SCHEDULE NOTESKeeneland | opening day | first post 1 pm ETSPECIAL WAGERSSunset Pick 6 | Gulfstream Races 7-8-9; Santa Anita Races 7-8-9Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9; Santa Anita Races 3-4-5TOURNAMENT TIME$300 Santa Anita Derby Challenge | details$100 Keeneland Feeder | details$40 Santa Anita Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 6 | Aqueduct | $17,241 | begins Race 3 | 2:11 pm ETKEY RACESKeeneland | Race 5 | 3:08 pm ET | Lafayette StakesKeeneland | Race 7 | 4:12 pm ET | Beaumont StakesKeeneland | Race 8 | 4:44 pm ET | Transylvania StakesKeeneland | Race 9 | 5:16 pm ET | Ashland StakesOaklawn | Race 9 | 6:06 pm ET | Rainbow Miss StakesEvangeline | Race 3 | 7:24 pm ET | Acadiana StakesEvangeline | Race 8 | 9:40 pm ET | Spotted Horse StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXKeeneland | Race 4 | 2:36 pm ETTampa Bay | Race 9 | 4:26 pm ETOaklawn | Race 10 | 6:38 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHVictor Barboza Jr. | Gulfstream | 5 of 6 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Aqueduct | jockey Flavien Prat | 3 wins, 2 thirds from 6 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy: Keeneland Opening Day Late Pick 4 AnalysisScott Shapiro: Santa Anita Friday Spot PlaysFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

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)

Hoosier Park has a 14-race card with the 0.50 Late Pick 4 starting in Race 11. The sequence has a low 12% takeout, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 11 (9:20 PM EDT)6-Ilikeitlikethat (2-1)-Rolled home with a 55.2 back half, and a 27.1 last panel to come 2nd in the 1st start since 7-11. Did have breaking issues last year but stayed flat last time, and the preceding qualifier went without a hitch in 155.3. This will be the 3rd lifetime start, Brandon Bates steers again, and this looks like picture time if minds its manners.Race 12 (9:43 PM EDT)1-Noblesville (5/2)-Dropped and popped in last, went off at 9/5 and looked the part. Comes right back versus the same kind and has a chance to double dip. Draws the rail, likes to race on the point and new pilot Kyle Wilfong can work that game plan.3-Brigade (3-1)-The Burke 4-year-old beat the NW4 here, then shipped to MVR and missed doubling up by a nose against the same. Now takes on older but still fits and this time comes back in sequence.Race 13 (10:06 PM EDT)5-Backstreet Gambler (3-1)-Ryan Bellamy entry is still looking for the 1st win in 2026 and meets a beatable field. Couldn't connect against the $15k claimers and in both tries a tepid pace didn't help chances. Drops to a spot to shine and Wilfong should have in striking range at the head of the stretch.8-Leiter (6-1)-Dropped in last but drew the 9-hole, didn't make a move, and had no shot versus a well-meant winner. Now gets further class relief and like the one above should relish the company. Luke Plano has some gate speed to use and despite the post draw is worth a swing at this price.Race 14 (10:29 PM EDT)5-ER Rookie (7/2)-Comes off 2 dull races against better. Now drops and the last time in at this level came 2nd. That night got on the engine and faded. Has only 1 win in 9 starts this year and is in a spot to wake up meeting a field without a standout.6-Joker Rockwell (9/2)-Like the one above is off to slow start (5-0-1-2) after posting 8 wins last year and banking over $88k. Gets some post relief and John DeLong should be aggressive when the wings fold.$2 Late Pick 46/1,3/5,8/5,6Total Bet=$16Check me out on X!

