML)
Picks: 6-1-8