Santa Anita Derby: Messier, Forbidden Kingdom Seek Derby Tickets

Forbidden Kingdom and Messier are entered in the Santa Anita Derby. Seven of the last 10 horses to cross the Kentucky Derby wire first ran a prep at Santa Anita Park.

Santa Anita Derby Analysis

Santa Anita Park Race 6

Post: 2:45 PM PT; Purse: $750,000 RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby, 1 1/8 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 MESSIER (1-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & record at the distance.
• #3 FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (6-5) has to be respected today edging the field in several key handicapping factors including class & form. The slight break in training due to illness is a concern.
• #6 TAIBA (4-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's record at the distance & breeding. In a crop that is still begging for the emergence of a superstar, this one may have the most potential.
• #1 HAPPY JACK (20-1) is fine underneath but would be a surprise in the winner’s circle.

Selections: 4-3-6-1

Saturday Full Undercard Analysis

Santa Anita Park Race 1

Post: 12:00 PM PT; Purse: $200,000 Monrovia S., About 6 1/2 Furlongs on Downhill turf; Entries: 6

• #1 ALICE MARBLE (2-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's connections & power rating.
• #6 ROYAL ADDRESS (6-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pace numbers.
• #2 TOBYS HEART (5-2) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & form.
• #3 BROOKE MARIE (7-2) looks competitive in this spot as well.

Selections: 1-6-2-3

Santa Anita Park Race 2

Post: 12:30 PM PT; Purse: $150,000 Echo Eddie S., 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 5

• #4 SMUGGLER'S RUN (6-5) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating.
• #3 WHAT IN BLAZES (7-2) is worth a look here given edges in class & power rating.
• #5 FINNEUS (5-2) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.
• #2 MOOSE MITCHELL (4-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pace numbers.

Selections: 4-3-5-2

Santa Anita Park Race 3

Post: 1:02 PM PT; Purse: $40,000 Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 8

• #6 BESTRELLA (2-1) looks like a strong prospect edging the field in several key handicapping factors including class & power rating.
• #5 RAPID TRANSIT (7-2) merits consideration in this spot given edges in stamina & record at the distance.
• #1 OPERATIC (5-1) is worth a look here given edges in connections & record at the distance.
• #7 A NEW PEACE (12-1) makes sense based on the speed figures.

Selections: 6-5-1-7 (Best Bet: #6 BESTRELLA)

Santa Anita Park Race 4

Post: 1:35 PM PT; Purse: $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 5

• #5 ADARE MANOR (3-5) looks formidable here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & pace numbers.
• #3 UNDER THE STARS (5-2) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts.
• #2 AIN'T EASY (4-1) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.
• #4 MICRO SHARE (6-1) could hit the board though I question if this one can win this race.

Selections: 5-3-2-4

Santa Anita Park Race 5

Post: 2:05 PM PT; Purse: $100,000 Providencia S. Presented by The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, 1 1/8 Miles on Turf; Entries: 6

• #4 LUCKY GIRL (5-2) is in with a great chance based on the horse's class & pace numbers.
• #6 SIXTEEN ARCHES (3-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #2 STERLING CREST (3-1) comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.
• #1 ELEUTHERA (4-1) has to be respected based on the connections.

Selections: 4-6-2-1

Santa Anita Park Race 6

Post: 2:45 PM PT; Purse: $750,000 RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby, 1 1/8 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 6

• Santa Anita Derby analysis provided above.

Selections: 4-3-6-1

Santa Anita Park Race 7

Post: 3:17 PM PT; Purse: $200,000 Royal Heroine S., 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 5

• #1 GOING GLOBAL (4-5) looks formidable here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class.
• #2 EXCELERINA (5-2) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #4 PARK AVENUE (4-1) should be in the right spot early to give this horse a chance to get the job done.
• #3 JAVANICA (8-1) would be a solid play underneath the top selections.

Selections: 1-2-4-3

Santa Anita Park Race 8

Post: 3:52 PM PT; Purse: $39,000 Maiden Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 12

• #6 BAG'S GOLD (10-1) feels like an upsetter here and has to be respected based on the connections.
• #1 DUTCH BUS (6-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & power rating.
• #12 ARTHUR SPOONER (4-1) will have to overcome a wide post, but is in with a chance.
• #7 ECONOMICAL (12-1) is another longshot who could factor in the race result.

Selections: 6-1-12-7

Santa Anita Park Race 9

Post: 4:22 PM PT; Purse: $67,000 Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 9

• #7 LOOKINTOGETEVEN (7-2) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including stamina & breeding.
• #4 SNARK (5-2) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pace numbers.
• #3 MYGALSDAWNNLORI (12-1) is a firster who may not win, but has the chance to outrun the odds today.
• #1 BANJO QUEEN (8-1) has speed figures early in the career that suggest this one wouldn’t be totally surprising in the race.

Selections: 7-4-3-1

Santa Anita Park Race 10

Post: 4:52 PM PT; Purse: $150,000 Evening Jewel S., 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #1 BIG NOVEL (3-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in stamina & class.
• #2 CONNIE SWINGLE (9-5) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & form.
• #9 YOUTEYOURHONOR (8-1) is worth a look here given edges in class & pace numbers.
• #8 EVERLYS GIRL (8-1) is an outsider but rates out well enough to at least get a second look in this spot.

Selections: 1-2-9-8

Santa Anita Park Race 11

Post: 5:22 PM PT; Purse: $72,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, About 6 1/2 Furlongs on Downhill turf; Entries: 11

• #7 BURNIN TURF (4-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's record at the distance & power rating.
• #6 GREGDAR (8-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & form.
• #8 ANACONDA (5-1) is worth a look here given edges in class & race flow.
• #1 COULTHARD (6-1) has a power rating that suggests he could be competitive with this group.

Selections: 7-6-8-1

Santa Anita Park Race 12

Post: 5:52 PM PT; Purse: $39,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 13

• #3 MONGOLIAN NINJA (30-1) is my longshot of the day. This group has no one of elite caliber so I’ll take a shot with a bomb from a good barn.
• #4 TODAY MATTERS (3-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & pace numbers.
• #7 HULK (6-1) is worth a look here given edges in race flow & power rating.
• #13 MO THEM DOWN (4-1) looks good enough to win but the post is dreadful for a non-winner.

Selections: 3-4-7-13

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