Daily Picks

Santa Anita Picks & Predictions — June 14, 2026

Sunday, June 14, 202612 racesSanta Anita

Santa Anita is putting on a full show this Sunday afternoon — 12 races under clear skies with temperatures sitting at a comfortable 85°F. The turf courses figure to be lively, and with six of today's twelve races run on the grass, turf form is going to be front and center all day long.

The marquee event is Race 9, a turf stakes at 1¾ miles — a genuine classic distance you don't see every weekend at the Big A. Beyond that headliner, the card is loaded with maiden special weights on both surfaces, giving us plenty of angles on young horses with room to improve. From sprint maidens to allowance runners to a legitimate stakes test, there's something here for every type of handicapper.

TrackWiz has crunched the full 12-race card. The first three races are on us — free analysis for every reader. Races 4 through 12 are available to subscribers, and trust us, there are some compelling spots in that back half of the card worth knowing about.

Best Bets

Race 1

8:00 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Turf

A deep 14-horse maiden turf sprint with a clear class standout at the top, but the rest of the field is tightly bunched and capable of chaos — exotic players will need to spread wide.

win10Marla HoochML 5/1

Marla Hooch tops the TrackWiz ratings by a wide margin at 84.17 — the next closest horse checks in more than 20 points behind. Trained by Philip D'Amato, who is one of the sharpest turf conditioners in Southern California, this filly brings an average speed figure of 56 and draws the 10-post in a field where turf bias often rewards horses that can settle and run. At 5/1 on the morning line, she's not being given away, but her rating separation makes her the clear top choice.

place8Taking a Joy RideML 10/1

Taking a Joy Ride (No. 8) rates second in the field at 63.52 and sports a speed figure of 55, giving her legitimate credentials in a competitive maiden field. Trainer Craig Anthony Lewis and jockey Kazushi Kimura team up here, and Kimura has shown he can navigate turf fields with savvy. At 10/1 on the morning line, she offers genuine value in the place pool if you're looking to build exotics around the top choice.

show2GrazeninthegrassML 9/2

Grazeninthegrass (No. 2) posts a 54.17 TrackWiz rating and is trained by Tim Yakteen, who knows how to spot maiden turf horses. She carries the second-shortest morning line at 9/2, suggesting the morning line maker respects her chances even without a recorded speed figure — likely debut form or works that impressed. A solid show inclusion to round out trifecta and superfecta tickets.

Race 2

8:32 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Thirty Two Chunk looks like a monster on paper in this starter optional claimer, but with Ima Track Star's perfect record in the field, the pace scenario and hidden value could make this more interesting than the odds suggest.

win6Thirty Two ChunkML 2/1

Thirty Two Chunk (No. 6) is the class of this field by a healthy margin — his TrackWiz rating of 88.54 is more than 20 points clear of the next horse. Trained by Mark Glatt with Kazushi Kimura in the irons, this combo knows how to close out dirt sprints at Santa Anita. His average speed figure of 56 is tied for tops in the race, and at 2/1 on the morning line he's the right chalk to trust.

place2LetmeinML 4/1

Letmein (No. 2) rates at 65.71 — second best in the field — and also posts a 56 average speed figure. Also trained by Mark Glatt, who now has two horses in this race, the trainer angle is worth watching as both horses could benefit from the same pace strategy. At 4/1, Letmein offers solid place value in what should be a fairly honest pace scenario.

show1Ima Track StarML 4/1

Ima Track Star (No. 1) has a 100% career win percentage — she's unbeaten — which is a stat worth highlighting even in a starter optional claimer. Trainer Brian J. Koriner sends her out at 4/1, and with a 56 average speed figure she's clearly competitive on raw numbers. The 55 TrackWiz rating undersells her based on record alone, making her a reasonable show play or exacta stab underneath the top two.