Keeneland opens its Spring Meet Friday with a couple of betting menu twists. I’ll focus on an old favorite here, the late pick 4. But also note wagering minimums have increased in the superfecta (now $0.50) and pick 3 (now $1), while the day’s final 3 races each card will comprise a $3 minimum late pick 3, piggybacking the popularity of the track’s $3 Keeneland Turf Pick 3 from recent seasons, which also continues this Spring.Let’s get to work.Race 7: Beaumont Stakes#2 Just Bluffing steps up in class but looks fastest early off a pair of 6-furlong efforts. This stakes has been dominated by those adding distance and those near the front throughout its decade back on dirt – plus, Luis Saez is a maestro in 7-furlong sprints at Keeneland. Morning line favorite #3 Sneaky Good would be no surprise for a Brad Cox-Flavien Prat tandem that’s won 3 of the last 4 editions of the Beaumont.Race 8: Transylvania StakesIn a stakes where seasonal debuts have found the winner’s circle 7 times in the last 16 years, don’t be afraid of a come-backer. Well-drawn #3 Noble Dynasty really interests me for Bill Mott. His juvenile BRIS late pace figures are better than anything in this race has run this year going long on grass and it’s a field with floundering finishers. Love the 8-1 morning line price in a stakes in which favorites have lost 9 of the last 10 and 6 straight. Will make a gutsy single here, and if we’re right, we separate if able to beat one of the big favorites in the races surrounding this. Zig when they zag.Race 9: Ashland StakesCrazy results are common in the Ashland over the past decade, so 4-5 morning line favorite #3 Zany may look best on paper, but few things are certain in this pitfall race. #4 French Fiction (9-2 ML) has pedigree to route and love Keeneland, speed to win twice easily sprinting at Oaklawn and a trainer in Mark Casse who upset this race at 9-1 last year. Upsets abound in the Ashland with 6 winners at 9-1 or more (average 15-1) in the last 10 spring editions on dirt. I respect Zany, but this is how we get an expanded return in the late pick 4 if we can nail this minor upsetter.Race 10: maiden special weightOutstanding depth to this race, and by not singling or adding cost by including short prices in other legs, we can spread our wings in this race. If we’re live to the finale, we’ll be sitting pretty with a limited investment This is a “bet a little to make a lot” ticket today. #9 Drop Shot (20-1 morning line) is my upset top pick and I’ll feather in a lengthy group of others behind him at minimal cost (just $1 per horse).The Ticket:2,3 with 3 with 4 with 9,5,10,2,1,4,10,12,3 = $9 for each $0.50.

I cannot wait until Saturday when not only there are three massive Triple Crown preps, but great undercards across the country as well. Santa Anita Park offers one of those with a 12-race slate that kicks off at 12PM local time and includes four other stakes events. Let’s dive in!Grade Descriptions: A= Highest Degree of Confidence, B= Solid Play, C= Least Preferred or Pass, X= Likely Winner but at odds probably too short to wager on.Race 1:Grade: B-Use: 8 Struck By Her; 2 Marjoram; 6 Will Happen;Forecast: I loved #2 Marjoram’s debut at Churchill Downs over the off-track last November, but it is hard to want to push all-in on her in the opener. She has not raced since and now races over the lawn for the first time. If she takes to the surface, she is likely better than these, but a pair of fillies on the outside have the recency edge. #8 Struck By Her is the best proven finisher over the grass and #6 Will Happen is likely to get the jump on most of her rivals. I will use a few here to kick off a very playable early Pick 5.Race 2:Grade: B-Use: 1 Comedy Town; 5 Crude VelocityForecast: This first-level allowance at 6.5-furlongs over the main track marks an interesting return spot for good looking debut winner #5 Crude Velocity. The Beau Liam colt was impressive besting a field of solid 3YO prospects last month despite a less-than-ideal voyage from his inside draw. The interesting part is he takes on older more seasoned horses in his second career start instead of opting to take on a field of fellow 3YOs. I prefer him to stablemate #7 March of Time, but will use the veteran #1 Comedy Town as well. The 8YO draws the rail, which is not ideal, but has won 8 of 40 career races. Experience has to be good for something.Race 3:Grade: A-Use: 1 Duke SilverForecast: I am not in love with the rail, but I absolutely love everything else about #1 Duke Silver in this MSW event for 3YOs over the main track. The son of Silver State commanded $335,000 at the OBS April 2025 sale, which is massive considering his sire stands for just $7500. He ran well in the same race Crude Velocity exits on Big Cap Day and meets a much softer field after gaining invaluable racing experience last out. If he avoids trouble from the rail, he should handle this field.Race 4: Echo EddieGrade: B-Use: 1 Galloping Ghost; 2 FionelloForecast: I am going to hope for serious separation from the public here in the horizontals with a pair of Cal-breds that hopefully get a big setup in this year’s $125,000 Echo Eddie. The 6.5-furlong affair has three runners in the compact group of six that like to be forwardly placed. If they go at it early, things could fall apart late. Many will use 3-2-ML favorite #4 Thirsty Rebel hoping he gets the perfect trip, but I am leery about his ability to settle off a hot pace as well. So, I will take a big swing with a pair of late runners drawn down on the inside.Race 5:Grade: C+Use: 12 Kawazaki; 4 Zalamo; 6 