Unlock the other 6 races on today's card, plus AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet ticket construction.

The winner is in our top 4 picks 75% of the time, across 17 tracks.

Daily Picks

Santa Anita Picks & Predictions — October 24, 2026

October 24, 20269 racesAll Santa Anita picks

Beautiful autumn racing at Santa Anita today — clear skies, 76°F, and a track that should be playing fair from rail to five-path. Nine races on the card spanning dirt and turf, with a pair of stakes races giving us the marquee action we love on a Saturday-style weekday card.

The turf course figures to be a major factor today. With multiple races routing and sprinting on the grass — including a legit stakes in Race 7 — reading how the course is playing early will pay dividends later in the card. Keep an eye on where winners are coming from in those first few turf tests.

We've got three free best-bet races to kick things off plus six premium races with full TrackWiz analysis behind them. Whether you're here to dabble or grind the whole card, there's plenty to dig into today.

Best Bets

Race 1

8:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Turf

A turf claiming opener with a clear top two on ratings, but the morning line gap between them creates an interesting betting dynamic — the public favorite may be underlay'd while the 3/1 shot holds the edge in TrackWiz scoring.

win9NikolinaML 3/1

Nikolina tops our TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 and comes in at a reasonable 3/1 on the morning line — solid value for a horse that grades out ahead of the field. Philip D'Amato has a strong record placing horses in spot-on spots at Santa Anita, and pairing him with Kazushi Kimura on the turf is a consistently sharp combo. With a 25% career win rate, Nikolina has a proven ability to convert, and at 6 furlongs on the lawn she should have enough pace to work with. This looks like a confident top selection.

place8Not A SinnerML 7/5

Not A Sinner (No. 8) earns the second-highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 85.73 and draws the short end of the morning line at 7/5 — which actually raises a flag about value. Simon Callaghan sends out Umberto Rispoli, a sharp turf jockey, but a 9% career win rate suggests this horse has underperformed its talent level at times. In a place spot, though, that ceiling is plenty to stay competitive.

show1Watch Over UsML 5/1

Watch Over Us (No. 1) rates out at 77.53 with a 66% career win percentage — the highest in the field by a wide margin — and goes postward at 5/1 with Juan J. Hernandez up for Peter Miller. That win rate suggests a horse who delivers when conditions are right, making it a strong exotics anchor even if the top two hold form. At this price, it's a useful hedge in trifecta constructions.

Race 2

8:33 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 7 fur · Dirt

A maiden special weight on the dirt where the top two horses are both trained by Leonard Powell — giving him a powerful barn edge — while the rest of the field trails off significantly in the ratings.

win4Wolf HillML 4/5

Wolf Hill (No. 4) is our top-rated horse in this maiden field at a perfect TrackWiz score of 90.00, going off as the 4/5 morning-line favorite. Kazushi Kimura gets the call for Leonard Powell, and the trainer-jockey combination has been sharp on dirt routes at Santa Anita. In maiden special weight fields, the horse who grades out this far ahead of the competition rarely faces this level of vulnerability — the rating gap to the next horse is nearly 9 points. Tough to find a reason to fade this one.

place2SaucierML 2/1

Saucier (No. 2) also runs out of the Powell barn and rates at 81.48 — second best in the field — at a juicy 2/1 morning line. Powell doubling up with two of the top three rated horses in the same maiden race is noteworthy; he clearly has confidence in both, and Saucier looks like the logical backup if Wolf Hill hits any trouble. Armando Ayuso keeps the mount, a reliable pairing for this conditioner.

show5SliceML 9/2

Slice (No. 5) checks in at 52.91 on the TrackWiz scale and draws the rail-friendly post for Juan J. Hernandez and Michael W. McCarthy at 9/2 on the morning line. McCarthy is a steady hand in maiden company, and Hernandez is a proven closer on Santa Anita dirt who can sneak into the superfecta conversation. A solid show option to round out exotic tickets.