Race 3

9:04 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Turf

A wide-open 5-furlong maiden turf sprint where several horses are first-time turf starters with no speed figures on record — this one is ripe for a sharp trainer angle or morning-line surprise.

win1NylieML 3/1

Nylie (No. 1) tops the field with a 56.67 TrackWiz rating and is one of only a few horses in the race with an average speed figure on the turf (55). Trained by Doug F. O'Neill, who also sends out Lease Instead, Nylie draws the rail — which on a 5-furlong turf course at Santa Anita can be advantageous with a clean break. At 3/1 on the morning line, she's the fair favorite in a field that lacks separation.

place7Her Names CharlieML 4/1

Her Names Charlie (No. 7) rates at 55.0 and is trained by Ryan Hanson, who saddles two horses in this race (also Eurydice). Jockey Edwin A. Maldonado gets the call here over the stablemate, which is worth noting as a potential trainer intent signal. No speed figure on record suggests this could be a first turf try or a lightly raced horse — at 4/1 she's a fair price with upside.

show6Weekend VibesML 9/2

Weekend Vibes (No. 6) posts a 54.17 rating with Joel Rosario named to ride, and getting Rosario in the irons in a competitive maiden turf sprint is never something to overlook. Trained by Peter Miller, another conditioner with a strong turf record in Southern California, this filly carries the second-shortest morning line in the race at 9/2. She's a logical show include for anyone building bottom-up trifectas.

Our three free races today give you a nice cross-section of the card. Race 1 kicks things off on the turf with Marla Hooch at 5/1 morning line — a price worth respecting in a maiden special weight where the grass form can be tough to untangle. Race 2 flips to the dirt for a Starter Optional Claiming sprint, and Thirty Two Chunk comes in as our top-rated pick of the free races with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and a deserved 2/1 morning line. When we're this high on the favorite in a starter optional claimer, the data is usually telling us something real. Race 3 heads back to the turf for a short 5-furlong maiden, where Nylie at 3/1 is our top pick — though the rating reflects a genuinely wide-open field, so manage your expectations and ticket size accordingly.

The turf bias is worth watching across all three free races. A clear, hot day tends to firm up the grass at Santa Anita as the afternoon wears on, which can slightly favor horses with early pace and clean trip histories. Keep that in mind as you build your tickets.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

9:36 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

One Smokin Dude enters this claiming sprint carrying the standout rating in the field, but Clever Clover's top speed figure and a morning line that favors a pace duel could make the exotics interesting.

win4One Smokin DudeML 7/2

One Smokin Dude (No. 4) leads all horses with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating and a career win percentage of 36% — the best in the field by a clear margin. His 55 average speed figure is competitive, and trainer Librado Barocio has him primed for this 6-furlong dirt spot. At 7/2 on the morning line, he's not a bargain, but the rating advantage here is too significant to ignore as a win pick.

place3Clever CloverML 3/1

Clever Clover (No. 3) actually leads the field in average speed figure at 57, giving her an edge on raw pace numbers. Trainer Paul G. Aguirre has her at 3/1 on the morning line — the shortest price in the race — with Antonio Fresu up. She's won 20% of her career starts, and the combination of top speed figure and favorable odds makes her the most likely to press the pace and hit the board.

show2Wizard of WestwoodML 4/1

Wizard of Westwood (No. 2) checks in with a 66.34 rating — third best in the race — and a 20% career win rate. Trainer Michael W. McCarthy is a respected name at the Southern California meets, and Emisael Jaramillo is a capable pilot in these sprint conditions. At 4/1, he's a sensible show hedge in a race where the top two could fight it out on the front end and leave a door open.

