Check out my Friday (2-20-26) Santa Anita Park Race 9 analysis below.
SA 9 (OC-20k/1x, CA-bred, 6f) – Post Time 7:33 PM ET
Primary – #7 COACH CRONIN, #3 Afternoon Nap
Secondary – #2 Mr. Machupicchu, #4 Special Club
Horse Comments:
#7 Coach Cronin (9-5) rallied for the show in a $16k/2L sprint in August and Mark Glatt claimed him that day. He pressed and scored by 3+ lengths at this course/distance vs. $25k/2L foes on Oct. 3, and he was 7th of 9 in a state bred OC-20k/1x affair Oct. 24. He bounced back with a victory by 3+ lengths in a $32k extended sprint at LRC Dec. 14, and he was a troubled 4th of 10 in a similar course/distance affair Jan. 17. The 2-time local winner has struck twice at this distance and Kazushi Kimura guided him home twice last year.
#3 Afternoon Nap (3-1) turns back and switches surfaces for Carla Gaines. Both of his wins were in local 6T races, and he is 0-for-2 with a show finish on dirt. He is training forwardly for this.
#2 Mr. Machupicchu (6-1) set the pace and was second best at 10-1 odds Aug. 30. Even money favorite Jaguar Jon won that heat and Coach Cronin was third. He was a clear third Oct. 3 after setting the pace and finishing 5+ lengths clear of the rest (Coach Cronin 1st, One Smokin Dude 2nd). He made his first start as a gelding Oct. 30 and finished second, and winner One Smokin Dude scored again at LRC Dec. 13. This one was an even 4th of 9 Dec. 6 and he battled on the pace and was best of the rest in third Dec. 29. Last time, he was 3rd of 10 in a local 6f sprint Jan. 17 and he should impact the pace under Frey.
#4 Special Club (3-1) is in good form for Craig Lewis and Juan Hernandez strings along. He was third in a dirt sprint at LRC in December and he returned to turf and tallied at 6T Jan. 15. He won a dirt sprint at LRC last September.
Wagers:
#7 to win
Exacta 3-7/2-3-7
Trifecta 3-4-7/3-4-7/2
February 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
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)
Feb. 12 – Otherpeoplesmoney ($5.90), Exacta ($22.00)
Feb. 13 – Lovin’ On the Run/Artisma Exacta ($20.40)
Feb. 16 – Oscar’s Hope ($7.20), Trifecta ($142.00)
Feb. 17 – Shining Star ($3.00), Exacta ($8.40), Trifecta ($30.20)
Feb. 18 – My Own ($5.46)
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