Check out my Thursday (1-8-26) Santa Anita Park Race 9 analysis below.
SA 9 (Mcl-50k, 4&up, 8T) – Post Time 7:14 PM ET
Primary – #2 SWEET ODYSSEY, #3 Lorenzo Bernini
Secondary – #4 Midway Lane, #5 Both Sides of Bad, #6 Fight Back
Horse Comments:
#2 Sweet Odyssey (3-1) dropped from MSW to Mcl-50k and ended 2024 with an improved show finish (winner next-out winner), and he was the 3-2 favorite in his September 2025 return and finished a close third (runner-up next-out winner). He raced wide from an outer post and was second by a half-length when last seen Oct. 18. He drew well and has enough positional speed to keep the leaders in his sights, and his new rider Mirco Demuro is a profitable 16% turf pilot.
#3 Lorenzo Bernini (5-2) earned an improved number when finishing 4th of 7 at 8T second time out (runner-up next-out winner). He returned to dirt and finished 5th of 6 at 8f Aug. 24. The MSW dropper added blinkers and chased, led, and settled for the show as the beaten favorite Oct. 18. This was his first start as a gelding and the claim was voided. Umberto Rispoli stays put and he is 6-for-16 with George Papaprodromou.
#4 Midway Lane (7-2) stalked inside and finished 6th of 7 in his MSW dirt sprint bow at 26-1 odds Nov. 14. Dam has produced three turf winners and he might show more second time out on the surface and distance switch for John Sadler.
#5 Both Sides of Bad (9-2) rallied for the place in a dirt sprint in July (winner next-out winner). He moved to the Mullins barn and showed late interest when finishing 4th of 10 (beaten 1 length) at 8T on Sept. 1 (runner-up next-out winner). He was fourth again Oct. 13 and he ended up a length behind show finisher Lorenzo Bernini. Hector Berrios sticks with him and he should be running in the lane.
#6 Fight Back (12-1) is 0-for-13 and he is frequently in the mix for a minor placing. Vladimir Cerin has the California-bred gelding now and Kazushi Kimura takes the call.
Wagers:
#2 to win
Exacta 2/3-4
Exacta 3-4/2
Trifecta 2-3-4/2-3-4-5-6/5-6
$1 Super High 5: 2/3-4/3-4/5-6/5-6 ($4)
Recent Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Dec. 21 – Silver Moonlight ($5.00), Trifecta ($59.00)
Dec. 23 – Mo for Us/Blessed Assurance/Nodah Trifecta ($77.80)
Dec. 26 – La Cantera ($4.60)
Dec. 27 – Montador/Juris Doctor Exacta ($10.40)
Dec. 30 – Mailata ($2.40)
Jan. 3 – Sister Troienne ($2.60)
Jan. 7 – G T Five Hundred ($7.24), Trifecta ($132.44)
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