Santa Anita Picks & Predictions — June 15, 2026
Santa Anita is rolling out an 8-race card this Monday afternoon under clear blue skies and 86-degree heat — ideal conditions for a day at the races. The turf course figures to be firm and fast with zero moisture in the forecast, which is great news for closers who like a true surface to run on. The main track should be equally honest, giving speed horses and stalkers a fair shot to do their thing.
Today's card is nicely layered, mixing Maiden Claiming sprints on dirt with a pair of turf routes and a Stakes race that anchors the middle of the afternoon. There's something here whether you're a casual fan looking for a straightforward play or a grinder hunting multi-race exotic value. Eight races, three free picks to get you started, and five premium breakdowns waiting for subscribers who want the full picture.
Best Bets
Race 1
Claiming · 1 mi · Turf
A three-way battle shapes up on the turf mile between a pair of high-rated contenders and a morning-line favorite — the top of the TrackWiz ratings separates from the field, but the pace scenario could shuffle things around.
Empire's Classic tops our TrackWiz ratings at 86.35 — the highest mark in this field — and Kazushi Kimura is one of the sharpest turf jockeys on the Southern California circuit. At 7/2 on the morning line, there's genuine value here against a 9/5 morning-line favorite. Mike Puype has his horse positioned well class-wise in this claiming mile, and a 13% career win rate shows this horse finds the winner's circle with regularity.
Promissio carries the morning-line favoritism at 9/5 for a reason — an 81.18 TrackWiz rating is second-best in the field — but a 9% career win rate raises a flag about closing the deal. The place position suits Promissio's profile well; Emisael Jaramillo is a capable handler on the green, and this horse figures to be competitive without necessarily stealing the show.
American Glory comes in at 69.19 on our ratings and checks in at 2/1 on the morning line, making it a reasonable exotics anchor for the show slot. The 13% career win rate ties Kimura's mount for best in the field, and the consistent 55 average speed figure matches the pace of the top contenders. Trainer Leonard Powell gives this one a shot at picking up a piece.
Race 2
Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt
Maiden claimers on the dirt are famously chaotic, but this one has a standout — Dancing With Shari rates a full tier above the field, making the real question whether anyone can steal the exacta underneath.
Dancing With Shari is the class of this maiden claiming field by a wide margin — a 90.00 TrackWiz rating is the top score we've assigned in any race today. Tim McCanna sends her out at 4/5 on the morning line, and Kyle Frey handles the riding duties. The 54 average speed figure is right there with the main competition, but the rating gap over second-best (Howmanymoretimes at 53.33) is simply too large to ignore.
She's Back at 9/2 brings a 58.65 rating — third-best in this field — and Jamey Thomas conditions her for a competitive effort. Jeremy Laprida gets the call, and at that morning-line price, she represents a reasonable underneath play in exactas and trifectas. The slightly lower average speed at 52 suggests she may need things to set up right pace-wise, but she's equipped to be in the mix for a piece.
Howmanymoretimes checks in with a 53.33 rating, the second-highest mark in the field, and fires from post 5 with Welfin Orantes in the irons for trainer Daniel Azcarate. The 54 average speed figure matches the favorite stride for stride on paper. At 5/1, this one offers some show ticket value and a viable spot in multi-horse exotics if you're trying to beat the chalky winner.
Race 3
Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Turf
This maiden special weight turf mile is deceptively deep — four horses cluster in the 60–87 rating range, and the morning-line prices don't always match the TrackWiz numbers, setting up a potential overlay situation.
Jacklyn Lucas earns the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 86.35 and goes postward at a fair 7/2 with Antonio Fresu in the saddle for trainer Steven Miyadi. Miyadi also saddles longshot Little Originaire, but all the stable's firepower clearly points here. On a turf route where pace judgment and finishing kick matter, this profile lines up well, and the rating edge over the rest of the field is meaningful.
Throwthefirstpunch comes in second on our ratings at 72.91 and is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 under Emisael Jaramillo for Doug O'Neill. O'Neill is one of the most active barns at Santa Anita, and Jaramillo has been a strong partner for the outfit on turf. This horse projects as a reliable underneath finisher — the kind of consistent performer that shows up in exactas even on days when the win doesn't come.
No Joke Antares rates a solid 70.91 — third-best in this field — and represents interesting value at 3/1 on the morning line. Sean McCarthy does solid work with MSW turf routes, and Hector Isaac Berrios gets the mount. At that price, No Joke Antares is nearly as short as the place pick but posts a very comparable rating, making it a fine exotics inclusion and a legitimate hedge if you're spreading on top.
The first three races on today's card are free for all TrackWiz readers, and they cover a solid range of race types — a Claiming mile on turf in Race 1, a Maiden Claiming sprint on dirt in Race 2, and a Maiden Special Weight turf mile in Race 3. Our top picks in those races are Empire's Classic (7/2 morning line, 86.35 TrackWiz rating), Dancing With Shari (4/5 ML, 90 rating), and Jacklyn Lucas (7/2 ML, 86.35 rating), respectively.
Dancing With Shari stands out as the most confident free selection — that 90 TrackWiz rating is the highest on the entire card and a 4/5 morning line suggests the market agrees. On the turf, firm conditions today should play perfectly for both Empire's Classic and Jacklyn Lucas, who profile as pace-efficient types suited to a true surface. If you're only playing three races today, these are the ones to start with.
Full Card Analysis
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A clear afternoon at Santa Anita, firm turf, and eight races ranging from maiden sprints to a Stakes feature — there's plenty to work with today. Start with Dancing With Shari as the most bankable free selection, keep an eye on the turf plays in Races 1 and 3, and check the premium analysis for the full Secured Freedom breakdown and our exotic ticket recommendations. Good luck at the windows.