Santa Anita Park has three stakes races on their Saturday card. Two of the races are on grass. The other is on the dirt. Check out analysis and free horse racing picks for all three stakes races at the Great Race Place on Saturday. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Santa Anita Park for Saturday, June 20. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Santa Anita Park Horse Racing Picks
- When: Saturday, June 20 at 4:00 pm ET
- Where: Arcadia, CA
- Weather: Sunny
Santa Anita Park Picks for Saturday, June 20
Race 2 – 4:02 pm ET – 1 Mile Turf– $100,000 G3 Wilshire Stakes
Peter Miller trained Querelle has a chance to upset Keeper Ofthe Stars and Toinette. Miller wins at 29% at the meet. Querelle has 2 wins and 2 seconds from her last 4. All those races were sprints. She could take the lead in this and never look back.
Keeper Ofthe Stars is a serious racehorse. The 4-year-old filly daughter of Midnight Lute won the Grade 2 Buena Vista and the Grade 1 Gamely in her last couple of races. Jonathan Wong is one of the best trainers on the West Coast.
Toinette is 4-for-4 at Santa Anita. The Neil Drysdale trained 8/5 morning line chalk can definitely win the Wilshire Stakes. But the odds could be closer to 6/5 in this. Only back to win if you truly believe.
- Win: Querelle
- Place: Kepper Ofthe Stars
- Show: Toinette
Race 9 – 7:32 pm ET – 6 ½ Furlongs Dirt – $100,000 G3 Laz Barrera Stakes
Which horse takes the Laz Barrera on Saturday? Collusion Illusion? Or, Ragtime Blues? From our perspective, finding the winner is all about handicapping post-positions. Collusion Illusion breaks from the rail. Ragtime Blues breaks from post-position 2. That gives the Bob Baffert trained runner, Ragtime Blues, the upper hand. We’ll put the Union Rags sired colt on top.
Collusion Illusion wanted no part of the Grade 1 American Pharoah. Jockey Joe Talamo laid off after he discovered that no matter what he tried, Collusion wasn’t going to pick up his feet. That’s why he lost by 39 lengths. But, the Mark Glatt trained runner came back and won a nice $62,500 optional claimer by 3 lengths. Outside of Ragtime Blues, this field isn’t deep enough to go against Collusion Illusion for second.
Alcools runs for Peter Miller. That’s the main reason to make the 3-year-old gelding third. If you do play a trifecta, hit the All button because after the top two choices nobody stands out.
- Win: Ragtime Blues
- Place: Collusion Illusion
- Show: Alcools
Race 10 – 8:02 pm ET – 1 1/8 Miles Turf – $100,000 Snow Chief Stakes
Indian Peak has a real shot to take top honors in the Snow Chief Stakes. The Quinn Howey trained equine has a win, a second, and a third in his last 3 races. Jockey Mike Smith is winning at 30%. What’s not to like?
Flavien Prat, who wins races at Santa Anita at 33%, takes the call aboard California Kook. The Peter Miller trained runner won her last race, a $20,000 optional claiming event at a mile. Kook raced as if she wants longer. Prat and Miller are so hot that we must include in the exacta.
Margot’s Boy will go off at underlay odds. The chalk has won 3 in a row and is fast as heck. All 3 wins were at a mile, though. Her style, taking the lead right out of the gate, may not translate to this 1 1/8 mile stakes race. We’ll use. We just won’t bet to win.
- Win: Indian Peak
- Place: California Kook
- Show: Margot’s Boy