Race 5

10:06 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Turf

Can't Sleep is a dominant figure in this allowance optional claimer on turf, but with a 5/2 morning line she'll need to deliver — and there's genuine value underneath for those willing to structure exotics.

win5Can't SleepML 5/2

Can't Sleep (No. 5) is the clear standout here — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating, a 50% career win percentage, and a top average speed figure of 57. Trainer Carla Gaines has developed a nice runner here, and Emisael Jaramillo gets the mount. That 50% win rate in her career is remarkable for any class level, and at 5/2 she's a fair price given the credentials. This is a horse you go back to the win window for.

place6KuwaityaML 9/2

Kuwaitya (No. 6) brings a 65.23 rating and a 33% career win percentage — the second-best win rate in the field. Joel Rosario rides for Philip D'Amato, and that combo is consistently dangerous on the Santa Anita turf. Her average speed figure of 58 actually leads all horses in the race, which is a number that stands out and suggests she could press the tempo in a meaningful way.

show4TahiniML 6/1

Tahini (No. 4) rates at 60.4 with a 57 average speed figure, putting her squarely in the mix on raw numbers. Antonio Fresu has the call for trainer George Papaprodromou, and at 6/1 on the morning line she's a fair price for a horse who should sit a comfortable mid-pack trip on the turf. A strong show candidate in trifectas if the top two hold their positions.

Race 6

10:36 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

This 14-horse maiden claiming dirt sprint is packed with horses that have never won, but two horses clearly separate from the field on TrackWiz ratings — and one of them is being offered at a price that makes the exotics worth attacking.

win1Dad's Bad BunnyML 5/1

Dad's Bad Bunny (No. 1) leads the field with an 84.17 TrackWiz rating and sports a 54 average speed figure — among the best in this maiden claiming sprint. Trainer Jamey R. Thomas also saddles She's Back (No. 2) in this race, which means the barn is loaded up, but the morning line makers clearly prefer the No. 1 at 5/1. Jockey Alfredo L. Bautista takes the mount, and the rail draw in a 5.5-furlong dirt sprint can be an asset with a quick getaway.

place9Shady StripesML 8/1

Shady Stripes (No. 9) posts a 73.56 rating — second best in this field of 14 — and shows a 54 average speed figure to match. Trainer Jeff Bonde sends her out with Edwin A. Maldonado aboard, and at 8/1 on the morning line she is arguably the best-priced horse in the race on a rating-to-odds basis. If the favorite draws traffic from the inside post, Shady Stripes running from the outside should have a clean trip.

show5Conquest SueML 7/2

Conquest Sue (No. 5) rates at 70.62 — third best in the race — with a 54 average speed figure. Peter Eurton trains her and Emisael Jaramillo is named to ride, giving this filly a live jockey who knows how to navigate large fields. She opens at 7/2, which is the shortest price in the race, suggesting sharp money may be on her side; the show position here is almost a formality.

Race 7

11:06 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Turf

Legal Heir stands out on the TrackWiz model in this maiden turf sprint, but the morning line favorite is Koekkoek at 9/2 — a disconnect that creates real wagering interest and a potential overlay.

win11Legal HeirML 6/1

Legal Heir (No. 11) tops the field with a 74.02 TrackWiz rating, backed by a 55 average speed figure. Trainer Vann Belvoir has him spotted well, and Kazushi Kimura — one of the sharpest riders at the meet — picks up the mount at 6/1 on the morning line. That 6/1 price on the top-rated horse in the field is where the value case begins and ends: this is a legitimate win contender offered at a price that makes the risk worthwhile.

place1GallatinML 10/1

Gallatin (No. 1) rates second in the field at 62.56 with a 54 average speed figure for Peter Miller, who trains a string of turf horses that consistently outperform their prices. Ricardo Gonzalez gets the mount, and at 10/1 on the morning line, Gallatin represents one of the better value plays on the undercard. The rail draw in a 6-furlong turf sprint at Santa Anita is workable with a good break.

show9KoekkoekML 9/2

Koekkoek (No. 9) is the morning line favorite at 9/2 despite ranking third on the TrackWiz model at 54.17 — which suggests public and tote support beyond what the numbers alone justify. Antonio Fresu gets the mount for Philip D'Amato, and D'Amato's turf barn is one of the best in the business. If the public is right about the market price, this horse belongs in your show tickets as an insurance piece.

