Pick Pony Mini Tip Sheet for Santa Anita Park – Racing News and Analysis for March 20, 2026


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Eight races are scheduled for Santa Anita Park this Friday afternoon, featuring a mix of turf and dirt action across distances from 5.5 furlongs to one mile. The card includes four maiden events, one claiming race, and two allowance optional claiming contests. Purses range from $17,000 to $70,000. Races 1, 3, and 6 are contested on the turf course with the rail set at 30 feet, while Races 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8 run on the main dirt track.

Key scratches include Hungover (8) from Race 2, Jasmine (1) from Race 5, and Player B (11) from Race 6, all for veterinary reasons. One Smokin Dude (9) is re-entered in Race 7.


Weather Forecast and Track Conditions

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning through 8:00 PM PDT, with temperatures forecast to reach near 100°F — approximately 20 to 30 degrees above normal for this date. Sunny skies will prevail with light south-southwest winds at 5 to 10 mph. Zero precipitation is expected and humidity will remain very low.

The extreme heat may impact horses prone to washing out or becoming anxious before loading. Watch the paddock closely for signs of excessive sweating, particularly with younger maidens. The main track is listed as fast and should remain conventional throughout the card given bone-dry conditions. The turf course is expected to be firm to good, consistent with the dry Southern California weather pattern.


Track Bias and Post Position Analysis

Santa Anita's official post position data from December 28, 2025 through March 1, 2026 shows:

Main Dirt Sprints: Posts 3 and 4 strongest at 18% and 17% win rates respectively. Post 2 weakest at 10%. Post 8 solid at 17%.

Turf Sprints: Posts 1 and 5 lead at 18% each. Post 8 dramatically underperforms at only 5%. The 30-foot rail helps inside posts avoid typical rail disadvantage.

Turf Routes: Posts 3 and 4 significantly stronger at 23% and 20% respectively. Post 5 shows only 3% win rate — a notable negative.

The track plays fair for various running styles. Speed is not overwhelmingly dominant and closers are competitive.


Race 1 — Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs Turf, 1:00 PM

Pace: Moderate tempo expected with Kinzlee'scharisma (1) as primary speed. Should set up for stalkers and closers.

Key Contenders: Fancy Lady (3) finished second in her only career start and pairs powerful McCarthy-Hernandez connection. Rethink (2) brings five starts of experience for elite turf trainer Philip D'Amato with Antonio Fresu riding.

Secondary Choices: Ou La La (6) is a debut runner from Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella with hot jockey Emisael Jaramillo. Prestige Fungson (4) shows consistent place/show record from eight starts.

Longshots: Kinzlee'scharisma (1) should set honest pace but lacks winning record. Song And Dance (5) is a debut runner from lesser-regarded barn.


Race 2 — Maiden Claiming $50,000, 5.5 Furlongs Dirt, 1:33 PM

Pace: Fast early pace expected with multiple speed types in this seven-horse field.

Key Contenders: Ottis Betts (4) boasts perfect 0-0-4 show record from four starts and pairs with red-hot jockey Florent Geroux. Kiki Ride (5) has ten starts with two seconds and shows consistent form at this track.

Secondary Choices: Debbies Gettinghot (1) shows fastest early speed and benefits from rail position. Rollinwithpolan (2) is a debut runner for Doug O'Neill with Jaramillo up.

Longshots: Shady Gem (7) makes second career start. My Man Joe Roldan (3) finished fourth in debut. I'malwaysthirsty (6) is a deep closer at disadvantage in this pace scenario.


Race 3 — Maiden Special Weight, 1 Mile Turf, 2:05 PM

Pace: Moderate tactical race with stalkers controlling tempo. Perfect setup for late runners.

Key Contenders: Call Me Cory (6) carries highest speed figures and 100% in-the-money record from four starts. Post Game (3) brings massive 17-start experience with 0-0-11 show record, perfectly positioned in favored post 3.

Secondary Choices: Let's Be Frank (5) is morning line favorite for McCarthy-Berrios combo. Sabino Canyon (2) is Baffert debut runner with Geroux aboard — combination demands respect.

Longshots: One More Time (4) is Baffert's second entry switching from dirt to turf. Imagineer (1) has seven winless starts and rates as throw-out.


Race 4 — Allowance Optional Claiming $50,000, 1 Mile Dirt, 2:37 PM

Pace: Contested early pace with multiple speed types should set up closers perfectly.

Key Contenders: Fionello (6) posts highest speed figures and pairs Knapp-Fresu combo showing 20% meet win rate. Smoovin Saturday (7) carries winning record and elite McCarthy-Geroux connection.

Secondary Choices: Southern Melodee (4) is morning line co-favorite with front-running style from ideal post 4. Scatalotadingdong (2) won at mile on turf and stretches that form to dirt with hot rider Jaramillo.

Longshots: Bandolero (3) already won at this distance/surface at 30/1 morning line. What A Gift (5), Uecker (8), Tiggrrr Whitworth (9), and Gentleman Rancher (1) are speculative with various distance concerns.