Race 3

9:06 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Dirt

The morning line favorite is not the top-rated horse in our system here — a potential overlay situation sets up as TrackWiz analysis leans toward a couple of overlooked runners over the short-priced Baffert entry.

win6Luxor MagicML 6/1

Luxor Magic (No. 6) sits at a 72.87 TrackWiz rating — best in the field — while going off at 6/1 on the morning line, making this our clearest value play of the race. Doug O'Neill saddles Kazushi Kimura, and Kimura has been in top form on Santa Anita dirt routes this meet. The mile on dirt suits closers with tactical speed, and Luxor Magic's profile fits that mold. At 6/1, this is the kind of price that makes exotic plays very attractive.

place3ForewarnML 9/2

Forewarn (No. 3) earns a 68.50 TrackWiz rating — second best in the field — and pairs Hall of Famer Mike Smith with Richard Mandella, one of the most accomplished trainer-jockey combinations in Southern California racing. This is a horse with serious upside in maiden company, and the 9/2 morning line likely gets bet down. A place ticket here is smart business.

show1Sea's No JokeML 3/5

Sea's No Joke (No. 1) is the Bob Baffert morning-line favorite at 3/5, and while our ratings peg it third at 60.00, you can't completely ignore the barn's track record in maiden races at Santa Anita. Juan Hernandez is a capable partner, and the horse's connections alone justify including it in show and exotics. Just don't pay 3/5 to win when the value clearly points elsewhere.

Our three free races set the table nicely. Nikolina opens the card in a 6-furlong turf claimer — a distance and surface combo that suits her profile well, and at 3/1 morning line there's genuine value to be had. Race 2 brings Wolf Hill onto the dirt at 7 furlongs, where he's installed as the heavy 4/5 favorite and backed by a TrackWiz rating of 90 — the highest on the free portion of the card. When a horse earns that kind of number in a maiden special weight, you pay attention.

Race 3 is where it gets interesting. Luxor Magic goes to post at 6/1 in a one-mile maiden dirt route — that's a morning line that suggests the oddsmakers see a wide-open field, and our rating of 72.87 reflects real uncertainty. This one could be a live longshot situation or a race to take small. We'll break it down so you can decide.

Send me tomorrow's free Santa Anita card before post time.

Free picks in your inbox each morning. No card required, unsubscribe anytime.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

9:39 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 mi · Dirt

A stakes mile on the dirt with tight separation at the top — three horses within 11 points of each other in TrackWiz ratings — but one cleaner profile emerges as the most complete package at a fair price.

win4Mr. A. P.ML 9/5

Mr. A. P. (No. 4) leads all stakes entrants with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating and goes to post at 9/5 — fair odds for the top-rated horse in a competitive field. Vladimir Cerin's runner carries a 25% career win rate, and Emisael Jaramillo, who has been one of the hotter riders at the meet, pilots from post 4. At one mile on the dirt, pace setup is everything, and a horse with this kind of composite profile should be forwardly placed early. Solid top selection in a race that matters.

place3ArrowthegreatML 2/1

Arrowthegreat (No. 3) is the 2/1 second choice on the morning line and rates at 80.18 — just behind Mr. A. P. in our system. Dan Blacker's runner also carries a 27% career win rate, identical to Malarchuk, and Armando Ayuso has been consistent in stakes spots this fall. If the pace gets honest up front, Arrowthegreat has the profile to close into an exacta.

show2MalarchukML 3/1

Malarchuk (No. 2) grades out at 77.44 for Michael McCarthy, working with Umberto Rispoli — a combination that knows how to find the board in competitive dirt routes. The 3/1 morning line is accurate for what the data shows, and a 27% career win rate over time backs the horse's consistency. Good show/exotics inclusion to fill out trifecta keys against the top two.

