Check out my Thursday (1-15-26) Santa Anita Park Race 9 analysis below.
SA 9 (MSW, CA-bred, 8T) – Post Time 7:35 PM ET
Primary – #2 HARDTOBEBETTERNOW, #4 Big Bill
Secondary – #6 Shapoval, #3 Island Paradise, #10 Irish Element
Horse Comments:
#2 Hardtobebetternow (3-2) was 3-1 in his local 8T bow last fall and he landed the place in a good effort. He moved to dirt and was 6th of 9 in the King Glorious second time out (December 2024), and he disappeared for 10+ months and returned to land the place at 8T Nov. 9. Rispoli got acquainted with him last time and he projects an inner stalking trip.
#4 Big Bill (2-1) rallied to miss by a neck in his 6.5T bow at 16-1 odds on May 17. He stretched out and was 5-1 on June 15 and he finished an even 5th of 9. Runner-up Broski was a next-out winner and winner Cuban Confusion finished a clear third in a local OC-40k/1x turf route July 26. This one made his first start as a gelding and he chased from second and landed the place in a DMR 8T affair Aug. 1. He chased inside, led, and weakened to 4th of 11 at 8.5T as the beaten favorite Aug. 23 and the 1-2 finishers were next-out winners. He turned back and landed the place at 6T as the beaten favorite Oct. 5 (runner-up next-out winner). He stretches back out and is a logical top three contender.
#6 Shapoval (6-1) hit the board in his first three turf starts and was off the board in his next three outings. He dropped out of the state bred MSW ranks and pressed, led, and missed by a head in a $50k maiden claimer Nov. 7. Tyler Baze strings along and he will probably impact the pace.
#3 Island Paradise (12-1) rallied for the show in the same race Shapoval exits. That turf route was his career debut and he might show a bit more second time out.
AE #10 Irish Element (8-1) ran on for the show at this course/distance Sept. 28 and was 6th and 5th in his last two turf routes. He can rally for a share at a price.
Wagers:
#2 to win
Exacta 2-4
Trifecta key 2/4-6
Superfecta key 2/3-4-6-10
$1 Super High Five: 2/4-6/4-6/3-10/3-10 ($4)
January 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Jan. 3 – Sister Troienne ($2.60)
Jan. 7 – G T Five Hundred ($7.24), Trifecta ($132.44)
Jan. 8 – Sweet Odyssey ($5.60), Exacta ($20.00), Trifecta ($72.00)
Jan. 9 – Nafisa ($6.80), Trifecta ($221.00)
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