Check out my Friday (4-3-26) Santa Anita Park Race 8 analysis below.
SA 8 (Str-OC-16k, 8f) – Post Time 7:33 PM ET
Primary – #1 JOINT VENTURE, #5 Duran
Secondary – #8 Leyas Candy, #4 Ballyhooligan
Horse Comments:
#1 Joint Venture (8-5) ran well in three straight flat mile dirt races (August thru November 2025). He won two of those races and missed by a nose in the other, and he turned back and ran on for the show as my top choice at 6f Feb. 15. I picked him on top again March 6 and he chased the pace and missed by a half-length as the beaten favorite. The 2-time local winner likes this distance and might return to the winner’s circle under Juan Hernandez.
#5 Duran (9-2) edged Joint Venture at 6-1 odds at this course and distance March 6 and that was his first start in almost a year. He won back-to-back claiming races last year so he is capable of stringing together strong efforts.
#8 Leyas Candy (5-1) landed the show in a dirt sprint at DMR in August and Andrew Harris claimed him that day. He stretched back out, dueled, and was clearly second best in a local $12.5k affair at one mile in October. He battled on the pace and scored as the 2-1 favorite in a $20k flat mile affair at LRC Dec. 5, and he chased from the inside post and weakened to 4th of 5 Jan. 19 (Clm-25k, 8f). He landed the place Feb. 6 and was 7th on March 6. Maldonado sticks with him and he should be forwardly placed.
#4 Ballyhooligan (8-1) romped by a dozen lengths in a Mcl-20k affair at one mile Nov. 2 and that was his first start after the Papaprodromou claim. He turned back and was 5th of 7 in a local SOC-50k sprint Dec. 29, and he captured a $25k/2L affair Jan. 11. He was 5th of 6 as the beaten chalk Feb. 20, and he stretches out and should impact the pace.
Wagers:
#1 to win
Exacta box 1-5
Trifecta 1-5/1-4-5-8/1-4-5-8
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
March 18 – Dienekes/Up Country Exacta ($51.16)
March 20 – Rethink/Ou La La/Prestige Fungson Trifecta ($107.80)
March 22 – Uncle Evco ($4.60)
March 23 – Cornishman ($2.80)
March 24 – Vekoma Kid ($5.40)
March 26 – Desert Gate ($2.80), Exacta ($5.00)
March 27 – Still Unwritten ($6.20), Exacta ($12.40)
March 29 – Cornucopian ($2.60)
April 2 – Charlie’s Curlin ($5.60)
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