Vantastic; 9 Hotrocket; 5 Jimmy Blue JeansForecast: An absolutely wide-open $25k open claimer over the grass concludes the early Pick 5 and I lack a strong opinion unfortunately. I will use several in here with the hopes that the pace is contentious at the very least. If so, there are some intriguing off the pace options without question.Race 6: Santa Anita Oaks (G2)Grade: XUse: 5 MeaningForecast: We will likely shall see how #5 Meaning stacks up nationally in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on the first Saturday in May because not only does she look like the most talented filly in this year’s Santa Anita Oaks (G2), but also the one that should trip out. The Gun Runner filly’s only loss came when she finished fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). I would be surprised if she loses, but her price is far too short at the same time.Race 7:Grade: C+Use: 10 Big Vengeance; 3 Booked ClubhouseForecast: It is tough to be overconfident in any of the runners signed on to this MSW event over the grass for Cal-breds. #3 Booked Clubhouse is the most proven commodity. He has run out of room in his last two starts, but perhaps that is not coincidence. He may just lack a will to win. That said, those without racing experience do little for me in this spot, so I will use him and #10 Big Vengeance. The son of Mr. Big cuts back in distance and draws favorably to the outside. If he can get the jump on Booked Clubhouse and some of his other main rivals, he is capable of springing the upset.Race 8: Evening JewelGrade: C+Use: 5 Another Zero; 7 Mohaven; 3 Cecilia StreetForecast: There is a decent chance this 6.5-furlong dash over the main track for Cal-bred 3YO fillies is bet like a two-horse race between #5 Another Zero and #7 Mohaven. Mohaven was made the even-money favorite, but I prefer the lighter raced Another Zero. The daughter of I’ll Have Another ran very well on debut to finish second and backed it up with a dominant win at odds-on in her second career start. She has unlimited upside at this point, but needs to avoid getting caught up in an early tussle. If they go fast upfront, perhaps #3 Cecilia Street can steal it with the last move. The Leonard Powell trainee moves back to the dirt and cuts back in distance after a third-place finish in the Cal Cup Oaks in mid-January off just 8 days rest. She is fully rested now and potentially primed for her best.Race 9:Grade: BUse: 10 Prince Dolce; 8 King of DragonsForecast: The pace should be contentious at the very least in this state-bred first-level allowance event at one mile over the grass. #12 Call Me Sir and #8 King of Dragons were made the two ML favorites in a relatively wide-open race and both have the right running style to take advantage. That said, Call Me Sir has a challenging draw and has not won since October ’24. King of Dragons is a very difficult horse to ride, but I prefer his upside to Call Me Sir. I like #10 Prince Dolce most though. The son of Sir Prancealot is the best finisher in the field. I am not in love with the addition of blinkers by trainer Steve Knapp, but the veteran conditioner does sport a solid recent ROI when adding the shades for the first time. Hopefully, it helps Prince Dolce finish with intent instead of making him keener during the early stages.Race 10:Grade: BUse: 7 Intrepido; 1 Cherokee NationForecast: The final Grade 1 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is conducted at the Great Race Place at 7:46 eastern/4:46 local time. The featured event on a strong 11-race card has two Bob Baffert runners listed as the two ML choices. I am not sure #2 Potente will go favored over #1 Cherokee Nation, but only one of the two has the upside I am looking for. #2 Potente was all out to beat a modest group in the San Felipe (G2), while Cherokee Nation woke up and ran off the screen breaking his maiden against a field of 3YOs and up. I much prefer Cherokee Nation of the two, but expect him to get over bet, so will take a swing on top with #7 Intrepido. The son of Maximus Mischief makes his second start of the year after a runner-up effort in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) in January. He broke sharp and was part of the early pace that day, but with the outside draw and speed to his inside, I expect jockey Hector Berrios to opt to relax this ridgling a bit in the early stages. If he is able to do so, I think he should be full of run late. He should be a fair price. Hopefully, he runs back to his American Pharoah (G1) effort over this same surface.Race 11: Monrovia (G3)Grade: XUse: 1 Queen Maxima (pictured)Forecast: I have no desire to take on 4-5-ML favorite #1 Queen Maxima in the final stakes race on the Santa Anita Derby Day menu. The 5YO mare returned in style in mid-January with a win in the Las Cinnegas (G3) and should have no issue getting to the wire first again assuming she can avoid trouble being down on the inside. She is not a great wager probably, but betting against her appears unwise as well.Race 12:Grade: B+Use: 11 Somerset WestForecast: They saved one of my top plays of the day for the finale, which is fine by me! #11 Somerset West ran better than her fourth-place finish suggests on debut for the John Sadler barn. Not only was Sadler chilly at the time and not necessarily known for winning with first-time starters on the grass, but this filly was by far the one finishing best in that full field MSW field. I love the outside draw for this daughter of Kantharos. Hopefully, the experience helps her gate issues. Antonio Fresu will be the pilot this time around.