Race 5

10:09 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A maiden claiming mile on the turf where the top-rated horse has a sizable edge in the TrackWiz scores, but two mid-field runners at overlaid prices give this card real exotic potential.

win3Danzing DaisyML 7/5

Danzing Daisy (No. 3) is the standout in this maiden claiming turf field with a TrackWiz rating of 89.42 — nearly 19 points ahead of the second-ranked runner. Tyler Baze teams with Sean McCarthy, and McCarthy has quietly been one of the more effective trainers in Southern California maiden claiming turf company. At 7/5 on the morning line, the price reflects the public's awareness, but the rating gap is real. This is a legitimate short-price play.

place1Native EmpressML 10/1

Native Empress (No. 1) rates at 70.52 — second best in the field — and goes at 10/1 on the morning line, making this a genuine value play for place exotics. Tim McCanna's filly has an average speed figure of 55, matching several others in the field, but her composite rating suggests she's putting it together at the right time. If Danzing Daisy is the single, Native Empress is the perfect place partner.

show2Risky PleasureML 6/1

Risky Pleasure (No. 2) comes in at 66.05 on the TrackWiz scale with a 6/1 morning line and gets Juan J. Hernandez — one of the top names at Santa Anita — for Craig Anthony Lewis. That jockey booking is a meaningful upgrade signal in maiden claiming turf, where connections often tell you something. Round out your trifectas with this one alongside the top two.

Race 6

10:39 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden special weight sprint on the dirt with several first-time starters or lightly raced runners — ratings are compressed at the top, making pace scenario and connections the tiebreakers here.

win4Quick ExpressML 5/2

Quick Express (No. 4) edges out the field with a 57.50 TrackWiz rating and is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 for George Papaprodromou with Juan J. Hernandez aboard. In a maiden sprint where speed figures are limited or unavailable for several runners, Hernandez's tactical awareness becomes a key differentiator — he can find a good position from virtually any post. Papaprodromou also has a solid record breaking maiden sprinters, and at 5 1/2 furlongs, early pace control is crucial. The rating edge is modest but real.

place1Savvy TigerML 3/1

Savvy Tiger (No. 1) rates at 56.67 and goes as the morning-line favorite at 3/1 with Kazushi Kimura for the always-dangerous Philip D'Amato — a combination that consistently outperforms in maiden dirt sprints at Santa Anita. Post 1 at 5 1/2 furlongs can be tricky, but Kimura is savvy enough to get ideal positioning early. D'Amato's record in maiden special weight sprints makes this a reliable place anchor.

show5Teenie Bit TipsyML 9/2

Teenie Bit Tipsy (No. 5) slots in at 54.17 in our ratings and is posted at 9/2 for Steven Miyadi with Manuel Americano. The rating puts this runner third in the field, and in a compressed race like this, third-best is a perfectly viable show play. At 9/2, there's enough juice to make it worth a ticket, especially in trifectas where you need a third leg at a price.

Race 7

11:09 PM EDT

Stakes · 6 1/2 fur · Turf

A turf stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs that has a clear top two on ratings — both favorites in their own right — with a couple of live longshots lurking underneath to make the exotics interesting.

win2AmoritaML 7/5

Amorita (No. 2) leads the field with a TrackWiz rating of 86.42 and goes off as the 7/5 morning-line favorite for Richard Mandella with Kazushi Kimura — arguably the best trainer-jockey turf pairing in Southern California. A 25% career win rate on a horse in a stakes spot shows proven winning ability, and the average speed figure of 57 is among the top in this field. Mandella horses at short prices in turf stakes at Santa Anita are historically among the strongest betting propositions at the track.

place6RethinkML 5/1

Rethink (No. 6) rates at 84.17 for Philip D'Amato with Julien Leparoux — another elite turf combination — and sits at 5/1 on the morning line, which looks like underlay on paper but is still fair value for the second-rated horse. A 25% career win rate and an average speed figure of 57 matches Amorita tick for tick on raw numbers. The price gap between them should be tighter; place bettors should be happy here.

show8TahiniML 6/1

Tahini (No. 8) is an interesting show play at 6/1 for George Papaprodromou with Umberto Rispoli — a strong jockey-trainer combo on the turf. A TrackWiz rating of 77.21 puts this runner third in the field, and the average speed figure of 57 matches the leaders. A 15% career win rate is modest, but Rispoli regularly outperforms on turf with horses just off the top pace, making Tahini a savvy trifecta piece.

