Like it does on most Saturday’s, Santa Anita Park’s June 13 race card has a good mix of dirt and turf races. We analyze and make picks for a couple of dirt races. The turf event we handicap is the seventh, a 5 ½ furlong jaunt over the sod. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Santa Anita Park for Saturday, June 13. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Santa Anita Park Horse Racing Picks
- When: Saturday, June 13 at 4:00 pm ET
- Where: Arcadia, CA
- Weather: Mostly Sunny
- Temperature: High 79 – Low 58
Santa Anita Park Picks for Saturday, June 13
Race 7 – 7:00 pm ET – 5 ½ Furlongs Turf – $50,000 Starter Optional Claiming
All the front running speed in this turf sprint should set it up for 5/2 on the morning line Go Time. The Peter Miller trained 3-year-old gelding cuts back in distance from a mile. Go Time broke its maiden going 5 furlongs over Gulfstream’s turf. As they turn for home, expect jockey Drayden Van Dyke to have this one in a position for the win.
Hit the Seam could take these gate-to-wire if the other speed doesn’t show up. The Edward Freeman trained gelding has just 1 win from 22 races. But this field is slightly worse than Hit the Seam has faced recently. Plus, it’s hard to keep the speed of the speed out of the exacta in a 5 ½ furlong sprint.
Handsome Cat could surprise. The Square Eddie sired gelding heads into this off a maiden score. Although 0-2 in a couple of grass races, Handsome Cat has the right profile to win this. The gelding figures to get a sweet trip. Consider for the victory if Go Time and Hit the Seam don’t appeal.
- Win: Go Time
- Place: Hit the Seam
- Show: Handsome Cat
Race 8 – 7:30 pm ET – 6 ½ Furlongs Dirt – $75,000 Angel Flight Stakes
This is a short field, which means we won’t find a longshot with a chance. There are a couple of reasons to believe Praise and Honor keeps her 4/1 morning line odds. First, she broke her maiden over Golden Gate’s all-weather surface. Second, Jonathan Wong, a GG Fields trainer, puts the saddle on. Third, when she broke her maiden, she did so in a slow time. Why choose her to win? If a horse can break it’s maiden over an artificial surface going 5 ½ furlongs at first asking, it’s often a good sign the horse is a runner.
High On Gin can finish second. The 7/2 morning line runner finished third in a high-level optional claiming allowance at Oaklawn Park in her last. That was a solid field she finished third against. Consider for the win if you’re not sold on Praise and Honor.
Biddy Duke will attempt to take these gate-to-wire. If nobody runs with the Doug O’Neil trained miss, she could. Make sure to include her on top and bottom of the exotics.
- Win: Praise and Honor
- Place: High On Gin
- Show: Biddy Duke
Race 9 – 8:00 pm ET – 7 Furlongs Dirt – $16,000 Claiming
There are a few reasons to believe Dark Hedges takes the nightcap at S.A. on Saturday. The 4-year-old gelding takes a major drop in class from $40,000 optional claiming. Trainer Andrew Lerner wins 36% second off a layoff and the Giant’s Causeway sired runner broke its maiden at 7 furlongs.
Little No Way is another taking a big drop. The Alfredo Marquez sired runner could go off the chalk because 32% winning jockey Flavien Prat takes the call. The last time Little No Way ran at this distance and at this level, the 6-year-old gelding finished second by a neck and produced a massive speed rating.
Another dropper, More Honor, should at least get into the tri. Mark Glatt wins at 30% at Santa Anita Park. Honor has the pedigree to win. The problem? The gelding’s best races have been on turf.
- Win: Dark Hedges
- Place: Little No Way
- Show: More Honor