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Santa Anita | today’s races (including Sunset 6)SPECIAL WAGERSSunset Pick 6 | Gulfstream Races 7-8-9; Santa Anita Races 6-7-8Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9; Santa Anita Races 2-4-6TOURNAMENT TIME$40 Santa Anita Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 6 | Oaklawn | $52,483 | begins Race 4 | 3:21 pm ETSunset 6 | $30,598 | Gulfstream/Santa Anita | begins GP Race 7 | 3:47 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $71,170 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 5:22 pm ETKEY RACESMahoning Valley | Race 7 | 3:03 pm ET | Howard B. Noonan StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream | Race 1 | 12:50 pm ETOaklawn | Race 5 | 3:53 pm ETCharles Town | Race 9 | 10:45 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHLinda Rice | Aqueduct | 8 of 9 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Turf Paradise | 63-year-old jockey Pat Valenzuela wins first race of latest comebackPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Sunset 6 Carryover Analysis for ThursdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The Lead:Keeneland's massive Blue Grass Day Saturday card includes Kentucky Derby prospects and 4 undercard stakes. My strongest opinion in the preliminaries is a pace play in the 7-furlong Madison, which goes as Race 9 of 11.Horseplayers be sure to take part $10 Money-Back Special on all Kentucky Derby preps this season with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. That includes Saturday's Blue Grass at Keeneland, Wood at Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby. There's also a $5,000 Exacta-Thon this Saturday on the Keeneland and Santa Anita programs.​​Field Depth:Grade 1 winner CLIQUOT is joined by Grade 2 winners MYSTIC LAKE, R DISASTER, PRAYING and GRAND JOB. ECLATANT and RAGTIME are Grade 3 winners, the latter G1-placed. On class it's a very even matchup considering CLICQUOT did her damage in 3-year-old restricted races.​Pace:Extremely hot. Win this on the front end vs. GRAND JOB, R DISASTER, PRAYING, MYSTIC LAKE and ECLATANT and you've run the gauntlet. A finisher should have a major chance at success.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-ECLATANT: Returned from more than 7 months away with a razor-sharp Gulfstream allowance win and is set for the stakes re-rise. The 2025 Forward Gal winner may be best at GP, but her Keeneland allowance win during the ’24 Fall Meet always counts for something here. The Into Mischiefs excel in 7-furlong Keeneland stakes with a whopping 7 different winners. Getting Irad Ortiz Jr. for the first time won’t hurt the cause.#2-STERLING SILVER: Blinkers go on this millionaire win machine with 11 victories and $1.4M banked. The New York-bred is proven in open company, but her 3: 0-0-0 local mark concerns given the horse-for-course nature that is Keeneland. She’s in consistently good form, so not sure why you make an equipment change on a 7-year-old with 38 trips to the post. Jose Ortiz rides for Anthony Margotta Jr.#3-CLICQUOT: Grade 1 Cotillion winner makes her first start since a fourth-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Trainer Brendan Walsh comes off a big 2025 at Keeneland that included this filly’s maiden breaker in the Spring Meet over 7 furlongs. Track and trip are on her ledger, so can’t dismiss on the reduction in trip in a race that has a ton of speed otherwise. Flavien Prat rides.#4-RAGTIME: Like Clicquot, she’s a 4-year-old returning off the bench and trimming the trip some after a third-place run in the 1-mile Chilukki. Her late-running sprint style was on display in winning the Dogwood and narrowly missing in Saratoga’s Test and Keeneland’s Raven Run. She’ll be flying late for Bill Mott and new rider John Velazquez with a big chance given the hot pace set-up.#5-GRAND JOB: The faster early of the uncoupled Mott-trained pair, expect Gulfstream’s Inside Information winner to contest the front. The Justify mare has won 4 of 6 since departing Ireland in 2023, racing only a few times each season. Junior Alvarado hops off Ragtime and lands on her stablemate. Other pace pressure could tell the tale, however.#6-R DISASTER: First of 2 Saffie Joseph Jr. trainees in the Madison, how can you fault a 14-for-16 mark in the exacta with 8 wins? She’s done it over multiple tracks sprinting so her first attempt at Keeneland may look a lot like the others. Tyler Gaffalione picks up the mount here, a Keeneland top-of-the-standings regular. She’ll be on or near the lead and it comes down to handling a ton of pressure over 7 furlongs, a little farther than her best.#7-PRAYING: Keeneland sprint stakes veteran is back for her first start since fading in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar. She won the Myrtlewood here in the ’24 Fall Meet and returned last fall to win the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America over elders while just age 3. Robbie Medina puts Joel Rosario up as regular rider John Velazquez switches saddles to Ragtime on Saturday. She wants to be in the mix a length or two off the pacemakers, which could drag her along faster-than-desired in this particular scenario.#8-MYSTIC LAKE: Another blistering pace player, the second Saffie Joseph Jr. charge in the Madison has won 6 of her last 7, the wins coming over 5 different tracks. She set the tone here last year and faded to fourth under Irad Ortiz Jr. She loses him to Eclatant and her recent pilot Flavien Prat to Clicquot, while picking up Luis Saez – who is a maestro in local 7-furlong races. Outside post may help with her early juice, but the overall pace pressure in this race is the biggest threat to all the speed.Most Likely Exotics Contender:RAGTIME gets a great pace set-up and is 6-for-6 in the money lifetime including over the track and distance. Her long list of triple-digit BRIS Late Pace Figures really stand out against this expected race flow.Best Longshot Contender:No huge prices projected, but 6-1 morning line on CLIQUOT certainly interests with 5-1 on the top choice.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$70 win RAGTIME. $20 exacta RAGTIME over CLIQUOT. $10 exacta CLIQUOT over RAGTIME.

