Pick Pony Picks – Consensus Expert Picks for Santa Anita Park, March 21, 2026. 89% WIN RATE + 6 TRIFECTAS + 1 EXACTA


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Race 1 – Maiden Special Weight – 9F Turf – Purse approx $78,000 – WIN

Win: Darya (IRE) (6) – 80% confidence 🥇

Place: Tipitap (3) – 60% confidence

Show: Nerida (FR) (2) – 60% confidence 🥈

Alternative: Mass (1) – 40% confidence 🥉

Race notes: Analysts strongly converge on Darya (IRE) (6) off the sharp U.S. debut and repeated top-tip status, suggesting a high-probability win scenario with tactical versatility. Tipitap (3) and Nerida (FR) (2) repeatedly appear underneath, framing a logical trifecta structure with Mass (1) as the main price-boosting outsider. Other runners include: Photogenic (5), Egyptian Mistress (4).

Race 2 – Maiden Claiming – 8F Dirt – Purse approx $13,000​ – EXACTA

Win: Lorenzo Bernini (5) – 85% confidence 🥈

Place: Redial (2) – 75% confidence 🥇

Show: Bossing Mo (4) – 55% confidence

Alternative: Maximum Gladiator (1) – 35% confidence

Race notes: Lorenzo Bernini (5) is a dominant consensus choice with class relief and the best established route dirt figure profile, making him a key single candidate in vertical and multi-race exotics. Redial (2) and Bossing Mo (4) own consistent maiden-claiming form, while Maximum Gladiator (1) offers stretch-out upside but with less support. Other runners include: Audible Silence (3).

Race 3 – Allowance Optional Claiming – 8F Dirt – Purse approx $72,000​ – WIN + TRIFECTA

Win: Coach Cronin (3) – 90% confidence 🥇

Place: Refocus (2) – 70% confidence

Show: The Gypsy Cowboy (1) – 60% confidence

Alternative: Mici's Express (4) – 45% confidence 🥈

Race notes: Coach Cronin (3) is nearly unanimous on top after a dominant sprint win and strong figure edge, supporting an aggressive “on-top” approach in exotics. Refocus (2), The Gypsy Cowboy (1), and Mici's Express (4) trade positions under him across analysts, implying a compact but high-confidence superfecta core. Other runners include: Fix It Quick (5).

Race 4 – Maiden Claiming – 1320Y Dirt – Purse approx $32,000​ – WIN + TRIFECTA

Win: Map Me Sexy (2) – 55% confidence 🥇

Place: Texas Wildcat (5) – 55% confidence 🥈

Show: Another Juanito (4) – 50% confidence 🥉

Alternative: Charlie D'oro (6) – 40% confidence

Race notes: Opinion is more fragmented here, with Map Me Sexy (2) and Texas Wildcat (5) sharing near-equal top support, indicating a modestly volatile race where pace and fitness could swing the outcome. Another Juanito (4) and Charlie D'oro (6) are widely used underneath, suggesting broader coverage is justified despite the small field. Other runners include: Tess Of Hemet (1).

Race 5 – Starter Allowance – 8F Turf – Purse approx $40,000 – WIN + TRIFECTA

Win: She's Splendid (1) – 60% confidence 🥈

Place: Theresasilverlinin (2) – 55% confidence

Show: Thirsty Trickster (5) – 55% confidence 🥇

Alternative: Catalina Cocktail (6) – 45% confidence 🥉

Race notes: Analysts cluster tightly around a quartet, with She's Splendid (1) holding a slight edge as the most frequently preferred winner and best recent local turf figure. Theresasilverlinin (2), Thirsty Trickster (5), and Catalina Cocktail (6) are all strongly represented in the exacta and trifecta slots, making this a depth race rather than a single-horse anchor. Other runners include: Moonlit Courage (3), Lady Laoban (4).

Race 6 – Maiden Claiming – 1320Y Dirt – Purse approx $32,000​ – WIN

Win: Lyndee's Dream (2) – 75% confidence 🥈

Place: Run On Om (3) – 60% confidence

Show: Dustem Too (7) – 55% confidence 🥇

Alternative: Mettler (5) – 40% confidence

Race notes: Despite being a lightly raced field, Lyndee's Dream (2) is clearly the preferred winner with consistent support from multiple analysts and bookmakers. Run On Om (3), Dustem Too (7), and Mettler (5) rotate as underneath players, signaling a race where using several in the second and third spots could be critical. Other runners include: Surprise D' Oro (1), Backstage Drama (6).

Race 7 – Irish O’Brien Stakes – 1430Y Turf – Purse approx $100,000 – WIN + TRIFECTA

Win: Grand Slam Smile (1) – 80% confidence 🥇

Place: Take Another Card (4) – 60% confidence 🥈

Show: Prancingthruparis (5) – 70% confidence 🥉

Alternative: Young Love (3) – 45% confidence

Race notes: Grand Slam Smile (1) commands strong consensus as the class standout with established hillside form, making her a prime key in all exotic structures. Analysts respect Take Another Card (4), Prancingthruparis (5), and Young Love (3) as logical underneath pieces, with some viewing Take Another Card (4) as a value upset candidate relative to the favorite's short price. Other runners include: Miss Practical (6), Moment's Pleasure (2).

Race 8 – Starter Optional Claiming – 1320Y Dirt – Purse approx $45,000 – WIN + TRIFECTA

Win: Mbagnick (CHI) (6) – 60% confidence 🥇

Place: Code Duello (3) – 60% confidence 🥈

Show: Hard To Figure (5) – 55% confidence

Alternative: Hawker (4) – 45% confidence

Race notes: Mbagnick (CHI) (6) and Code Duello (3) share co-favored status in the analyst community, reflecting split views on current form versus long-term dirt ability. Hard To Figure (5) and Hawker (4) appear repeatedly in the exotics conversation, pointing to a race where a four-deep approach in multi-race sequences could be warranted. Other runners include: Baladi (1), Chasin Munny (2).

Race 9 – San Luis Rey Stakes (G3) – 12F Turf – Purse approx $100,000+ – WIN + TRIFECTA

Win: Gold Phoenix (IRE) (4) – 70% confidence 🥇

Place: Truly Quality (2) – 70% confidence

Show: Mondego (GB) (5) – 60% confidence 🥉

Alternative: Balnikhov (IRE) (3) – 45% confidence

Race notes: Gold Phoenix (IRE) (4) and Truly Quality (2) share strong top-two support, underpinned by established graded-stakes credentials at marathon trips. Mondego (GB) (5) and Balnikhov (IRE) (3) are widely respected as live contenders, suggesting a compact yet high-class group where small tactical differences may decide the outcome. Other runners include: Flashiest (1), City Exile (GB) (6), Living Life (7), Watsonville (8).

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