Race 5 — Maiden Special Weight, 5.5 Furlongs Dirt, 3:07 PM

Pace: Unpredictable with five debut runners. First-timer breaking alertly should have tactical advantage.

Key Contenders: Weekend Princess (5) is Baffert debut runner with Geroux — trainer's first-timers historically win at 40% clip. Sounds Lucky (7) carries highest speed figures from six starts and pairs Baffert-Hernandez, the state's most powerful combination.

Secondary Choices: Confidentiality (8) debuts for leading trainer Mark Glatt who won recent Classic Meet at 25%. Poor Val (4) makes debut for eight-time SA champion Philip D'Amato with Fresu riding.

Longshots: Slice (3) debuts for McCarthy-Jaramillo. La Cantina Rossa (2) and Govern (6) are longshot debut runners with minimal analytical support.


Race 6 — Claiming $25,000, 6 Furlongs Turf, 3:37 PM

Pace: Large eleven-horse field with pace-setters and closers. Middle posts 5-8 statistically favored.

Key Contenders: Tigerhon (FR) (9) brings 43 starts with consistent closing style for Peter Miller and hot jockey Geroux. Central Dispatch (8) posts remarkable 33% career win rate for elite trainer John Sadler.

Secondary Choices: Hacking It Up (7) for Papaprodromou carries fastest early speed figures. Yogi Boy (1) has strong 25% career win rate with 50% in-the-money total, paired with top-performing Berrios.

Longshots: Mubtadaa (3) is morning line favorite at 3/1 with 71% in-the-money record. Harcyn (4), Don't Swear Dave (2), Commander (FR) (6), Galland De Besos (5), Chasin Munny (12), and So I'm Told (10) are experienced veterans with varying consistency levels.


Race 7 — Allowance Optional Claiming $20,000, 5.5 Furlongs Dirt, 4:07 PM

Pace: Jaguar Jon (1) leads from rail with closers stalking. Legitimate pace expected.

Key Contenders: Jaguar Jon (1) posts exceptional 37% career win rate with 74% in-the-money total from 19 starts. Uncle Chilly (7) trained by Hall of Famer Jeff Mullins carries fastest stalker figures.

Secondary Choices: Tiger In My Tank (5) won at this distance recently for Barocio who posts 42% meet win rate. Known Idea (8) is morning line co-favorite for leading trainer Mark Glatt.

Longshots: Special Club (3) pairs with dominant rider Hernandez. Cody Boy (2), Wild Jewels (6), One Smokin Dude (9), Spiritual Advisor (10), Minister Shane (4), and Clever Clover (11) complete the field with varying credentials.


Race 8 — Maiden Claiming $12,500, 6 Furlongs Dirt, 4:37 PM

Pace: Multiple front-runners should create contested early pace favoring late runners.

Key Contenders: Celestial Skies (6) shows best in-the-money percentage at 55% from eleven starts with three seconds. Play For Me (2) posts perfect 100% in-the-money record from four starts for quality Knapp barn.

Secondary Choices: Daddygaveittome (3) brings most experience with 23 career starts and front-running style. Dancing Thru Fire (8) adds Tyler Baze for potential upgrade.

Longshots: Bitter Truth (9) pairs with hot jockey Jaramillo after one prior start. West Fresno (5), Smiling Rapper (1), By The Moonlight (4), and Little Originaire (7) complete the field with limited winning credentials.


Jockey and Trainer Notes

Juan Hernandez leads meet with 24% win rate and nine career SA titles. Rides Fancy Lady (3) in R1, One More Time (4) in R3, Sounds Lucky (7) in R5, and Special Club (3) in R7.

Florent Geroux relocated to SoCal in February and is 5-for-25 at meet with multiple stakes wins. Rides Ottis Betts (4) in R2, Sabino Canyon (2) in R3, Smoovin Saturday (7) in R4, Weekend Princess (5) in R5, and Tigerhon (FR) (9) in R6.

Emisael Jaramillo posts exceptional 23-32% win rate at meet. Rides Ou La La (6) in R1, Rollinwithpolan (2) in R2, Scatalotadingdong (2) in R4, Slice (3) in R5, Chasin Munny (12) in R6, and Bitter Truth (9) in R8.

Bob Baffert enters debut runners in Races 3 and 5, historically winning at 40% with first-timers. Trains Sabino Canyon (2) and One More Time (4) in R3, Weekend Princess (5) and Sounds Lucky (7) in R5.

Philip D'Amato won eighth SA training title at 24% win rate. Trains Rethink (2) in R1 and Poor Val (4) in R5.

Mark Glatt led recent Classic Meet at 25% win rate. Trains Confidentiality (8) in R5 and Known Idea (8) in R7.

Michael W. McCarthy posts 21% meet win rate across multiple strong entries including Fancy Lady (3) in R1 and Smoovin Saturday (7) in R4.

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