Race 8

11:38 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

This 10-horse maiden dirt sprint for juveniles (or first-timers) is a wide-open guessing game — most horses have no speed figures on record, and the ratings are tightly clustered near the top.

win10Jonny's CapML 7/2

Jonny's Cap (No. 10) leads the field with a 55.83 TrackWiz rating and draws trainer Jorge Periban with Armando Ayuso in the irons. No average speed figure on record suggests this could be a debut runner, which in a race like this means the works tab and barn buzz matter as much as the form. At 7/2 on the morning line, the market respects this horse, and the TrackWiz model agrees — edge to the top-rated horse.

place8InstinctivelyML 4/1

Instinctively (No. 8) rates at 55.0 — essentially tied with the top pick — and opens at 4/1 on the morning line. Trainer Steven Miyadi has multiple horses in this race (Nos. 6, 7, and 8), and Cesar Belmont gets the call on this one, suggesting she's the barn's main hope. No speed figure on record, but the morning line price and trainer stacking of entries could indicate a strong-working first-timer.

show1Olympian ThirstML 9/2

Olympian Thirst (No. 1) rates at 54.17 with trainer Adan Farias sending out Francisco Monroy from the rail. The 9/2 morning line price puts her right in the thick of the market, and in a maiden sprint where no one has a huge edge, the rail post with a quick break scenario is a legitimate path to hitting the board. A show ticket here provides solid coverage in a difficult race.

Race 9

12:08 AM EDT

Stakes · 1 3/4 mi · Turf

The marquee race of the card — a stakes event at 1¾ miles on turf — sets up as a battle between American Hope's dominant rating and Gold Phoenix's status as the heavy morning line favorite, with Living Life as a sneaky price underneath.

win4American HopeML 4/1

American Hope (No. 4) posts the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 85.62, backed by a 33% career win percentage — excellent numbers for a stakes-level turf router. Trainer Brian J. Koriner sends him out with Armando Ayuso in the saddle, and at 4/1 on the morning line he's being offered at a fair price despite leading the model. At 1¾ miles on turf, pace management and stamina are paramount, and a horse with this rating should be equipped to handle the longest race of the card.

place6Gold PhoenixML 7/5

Gold Phoenix (No. 6) is the morning line favorite at 7/5, posting a 75.98 rating and a 27% career win percentage. Philip D'Amato trains this one with Hector Isaac Berrios up — D'Amato is a master on the turf and regularly competes at stakes level. The gap between Gold Phoenix's odds and American Hope's rating is exactly the kind of market inefficiency TrackWiz analysis is designed to exploit, but Gold Phoenix is clearly a threat to hit the board and deserves place coverage.

show5Living LifeML 6/1

Living Life (No. 5) rates at 72.63 and has the best average speed figure in the field at 55, which matters at a distance where sustained pace is tested over multiple furlongs. Joel Rosario takes the reins for trainer Ronald W. Ellis — Rosario's route experience on turf is a significant asset in a 1¾-mile test. At 6/1 on the morning line, he's the kind of well-priced closer who can sneak onto the podium if the top two get into a pace war.

Race 10

12:38 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

An 11-horse maiden dirt sprint where the top-rated horses are all tightly bunched and no one has an average speed figure separating them — this is a coin-flip race dressed up in a morning line.

win3King KamehaML 7/2

King Kameha (No. 3) leads the field with a 55.83 TrackWiz rating, edging out the next cluster of horses at 54.17. Trainer Steve R. Knapp gets Tiago Josue Pereira up, and at 7/2 on the morning line the market is reasonably in line with the model. No average speed figure on record means we're projecting off other indicators here, but the top rating in a tight field still provides an edge worth backing at this price.

place1Scam AlertML 9/2

Scam Alert (No. 1) is tied for second in the field at 54.17 and draws the rail for trainer Felix Rondan with Armando Aguilar named to ride. The 9/2 morning line is fair for the rating, and the inside post in a 5-furlong dash can be an asset for a horse that breaks cleanly. In a race where the top four horses are separated by less than two rating points, the place position for Scam Alert is a logical coverage play.

show4Poppi's CharlieML 9/2

Poppi's Charlie (No. 4) also rates at 54.17 — creating a three-way tie at the top after the win pick — and opens at 9/2. Kyle Frey gets the mount for trainer Manuel P. Badilla, and in a dead-heat-on-paper scenario, having three horses from the same rating tier means all three deserve show coverage. The show bet here is essentially a hedge on the model being right about the top cluster.