We are down to two weekends of Triple Crown preps meaning there are just four more chances to take advantage of our two-month long Money Back Special promotion. I am sure most of you are registered and aware of the parameters, but for those checking in for the first time when the calendar turns April, it is simple. Register on the promotional landing page and get up to $10 back on your first Win bet if your horse finishes second or third. It is a big weekend of races that will almost finalize the Kentucky Derby starters, so let’s get to my plays.Blue Grass (G1), Keeneland Race 11The first of three 100-point to the winner races over less than a 90-minute time span is the traditional Keeneland Spring Meet Saturday headliner. The Blue Grass (G1) goes to post at 6:22 eastern where #6 Further Ado was listed as the morning line favorite. If he runs back to his massive maiden win over this racetrack last fall, he will be a tough customer, but we did not see that horse in his long-planned return in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). Perhaps, he moves forward in his second try off the bench, but I am concerned we saw the best of him as a 2YO.I love the chances of #2 Reagan’s Honor. The son of Honor A.P. did not take the standard approach on the Derby Trail, instead opting to run in an allowance for 3YOs+ after his wire-to-wire victory on January 17. Cherie DeVaux has given him the perfect amount of time to recover from his monster score in mid-February. I am expecting another big effort from the $140k Keeneland September 2022 purchase in his first start against stakes foes.Play: #4 Reagan’s Honor (5-2 ML)Wood Memorial (G2), Aqueduct Race 12The Wood is up twelve minutes later and unlike the Kentucky Derby, there looks to be a lot of speed signed on in the last edition of this race to be conducted at Aqueduct Race Track. The 9-furlong affair has two serious speed horses down on the inside in #1 Napoleon Solo and #2 Talk to Me Jimmy. With plenty of tactical speed types to the outside as well it should set things up for a closer. I am hopeful #5 Ocelli opts to run in this spot, not the Blue Grass because I really like his chances in New York. The son of Connect ran far better than looks in his sixth-place finish in the Virginia Derby after a less-than-ideal voyage in the Sam F. Davis. Perhaps, this colt is hard to ride or not the most athletic horse, but he has had things difficult in several of his races. The Whit Beckman trainee has raced against two of the four horses in my top tier for this year’s Run for the Roses and due to get the right setup. Joe Ramos is back onboard with the blinkers coming off for the first time in 2026.Play: Ocelli (20-1 ML)Santa Anita Derby (G1), Santa Anita Race 10The final Grade 1 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is conducted at the Great Race Place at 7:46 eastern/4:46 local time. The featured event on a strong 12-race card has two Bob Baffert runners listed as the two ML choices. I am not sure #2 Potente will go favored over #1 Cherokee Nation, but only one of the two has the upside I am looking for. #2 Potente was all out to beat a modest group in the San Felipe (G2), while Cherokee Nation woke up and ran off the screen breaking his maiden against a field of 3YOs and up. I much prefer Cherokee Nation of the two, but expect him to get over bet, so will take a swing against both with #7 Intrepido. The son of Maximus Mischief makes his second start of the year after a runner-up effort in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) in January. He broke sharp and was part of the early pace that day, but with the outside draw and speed to his inside, I expect jockey Hector Berrios to opt to relax this ridgling a bit in the early stages. If he is able to do so, I think he should be full of run late. He should be a fair price. Hopefully, he runs back to his American Pharoah (G1) effort over this same surface.Play: #7 Intrepido (7-2 ML)