Race 8

11:39 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

An allowance optional claiming sprint on the dirt where the top-rated runner has a significant edge in TrackWiz scoring, but a pair of well-connected runners just behind provide real exacta and trifecta intrigue.

win4Howie's LawML 3/1

Howie's Law (No. 4) is the standout in this AOC field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and a 50% career win percentage — by far the most impressive conversion rate in the race. Doug O'Neill puts Emisael Jaramillo on a horse that clearly knows how to win, and at 3/1 on the morning line, the price is fair for the talent level. At 6 furlongs on the dirt, a horse with this kind of winning profile and a top jockey should be comfortable sitting close to the pace and kicking. This is our most confident pick on the card.

place7March of TimeML 5/2

March of Time (No. 7) grades at 80.73 for Bob Baffert with Kazushi Kimura — a top-shelf combination that rarely shows up without a legitimate horse beneath them. A 28% career win rate combined with a leading speed figure of 57 in this field makes March of Time a strong contender to place, and at 5/2 on the morning line, it's priced to be involved throughout. Baffert runners in allowance optional claiming sprints at Santa Anita consistently show up — this is no exception.

show8Practical JackML 3/1

Practical Jack (No. 8) is a compelling show and exotics option at 3/1 with a 40% career win rate — second only to Howie's Law in this field. Val Brinkerhoff sends out Tiago Josue Pereira, and the 77.87 TrackWiz rating backs up the career numbers. A horse that wins at this rate on a consistent basis isn't going to be far off the pace in an allowance spot, making it a reliable trifecta leg.

Race 9

12:09 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 1/2 fur · Turf

A full, sprawling maiden special weight field on the turf at 6 1/2 furlongs — eleven runners, morning-line chalk who isn't our top pick, and a genuine longshot angle that the TrackWiz data supports.

win8VallendarML 8/1

Vallendar (No. 8) earns our top rating in this maiden turf field at 72.29 while going off at 8/1 on the morning line — a meaningful disconnect that makes this our value-of-the-card candidate. Ian Kruljac teams with Armando Ayuso, and Ayuso has shown the ability to get maiden turf runners into rhythm at 6 1/2 furlongs. With an average speed figure of 55, Vallendar has enough raw pace to be involved throughout, and the overlay price makes win and exacta plays very attractive. In a wide-open field like this, backing the top-rated horse at 8/1 is exactly the kind of bet TrackWiz analysis is designed to surface.

place3UbiML 7/5

Ubi (No. 3) is the 7/5 morning-line favorite for Philip D'Amato with Umberto Rispoli — a combination that goes to post with legitimate maiden turf credentials. At 59.33 in our ratings, Ubi grades out second best in the field, and while the price is short, the place value is still there in an 11-horse field where anything can happen. D'Amato-Rispoli on the turf is a pairing that demands respect regardless of odds.

show4Star Above MeML 5/1

Star Above Me (No. 4) rates at 53.33 and goes at 5/1 for Simon Callaghan with international rider Jamie P. Spencer aboard — a booking that stands out in a maiden field. Spencer is a former European champion jockey, and his presence on an unraced or lightly raced turf maiden is often a signal that connections believe the horse is ready to show something. At 5/1, this is a legitimate show and exotics anchor to round out your trifecta combinations.

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Bottom line: Wolf Hill is the standout of the free card, Nikolina offers genuine value on the turf opener, and Amorita in the Race 7 stakes is the premium race we're most fired up about today. Clear conditions and a nine-race card loaded with stakes action — this is a good day to be playing Santa Anita. Unlock the full card breakdown at /pricing and let's make some money together.

← All Santa Anita picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 9 races free