Race 11

1:08 AM EDT

Allowance · 6 1/2 fur · Turf

No Cap holds the top rating but faces a stiff test from Kikuride, who brings a 40% career win rate that screams consistent winner — this allowance turf route could go either way, which makes the exacta box the smart play.

win6No CapML 4/1

No Cap (No. 6) leads the TrackWiz model at 85.62 with Brian J. Koriner training and Emisael Jaramillo up. His 15% career win rate looks modest on the surface, but the model is projecting strong current form, and Jaramillo has been riding with confidence at this meet. At 4/1 on the morning line, No Cap is the overlay in a race where the public will likely gravitate toward the horse with the eye-catching win percentage next door.

place1KikurideML 7/2

Kikuride (No. 1) rates at 80.92 — second best in the field — and carries a remarkable 40% career win percentage, the highest of any horse on today's entire card. Trainer Craig Anthony Lewis gets Kazushi Kimura for this 6.5-furlong turf trip, and the combination of high win rate and a strong rating makes Kikuride a serious place threat. At 7/2 on the morning line, there's an argument she should be co-favorited with the win pick.

show5O K RoseML 6/1

O K Rose (No. 5) rates at 69.52 with a 21% career win percentage — solid by any measure — and draws Hector Isaac Berrios for trainer Peter Eurton. Her average speed figure of 55 puts her in the competitive range for this allowance turf sprint, and Eurton has a track record of placing horses in spots where they can fire. At 6/1 on the morning line, she's the value show play in a three-horse ticket built around the top two.

Race 12

1:38 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Turf

Private Gem is the TrackWiz top pick at 10/1 — a potential overlay in a loaded 12-horse allowance optional claimer on turf that features multiple horses with high career win percentages and sharp connections throughout.

win6Private GemML 10/1

Private Gem (No. 6) leads the field with a 76.88 TrackWiz rating and a 66% career win percentage — two-thirds of his starts have resulted in victories, which is a remarkable number at any level. Trainer Mark Glatt gets Antonio Fresu up, and Glatt is a consistent presence in these allowance turf spots. The 10/1 morning line price is the headline here: if the model is right, this is the biggest overlay on the card and deserves serious win consideration.

place7Golden AleML 6/1

Golden Ale (No. 7) rates at 70.25 with the top average speed figure in the race at 58 — a number that stands out in a field of legitimate allowance runners. Trainer Blaine D. Wright sends him out at 6/1 on the morning line with Emisael Jaramillo named to ride, a capable pairing for a turf sprint. The combination of best speed figure and a competitive rating makes Golden Ale a genuine place contender regardless of how the pace scenario develops.

show11Valiant SonML 8/1

Valiant Son (No. 11) rates at 69.35 with a 33% career win percentage and a 56 average speed figure, putting him squarely in the mix on both dimensions. Trainer Blaine D. Wright doubles up in this race (also trains Golden Ale), and Jeremy Laprida gets the call on Valiant Son. At 8/1 on the morning line, he's a fair price for a horse with legitimate credentials, and his show position in trifectas provides solid insurance behind the top two picks.

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It's a deep, turf-heavy Sunday card at Santa Anita with real betting opportunities from the first race to the last. Thirty Two Chunk is our best free play, American Hope headlines the premium card in Race 9, and don't sleep on that longshot flag in Race 12. The full analysis — pace scenarios, exotic tickets, and value plays across all 12 races — is waiting for you. Check out our subscriber plans at TrackWiz Premium and get the complete picture before post time.

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