Check out my Sunday (4-19-26) Santa Anita Park Race 9 analysis below.
SA 9 (MSW, CA-bred, 8T) – Post Time 8:03 PM ET
Primary – #3 ROBIN OLDS, #7 John Metcalfe
Secondary – #9 Flash of Lightning, #10 Ottis Betts
Horse Comments:
#3 Robin Olds (9-2) was 7-1 in his local 8T bow Feb. 13 and he rallied from the back of the pack to land the show. I picked him on top March 13 and he raced in traffic and finished a better than appears 4th of 9 (beaten 1.75 lengths). Dam Enola Gray (also trained by Phil D’Amato) went 7-for-12 in 2016-18 and won six stakes races including the G3 Wilshire at 8T. He sports three local moves since his last start and can win this if he stays out of trouble.
#7 John Metcalfe (3-2) is 0-for-8 with three runner-up finishes. He was up the track in his first two dirt sprints and finished second in his next three flat mile dirt starts since including the King Glorious in December. He was 8th of 9 in the Cal Cup Derby at 8.5f Jan. 17. He returned to the maiden ranks and had an uncomfortable trip and finished last of 9 as the 3-2 favorite Feb. 13. Last time, he battled on the pace and was 5th of 9 (beaten 2 lengths) at 8T. Juan Hernandez strings along and a forwardly placed trip is expected (blinkers off), and this is his first start as a gelding.
#9 Flash of Lightning(3-1) rallied for the place and show in his last two flat mile turf starts. Kazushi Kimura strings along and he should make his presence felt in the lane.
#10 Ottis Betts (15-1) completed the trifecta in all three dirt sprints. He steps up, stretches out, and switches surfaces in his second start after the Ron Ellis claim, and Florent Geroux got to know him last time.
Wagers:
#3 to win
Exacta 3-7/3-7-9
Trifecta 3-7-10/3-7-10/9
April 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
April 2 – Charlie’s Curlin ($5.60)
April 3 – Joint Venture ($3.60)
April 4 – Meaning ($3.80)
April 8 – Dresden Row ($6.58), Trifecta ($67.28)
April 11 – West End Kid ($5.72), Exacta ($10.58), Trifecta ($29.28)
April 12 – In Our Time ($12.88)
April 13 – Play the Gray ($8.20)
April 15 – Rothko/Coalmoon Exacta ($42.26)
April 16 – Chapman’s Peak/Concord Green/Carcano Trifecta ($232.24)
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