Santa Anita Picks & Predictions — June 15, 2026

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.

Shady Gem posts a 68.13 rating — second-best in the race — and is the morning-line co-second choice at 3/1 for Jeff Bonde. Armando Aguilar takes the mount, and with a 54 average speed figure that competes with the top of this field, there's a clear case for a piece of the pie. In a race where the win favorite is at 9/2, the place slot at 3/1 could offer overlaid value.

Battle School comes in at 57.50 on our ratings and sports the best average speed figure of the top three contenders at 55, trained by Michael McCarthy — a high-percentage outfit in Southern California. Ricardo Gonzalez handles the riding at a 5/2 morning-line price that makes Battle School the crowd's second choice despite ranking third on our board. Worth including in the exotics if you're building trifecta tickets around the top two.

Luck Lucky is the most intriguing underneath play in this race — a 25% career win rate is tops in the field and speaks to a horse that converts when asked. Philip D'Amato is a top-tier turf conditioner at Santa Anita, and Antonio Fresu handles the mount. At 5/2 on the morning line, Luck Lucky is close enough in rating to Bee Eye Gee (80.22 vs. 88.83) to represent live place value.

Stagger Lee rates a solid 71.79 with a 55 average speed figure and a 16% career win rate — in line with several others here but gets 5/1 morning-line odds, making it the best-priced horse in the top three. Jeremy Laprida rides for Steven Miyadi, and the 6.5-furlong turf trip suits a stalking profile. A nice exotics anchor for trifecta builders who want a piece of the show ticket at a workable price.

Litmus Test will attract heavy public support at 7/5 — the Baffert connection alone guarantees that — and a 25% career win rate shows this horse is no stranger to the winner's circle. Emisael Jaramillo handles the mount, and despite rating below Secured Freedom on our board at 64.22, the class of the operation and the market support make Litmus Test a reasonable place play. Don't fade it entirely in your exotics.

Decisive Win at 7/2 brings a 50% career win rate — the highest among horses with multiple starts in this field — and Doug O'Neill conditions him well for dirt route conditions. Antonio Fresu takes the call, and at 55.83 on our ratings, there's a clear tier below the top two but still well above the rest of the field. A solid show option for exotics players who want to structure around the obvious top two.

Nikolina comes in at 78.20 on our ratings and carries a sparkling 40% career win rate — the best among any horse with a meaningful sample in this field. Philip D'Amato has her ready, and Kyle Frey gets the mount at 5/1. The 56 average speed figure matches the mid-tier cluster and projects her as a finisher who could easily be picking up pieces in a contested pace scenario.

Lee's Baby Girl rates 73.53 under Kazushi Kimura for Carla Gaines — a trainer/jockey combo with real credibility on Santa Anita turf. A 15% career win rate and a 56 average speed figure put her squarely in the conversation for a piece of this race. At 3/1 on the morning line, she's short enough that the show return may be minimal, but she's a strong exotics anchor if you're building underneath the top two.

Frank Bullitt is the other elite-rated horse in this field at 84.70 and draws in with Joel Rosario — about as reliable a jockey as you can find in the country. Debbie Winick conditions him, and despite only an 8% career win rate, the pure quality of the speed figures and rating suggest this horse is competitive at a higher level than its win percentage implies. At 2/1 morning line, the place ticket is a sensible structure if you're on top of Warm Sun and Brew.

Ballyvaughan Gig stands out with the highest average speed figure in the entire race at 58 — a number that leaps off the page in a turf sprint. Isidro Tamayo sends him out at 3/1 with Armando Ayuso up, and a 31% career win rate gives this horse real credibility. The 71.70 TrackWiz rating places him third on our board, and the raw speed he shows in workouts and past performances makes him a legitimate trifecta threat.