Check out my Sunday (2-8-26) Santa Anita Park Race 5 analysis below.
SA 5 (Str-OC-32k, 8T) – Post Time 4:01 PM ET
Primary – #1 RUSSELLS HUSTLE. #5 Phosphorescence
Secondary – #4 Jimmy Blue Jeans, #2 Castle Leoch
Horse Comments:
#1 Russells Hustle (7-2) is 3-for-8 with two runner-up finishes since October 2024. Peter Miller claimed him November 2024 and he ran well in back-to-back turf routes including a win as my 4-1 top choice Sept. 1. He was stuck in the outside post on Oct. 4 and raced wide and was 8th of 10, and he was 10th of 11 vs. OC-50k/1x turf routers Nov. 1. He dropped back in for a tag and landed the place as my top choice at 8T Jan. 10 and Mark Glatt claimed him for $25k. He figures to save ground behind the speed under his new rider Antonio Fresu.
#5 Phosphorescence (4-1) stretches back out and Flavien Prat hops aboard Michael McCarthy’s early-pressing gelding. His last win was under Prat (March 2025).
#4 Jimmy Blue Jeans (6-1) pressed and beat Russells Hustle by a length at 8T last time and that was his first start after the George Papaprodromou claim. He should attend the pace under his winning rider Kyle Frey.
#2 Castle Leoch (8-1) was third in the Jimmy Blue Jeans race Jan. 10. He should be lurking behind the speed under his winning rider Abel Lezcano.
Wagers:
#1 to win
Exacta box 1-5
Trifecta 1-5/1-2-4-5/1-2-4-5
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Jan. 16 – Going Lucky/O K Rose Exacta ($40.60), Trifecta ($124.20)
Jan. 17 – Cee Drew ($6.40), Exacta ($16.80), Trifecta ($72.00)
Jan. 18 – Centrodelantero ($6.80)
Jan. 22 – Mish ($6.40), Exacta ($29.00)
Jan. 23 – Miss Donna ($4.60), Exacta ($13.60)
Jan. 27 – Little Trouble ($2.40)
Jan. 28 – Midnight Onyx ($5.20), Exacta ($14.80), Trifecta ($47.80)
Jan. 29 – Ashima ($2.80), Exacta ($9.40), Trifecta ($27.20)
Jan. 31 – Counterbalance ($6.40), Exacta ($50.40)
Feb. 2 – Shut Up Michael/Cane Creek Road Exacta ($21.80), Trifecta ($58.20)
Feb. 3 – Goodfella/Jimmy B Exacta ($5.60), Trifecta ($14.60)
Feb. 4 – Attending/Americandreammaker Exacta ($37.80)
Feb. 6 – Runamileinmyshoes/Our Moonlight Exacta ($9.20), Trifecta ($19.60)
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